With less than 48 hours left to make a move on the buyout market for a player to be eligible to play in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, it’s looking more and more likely that the Boston Celtics will sit pat once again and make no moves.
But there are still some options out there that could shake free and be worth cutting a player for if the front office feels they need some depth.
Given starting point guard Kemba Walker’s health has been less than optimal of late as he nurses a balky knee back to health, picking up a reserve floor general or at least a ballhandler with some scoring or shooting ability seems like it would be at the top of Boston’s wish list.
And with reserve center Robert Williams III poised to return to action today in limited minutes against the Houston Rockets, the frontcourt rotation is looking much better than it was several weeks ago.
So, the backcourt or wing would appear to be the team’s primary need for a reserve player — the question is who might be available to fill such a roll?
Let’s start with the unlikely options still worth considering.
Still holding out hope that the #Celtics add a player like Isaiah Thomas or Tristan Thompson on the buyout market?@ChrisForsberg_ is here to dash your dreams. https://t.co/gk4ccENMP6
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 26, 2020
While not a ballhandler nor backcourt player, Cleveland Cavaliers’ big man Tristan Thompson is likely the most impactful player left as a possibility for a last-minute buyout.
But he isn’t likely to start over Daniel Theis most nights, and isn’t likely to be bought out as a Klutch Sports client — none of whom have taken one to date.
Another high-impact but low-odds option would be now-New York Knick center Maurice Harkless. A little more mobile, he wouldn’t be a terrible fit, but isn’t going to get a big role and seems to like his new home, as odd as that may sound to some.
And again, as a frontcourt player, not really a priority.
Now, let’s look at the rest of the field of potential buyouts, which are few and far between, but also a better fit.
The Sacramento Kings may not see a future with Kent Bazemore on board, especially given they’ve been struggling to fit Buddy Hield into a starting role after signing him to a very big contract.
While there’s no official chatter linking him to a buyout, it’s also not out of the question that he could end up securing a last-minute liberation either.
He’s not especially good as a ballhandler or distributor, but would add some much-needed scoring off the bench with a perimeter game that’s respectable if not especially efficient.
While the odds are low, it’s still a situation to monitor.
Detroit Piston Langston Galloway and New York Knick Wayne Ellington are a pair of shooting guards who do a similar thing for the Celtics who could also be bought out before the end of the day on Sunday, but there isn’t any strong indications they’ll be cut lose in time, either.
However, old friend Evan Turner is a wing actively working with his current team — the Minnesota Timberwolves — to get out of his current deal.
And while he’s never really been much of a shooter, he can serve as a second-unit distributor and ball-handler while adding some respectable midrange and near-basket offense.
He also knows head coach Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ system, and has played with Marcus Smart while with Boston.
Still no buyout for Evan Turner in Minnesota but he's exploring his options, source says. A return to Boston would be welcome. @celtics decision on boosting bench via buyout FA comes down to cutting Poirier or (more likely) Javonte Green.
More @HeavySan:https://t.co/jQThioeFqs— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) February 25, 2020
The question will come down to whether it makes sense to cut wing Javonte Green, who was providing some deep rotation minutes earlier in the season, but has since fallen out of favor with Stevens for reasons unknown.
Still, it seems the franchise rightly values team chemistry highly, and even if Green hasn’t been producing on the court, his value to the team might exceed the impact of his salary.
Making just under $900,000 this season, it makes the Virginian the more likely player to be cut in such a scenario.
Odds are in favor of no moves being made ahead of the buyout deadline on Sunday, but if one does happen, it seems likely that Turner would be the most logical option barring a surprise, last-minute candidate shaking free.
Taking into account the fact that the team has lost only two games in their last 13, the feeling may well be that it’s not worth making waves on such a well-run ship.
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