3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign

Boston Celtics have been playing out of their minds lately. Their defense has been elite, and it’s been the driving force behind their recent surge.</p> <p>That being said, with the moves they made at the trade deadline, they absolutely gutted their roster. After signing Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet to standard deals, they still need to fill some roster spots.</p> <p>One of the most glaring issues on the team so far this year has been a severe lack of shooting. So while any player they pick up probably won’t play much, it might be nice to have an extra shooter on the roster.</p> <p>Here are three current free agents who they could bring in. One would be for his locker-room presence, one is a veteran, and the other is a younger guy Boston could take a chance on.</p> <h2>3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign: Isaiah Thomas</h2> <p>Isaiah Thomas absolutely had to be on this list. The likelihood that the Celtics sign him has become increasingly unlikely, but with two roster spots that need to be filled, Thomas at least deserved a mention.</p> <p>At this point, he would merely be the aforementioned locker-room presence, but maybe the C’s could use a guy like that? Thomas is a constant source of positivity wherever he goes.</p> <p>That being said, he doesn’t fit in with how the Celtics play in the slightest. Boston runs a defense where they switch a lot, and Thomas needs to be hidden on the defensive side of the floor.</p> <p>But again, adding Thomas to the roster would just be a fun move that could get the team hyped. Plus, every single fan in Boston would forever love Brad Stevens for doing it.</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/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_442140" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-442140" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2266,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1362448055.jpeg" alt="3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign" width="3200" height="2266" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362448055.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362448055-768x544.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 01: James Ennis III #10 of the Los Angeles Clippers during a break in the action during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 01, 2022 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign: James Ennis</h2> <p>Now, this should be a guy on the Celtics’ radar for the rest of the season. James Ennis is the perfect veteran to have on the bench, “in case of emergency.”</p> <p>Last season, Ennis shot 43.3 percent from deep with the Orlando Magic. While it’s highly unlikely that number is sustainable, it does show that he’s fully capable of hitting shots from range.</p> <p>The 31-year-old should still be capable of giving a team decent minutes. He won’t be able to play 20+, but if need be, the C’s could get 10-15 minutes out of him.</p> <p>Ennis bounced around on 10-day contracts earlier this season when teams were handing them out like candy due to COVID. He spent time with the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers, and Denver Nuggets.</p> <p>At 6-6, Ennis fits the physical profile of a player the C’s should be targeting, too. They have Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard at the guard spot, so adding another wing should be a priority.</p> <p>Plus, Ennis is scrappy enough to fit in with Boston’s defensive system. At the very least, he’ll be able to put up a fight against any player he gets matched up with because of the constant energy and intensity that he plays with.</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/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_442141" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-442141" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1208859173.jpeg" alt="3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1208859173.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1208859173-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Jordan Schakel #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs reacts to a turnover during the second half of a game against the Colorado State Ramsat Viejas Arena on February 25, 2020 in San Diego, California. San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Colorado State Rams 66-60. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3 free-agent shooters the Boston Celtics should sign: Jordan Schakel</h2> <p>Is Jordan Schakel a household name? Not even close. Is he the type of player the Celtics should be willing to take a chance on this season? Absolutely.</p> <p>Schakel is a 6-6 wing currently playing in the G-League, and at 23 years old has only ever appeared in two NBA games. But in the G-League this season, he’s playing fairly well.</p> <p>He’s averaging 15.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. But more importantly, Schakel is shooting a red-hot 38.1 percent from deep on 7.9 attempts per game.</p> <p>If the C’s want to add some shooting to the roster, taking a chance on a guy like Schakel would be perfect. He’s a low-risk, high-reward type of player – worst-case, he’s gone after the year, best-case, he shows some actual promise.</p> <p>In his fourth and final year at San Diego State, Schakel was the number-one catch-and-shoot player in the nation and shot a blistering hot 46.1 percent from deep on 6.4 attempts.</p> <p>Schakel compared himself to Phoenix Suns’ wing Cameron Johnson in the sense that he plays hard on both ends and makes shots when he needs to. And above all else, he’s all about winning (as mentioned in this interview with <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"https://hoopshype.com/lists/jordan-schakel-nba-draft-interview-sleepers-san-diego-state-sdsu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HoopsHype</a>.)</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="A statistical overview of the Celtics’ elite defense" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/boston-celtics-defense/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/19/free-agent-shooters-boston-celtics/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/boston-celtics-defense/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> A statistical overview of the Celtics’ elite defense </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">