NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 08: Bruno Fernando #28 of the Boston Celtics is defended by Jevon Carter #0 of the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 08, 2022 in New York City, 3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Ever since the trade deadline, the new-look Boston Celtics have been playing incredible basketball. Boasting the league’s number-one defense and number-one net rating in the past month, Boston has been able to turn around their once rocky season.
New addition Derrick White has been a tremendous fit in Boston and has contributed on both sides of the court. Heading into the All-Star break, the Celtics have catapulted up the standings, and now sit at 6th in the eastern conference, only 4.5 games behind the first seed.
Despite all this improvement, it is reasonable that some analysts such as myself still have concerns about their depth going into the final stretch of the regular season.
The buyout market is the pathway to improvement for the Boston Celtics
Now that trade season has come and gone, the key to improving depth before the playoffs lies in the buyout market. For those who do not know, a “buyout” occurs when a team chooses to buy a player out of their contract, allowing them to become a free agent and sign with a new team.
Buyouts usually occur when a veteran player plays for a struggling team. By buying out the veteran player, the team frees up minutes to develop their young talent, and the veteran player is free to sign to a contending team.
There have already been several notable names that have been bought out and signed to new teams. Recently, Goran Dragic was bought out by the San Antonio Spurs and signed a new deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
In this article, I will be taking a look at three potential buyout candidates that I believe could help the Celtics in the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs
Boston Celtics have been playing incredible basketball. Boasting the league’s number-one defense and number-one net rating in the past month, Boston has been able to turn around their once rocky season.</p>
<p>New addition Derrick White has been a tremendous fit in Boston and has contributed on both sides of the court. Heading into the All-Star break, the Celtics have catapulted up the standings, and now sit at 6th in the eastern conference, only 4.5 games behind the first seed.</p>
<p>Despite all this improvement, it is reasonable that some analysts such as myself still have concerns about their depth going into the final stretch of the regular season.</p>
<h2>The buyout market is the pathway to improvement for the Boston Celtics</h2>
<p>Now that trade season has come and gone, the key to improving depth before the playoffs lies in the buyout market. For those who do not know, a “buyout” occurs when a team chooses to buy a player out of their contract, allowing them to become a free agent and sign with a new team.</p>
<p>Buyouts usually occur when a veteran player plays for a struggling team. By buying out the veteran player, the team frees up minutes to develop their young talent, and the veteran player is free to sign to a contending team.</p>
<p>There have already been several notable names that have been bought out and signed to new teams. Recently, Goran Dragic was bought out by the San Antonio Spurs and signed a new deal with the Brooklyn Nets.</p>
<p>In this article, I will be taking a look at three potential buyout candidates that I believe could help the Celtics in the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: Jevon Carter #0 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center on October 31, 2021 in New York City, 3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-91. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign – Jevon Carter</h2>
<p>Jevon Carter, formerly of the Brooklyn Nets, is now a free agent after <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/22/buyout-candidates-boston-celtics/"https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265916/Goran-Dragic-Signs-With-Nets-Jevon-Carter-Waived" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being waived to make room for Goran Dragic</a>. After he clears waivers, I would expect Carter to generate interest from a few contending teams.</p>
<p>It is true that the Celtics have a plethora of guards on their team, however, having depth and experience in the playoffs is never a problem, especially considering perfect health can never be counted on in the NBA. Carter is a 36 percent career three-point shooter, which could be valuable, especially due to Boston’s lack of spacing around their two stars.</p>
<p>It isn’t likely that Carter would play a massive role in the Celtics rotation, but the 26-year-old could easily be a spark plug off the bench in a playoff series if needed. Plus, Carter, while undersized, is a feisty defender, which fits the reputation of Boston’s backcourt to a tee.</p>
<p>Wherever he has played, he has received praise from his teammates and developed a reputation as an excellent presence in a locker room. Having such a player in Boston would certainly be a benefit, even if it meant fewer minutes for guys like Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/22/buyout-candidates-boston-celtics/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Buyout Candidate #2 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 12: Gary Harris #14 of the Orlando Magic looks on during a NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena on January 12, 2022 in Washington, DC, 3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign – Gary Harris</h2>
<p>Personally, this would be my dream acquisition for the Celtics. However, whether or not Gary Harris will be bought out is yet to be determined.</p>
<p>If he does become a free agent, the Celtics should be one of many teams interested in his services. Gary Harris was dealt to Orlando last season as a part of the trade sending Aaron Gordon to Denver.</p>
<p>So far this season, Harris has proven that he can still be a valuable role player in the league. He has averaged 11.8 points a night and served as a productive 3&D wing for the Magic.</p>
<p>If the Celtics are able to sign Harris, he would be an incredible fit to the Boston bench. Harris has shot 38 percent from deep this season and would provide valuable spacing in the second unit. At 27 years old, he would also bring experience and leadership to a Boston bench that consists of mainly younger players.</p>
<p>Harris is also a proficient wing defender and would be an excellent addition to coach Ime Udoka’s switch-heavy defensive scheme. Boston has been so successful lately mainly because of their defensive ability, thus adding yet another above-average defender to the team should sound exciting to all Celtics fans.</p>
<p>As I previously stated, however, if he is bought out, the Celtics will surely not be the only team interested in Harris. But convincing him to play in Boston should be a top priority for the front office if he becomes available.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on February 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should sign – Semi Ojeleye</h2>
<p>Alright, this is where things admittedly start to get a bit bizarre. But for several reasons, I think this signing could be more likely than one might first imagine.</p>
<p>Semi Ojeleye was dealt to the LA Clippers at this year’s trade deadline as part of a massive, four-team trade. It is completely possible that the Clippers choose to keep him through this season, but a buyout should not be ruled out either.</p>
<p>His contract expires at the end of this year, and the Clippers have an abundance of players that play the same position as Ojeleye. With Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Terrence Mann, Robert Covington, and even Brandon Boston Jr all playing over him, it would not be surprising to see Ojeyele bought out or even waived.</p>
<p>If he does become a free agent before the deadline, Boston would clearly be the natural fit to sign him. Brad Stevens has already proven to have an interest in bringing back players that he coached in previous years (Al Horford and Daniel Theis for example).</p>
<p>Ojeleye might not be the piece that completes the puzzle in Boston, but bringing in the former Celtic to bolster their defense would be a low-risk move with potential upside.</p>
<p>In previous playoff runs, Ojeleye helped the Celtics with his incredible strength and quality interior defense. While he isn’t a defensive stopper, he is a strong wing that the Celtics could deploy against some of the opposing stars in the East such as Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant.</p>
<p>While not incredibly consistent, Ojeyele could provide a minimized version of what PJ Tucker provided to Milwaukee in last year’s playoff run. This, plus his familiarity with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, makes him a likely buyout candidate for Boston.</p>
<p>Whether or not any of the three players I mentioned end up a Celtic is truly anyone’s guess. But with their recent success and many open roster spots, expect Boston to be active in the buyout market.</p>
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