Celtics Offseason: Options for the Kanter, Theis, Walker Trade Exceptions
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
After previously covering some options that Boston could pursue with the remains of the Gordon Hayward TPE, I wanted to delve into some potential options for the various other trade exceptions the Celtics have at their disposal. As a reminder, here are the TPEs Boston has in their arsenal and their expiration dates:
Enes Kanter — $4.7M — 8/2/21
Gordon Hayward — $11.0M — 8/16/21
Daniel Theis — $5.0M — 2/11/22
Kemba Walker — $6.9M — 5/17/22
NBA free agency starts on August 2nd, and lines up with the expiration of the Enes Kanter TPE worth $4.7 Million. That exception was generated from the ill-fated Grizzlies trade that sent Desmond Bane to Memphis along with Enes Kanter, which opened up space for Boston to use the full MLE on Tristan Thompson.
The NBA draft is in two days at 8PM on Thursday, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Boston make a move on draft night to use the Kanter TPE. While it isn’t the biggest chip the Celtics have, I highly doubt that the front office just lets this TPE expire right as free agency starts.
On top of that, when players are acquired with a trade exception, they don’t count towards the team’s salary cap or luxury tax bill. While we’re on the subject of assets, here are the draft picks Boston has in their cupboard per Fanspo:
-2021 2nd Round Pick (45th overall)
-2022 1st Round Pick (own)
-2022 2nd Round Pick from Charlotte*
*Charlotte’s 2022 2nd round pick to Boston protected for selections 31–55 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Charlotte’s obligation to Boston will be extinguished) [Boston-Charlotte, 11/29/2020]
-2022 2nd Round Pick (own)
-2023 1st Round Pick (own)
-2023 2nd Round Pick from Oklahoma City, Washington, Dallas, or Miami*
*Boston will receive the least favorable of (i) Oklahoma City’s 2023 2nd round pick, (ii) Washington’s 2023 2nd round pick and (iii) the more favorable of Dallas’ 2023 2nd round pick and Miami’s 2023 2nd round pick (via Oklahoma City) [Boston-Oklahoma City, 6/18/2021]
-2023 2nd Round Pick from Dallas, Miami, or Houston*
*Oklahoma City will receive the more favorable of Dallas’ 2023 2nd round pick and Miami’s 2023 2nd round pick (Oklahoma City may convey this pick to Boston (see Oklahoma City Outgoing)); Boston will receive the more favorable of (i) Houston’s 2023 2nd round pick protected for selections 31–32 and (ii) the less favorable of the Dallas pick and the Miami pick and Indiana will receive the least favorable of the three (via Miami to Dallas; via Memphis’ right to swap Dallas or Miami for Houston); if the Houston pick falls within its protected range, then Houston’s obligation to Boston will be extinguished and Boston will instead receive the less favorable of the Dallas pick and the Miami pick and Indiana will instead receive the Houston pick [Dallas-Miami, 7/7/2017; Dallas-Memphis, 7/8/2019; Houston-Memphis, 2/6/2020; Boston-Memphis-Portland, 11/20/2020; Dallas-Detroit-Oklahoma City, 11/27/2020; Brooklyn-Cleveland-Houston-Indiana, 1/16/2021]
-2024 1st Round Pick (own)
-2025 1st Round Pick (own)
-2026 1st Round Pick (own)
-2026 2nd Round Pick (own)
-2027 1st Round Pick (own)
-2028 1st Round Pick (own)
-2028 2nd Round (own)
A few of those 2nd round picks get very convoluted with their protections, but the point is Boston has a lot of picks to work with if a deal calls for it. The fact that they have all of their own 1st round picks from 2022 through 2028 will make it possible to take a big swing if and when the moment strikes.
Per Spotrac, Boston’s total salary is roughly $128.67 Million, meaning that they really don’t have a ton of flexibility when it comes to free agents without cutting salary; keep in mind, if Boston was to make a sign-and-trade for a player, the team would be hard-capped for a year. For the 2021–22 season, the NBA projects a salary cap of $112.4 Million and a luxury tax line of $136.6 Million.
With this in mind, the Celtics sit about $16.26 Million over the salary cap and sit roughly $8 Million below the tax line, and that’s without factoring Evan Fournier’s contract as he hits free agency. Boston can retain him with ease due to Bird Rights, but unless they move some salary around, they will most certainly be paying the luxury tax this season.
Tristan Thompson seems like a logical trade piece, due to his status as a veteran and the size of his deal, and Boston will have to weigh their decision on Marcus Smart’s future as they start exploring a contract extension with the longest-tenured Celtic on the roster.
Boston is also rumored to have interest in veteran swingman Reggie Bullock, who would most likely command the full MLE in the ballpark of $9.53 Million. But, with Boston’s current cap situation, they would have the taxpayer MLE of $5.89 Million at their disposal; what this indicates to me is they plan on moving some salary sooner rather than later in order to have that full MLE at their disposal.
With all of this in mind, let’s look at some cost-effective options that Boston could pursue. Some of these options aren’t the biggest of names, but veterans that could help flesh out Boston’s rotation a bit.
DJ Augustin
Hypothetical Trade
Celtics get: DJ Augustin
Rockets get: 2022 2nd Round Pick
Augustin isn’t the best name available on the market, but at age 33 and two years left on his deal and a cap hit of $7 Million for 2021–22, he fits perfectly into the Kemba Walker TPE. The veteran guard started the season with the Bucks before getting shipped out to the Rockets as part of the PJ Tucker trade, and shot 38.6% from deep on the season between the two teams.
Houston is in full rebuild mode, and selling off players for picks is going to be their go-to move. They have the 2nd overall pick in Thursday’s draft, and are projected by most sites to draft shooting guard Jalen Green. With the youth movement in full swing for the Rockets, the team should begin shopping their veteran pieces that don’t fit their rebuild timeline. I would expect a lot of contending and playoff teams to make an offer for Augustin, and I believe he could be had for one or two 2nd round picks.
Collin Sexton
Hypothetical Trade
Celtics get: Collin Sexton
Cavaliers get: Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, 2023 1st Round Pick (Top 12 Protected), 2025 1st Round Pick (Top 10 Protected), 2022 2nd Round Pick
Sexton is by far the most interesting target for the Walker TPE, but also potentially the most costly in both picks, players, and future money. The Cavaliers exercised Sexton’s club option of roughly $6.35 Million, and next offseason he will hit restricted free agency when a lot of teams will have more cap space. At 22 years old, the score-first point guard shot 47.5% from the field and 37.1% from deep this season for Cleveland. The question is, will Sexton be the right fit for Boston long term alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?
For one, you have to consider the cost of assets for him, which could be a combination of players and picks. The uncertainty of his contract situation moving forward would give most teams pause, but the benefit of acquiring him now would be to have his RFA rights to match any offer he may get in free agency as well as his bird rights.
Beyond that, a guard at his age and skillset would be sure to get paid handsomely to be a part of a young core somewhere, so a team would have to be willing to shill out a decently-sized contract to keep him; any team that trades for him should be dealing for him with that expectation of a hefty payday on the horizon.
From the Celtics perspective, there are multiple factors at play. The team just moved on from a score-first guard in Kemba Walker, does it make sense to add another guard who needs the ball in his hands to be most effective? At his age, Sexton is capable of changing and expanding his play style, but do you want to take the gamble on him fitting alongside the Jays? Would he accept that role as third fiddle? Also, if the goal is to trade for Sexton and sign him for a long-term deal, that almost certainly takes Boston out of the running to add another star, specifically Bradley Beal (more on that next article!).
At the end of the day, reuniting all of the Nets picks would be cool, and Sexton is not by any means a bad or boring player. But the Celtics would have to be certain that he would fit here, that they could retain him, and that both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were on board with the move. I don’t think any of those things are a given, and if the Cavs are making some serious demands about a return package, then Boston will (and should) steer clear of a potential bidding war for the young guard.
Justin Holiday
Hypothetical Trade
Celtics get: Justin Holiday
Pacers get: 2022 2nd Round Pick, 2023 2nd Round Pick
Justin Holiday is an interesting option, and similar to DJ Augustin, Holiday has two years left on his deal. With a cap hit of just over $6 Million, Holiday would slide into the Walker TPE nicely, and depending on what direction the Pacers are going in, they may be willing to part with him on the cheaper side. After a disappointing season and an ugly breakup with now ex-head coach Nate Bjorkgren, the Pacers now have the difficult task of retooling and figuring out their direction.
With the old rumor of a Myles Turner trade allegedly rearing its head, perhaps Boston can cash in on the changes in Indiana and scoop a solid guard for their bench rotation. At age 32, Holiday still has a great deal to offer as a rotation guard, shooting 38.2% from deep on 6.3 attempts a game and starting 52 of his 72 games for the Pacers.
Adding a guard like Holiday that’s capable of shooting the three and absorbing him into one of their various TPEs would be an ideal outcome for Boston. With the contract he has, Holiday will be coveted by many playoff teams looking to add depth. Depending on where the Pacers feel they’re at in their restructuring, Holiday could be acquired with a combination of second round picks. If the Celtics would prefer to go younger and don’t mind paying a higher cost in terms of picks, they could potentially pursue Justin’s younger brother Aaron, who is also with Indiana and may be on the move.
Trey Burke
Hypothetical Trade
Celtics get: Trey Burke
Mavericks get: 2022 2nd Round Pick
Trey Burke checks a lot of boxes for Boston, and with his value taking a slight hit this past season combined with the changeups coming in Dallas, there may be the opportunity for Boston to swoop in and scoop the veteran. Burke, who will be 29 in November, shot 35.4% from deep last season, the lowest it’s been since the 2018–19 season.
The journeyman point guard had been a standout for the Dallas Mavericks in the bubble, shooting an electric 50.8% from the field and 47.1% from deep in 26 minutes per game. Burke clearly has more gas in the tank, and perhaps a change in scenery can recapture the success he had during his time in the bubble.
Burke’s contract is for two years, with the second year being a player option, and his cap hit for the 2021–22 season will be $3.15 Million. His contract fits perfectly into the Enes Kanter TPE, and since his down performance last year, Dallas could be convinced to give him up on the cheaper side, perhaps even for just a second round pick. The move would be a low-cost option for the Celtics while adding some experience and shooting to their bench unit. Burke’s deal could also be vital for Boston to maintain future flexibility next offseason if they choose to pursue another star.
Jarrett Culver
Hypothetical Trade
Celtics get: Jarrett Culver
Timberwolves get: 2022 2nd Round Pick
In a surprising move, the Minnesota Timberwolves have made former lottery pick Jarrett Culver available in trades for merely a 2nd round pick. Culver, drafted 6th overall in the 2019 NBA draft, will turn 23 in February and is under contract until the 2023–24 season when he hits restricted free agency. His current cap hit is $6.1 Million, so he would fit into the Kemba Walker exception with no issues.
Culver’s sophomore season was cut short by a nagging ankle injury sustained in January, eventually getting shut down for the season and operated on May 7th. His first two seasons in the league have been trying from the offensive side of the ball, struggling from the field on 40.6%FG/28.8%3P/50.3%FT in his young career. The 6'6" guard out of Texas Tech had earned a role for himself on the young Timberwolves squad with his defense and grit, but after a down season, Minnesota is allegedly moving on.
At the price of a 2nd rounder and using the Kemba Walker TPE, exploring a deal for Culver may be a buy-low opportunity for the Celtics. They previously had shown interest in Culver during the draft process, and a chance to land a lottery talent for a 2nd rounder is almost unheard of. Culver would absolutely be a reclamation project, but his defensive skillset could make him enticing for Boston.
With the arrival of Ime Udoka and the return to their defensive roots, the Celtics could have all of the right pieces in place to get the most out of Culver. It’s really just a matter of whether or not Boston will dedicate more time and minutes into developing another wing with Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith on the roster.
More options you thought of? Targets I may have left off the list? Let me know in the comments or tweet me at @timsheilsnba on Twitter. Cheers!
