Top TPE Trade Targets

Celtics' Top TPE Targets

    The Celtics' were able to acquire the largest traded player exception in NBA History at 28.5 million dollars. The C's have a full calendar year to use this TPE. Unfortunately, Boston is 21 million dollars away from the hard cap, so unless they dump some of their salary, they will not be able to use the full TPE this regular season. Above I have listed the top nine players I would most like to see Boston acquire using the TPE. I will briefly discuss why I think each of these players on here fill a need that would help the Celtics in their goal to win a championship. The players listed in red are players that I think are cheap enough so that they could be paired with another player on this list. The Celtics could probably easily shed a few million to make room for these incoming players, but not enough to reach 28.5 million. I'm listing these players in order of who I would like to see on the Celtics. 

P.J. Tucker-

    Tucker is the type of player that we hope Grant and Semi become, a versatile defender who you can rely on to make catch and shoot corner threes. So far this year I have been very impressed with both Grant and Semi, but it wouldn't hurt to add the veteran version of them. Tucker has shown in the past that he can guard positions three through five on the court and has been a league average or better shooter over the past few seasons. Lastly, it never hurts to have multiple guys to throw at some of the top forwards in the east.

Rudy Gay-

    Gay is a veteran player who can do a lot of things well. He is a guy who can create his own shot if needs to, but won't force his shot. He's not a great three point shooter, but can shoot from the mid-range at an effective rate. He is a good defender who has mostly played at the power forward position the past few seasons, but can guard smaller forwards and can play a small ball five at times. He is someone that can do a lot, but he wont try to do too much. 

J.J. Redick-

    Redick is a veteran who is accustomed to winning, with last season being his only season he hasn't made the playoffs. He is a deadeye from three point range, which would certainly help Boston. The Celtics are a pretty average three point shooting team, and adding a guy like Redick would certainly be a welcomed addition. 

Evan Fournier-

    It is still unclear whether or not the Magic will be selling at the deadline, but if they are Fournier is on an expiring deal and he could certainly help the Celtics. I think he could most positively help the Celtics  coming off the bench, Fournier is a good scorer and can get his own shot. He is a career 14 point per game scorer and a 37.5% three point shooter. Other than Pritchard and Teague we don't really have any guys who can create for themselves on our bench. Fournier is used to being in a starting role, but if he wants to make a deep playoff run he'd be best served as a reserve. 

Delon Wright-

 There is a lot to like with Wright, he is a bigger guard at 6'5" who can create for others and defend. He is a mediocre shooter from deep at 34% for his career, but his scoring ability is not what interest me about him. There are three things I like a player to be able to do, defend, create for others, and space the floor. Wright is able to do two of those three which would make him a beneficial addition to this roster. 

Terrence Ross-

    Ross has played a key role for the magic over the past few seasons, which is being a guy off the bench who can score. The Celtics' bench has been much improved over last season, but I can't help and get a little greedy. Ross is a guy who is a good scorer from almost anywhere on the court including the free throw line, and better yet he is someone who is pretty good at getting to the line. If the Celtics are looking to further improve their punch off of the bench, Ross would be a great candidate. 

Kyle Anderson-

    What Slomo would bring to this team is another guy who can defend at a high level. He is definitely not someone who is going to have big scoring games, but he does a lot of other things well. Along with his great defense, Anderson is averaging a career high 4.3 assists this season. 

Alec Burks-

    Burks has only played in three games this season due to an ankle injury, but he is still an intriguing player to look at as a midseason acquisition. If we get Burks it is because of his ability to shoot and score the basketball. He has bounced around the league a lot the past few seasons, but had a really solid season last year after a few down ones. I'm a little skeptical of Burks because last season may have been more of a fluke than what his output will be going forward. With all that being said, if we could get the Burks from last season it would be a nice scoring punch to add to our bench. 

Victor Oladipo-

    The Celtics going after Oladipo is more of an in case of emergency plan rather than something I believe the Celtics should be looking into at the deadline. I don't know how much Vic would enjoy being a third or fourth option on a team and I am not even sure Houston would want to give him up. I think the Rockets are going into rebuild mode, but they may have plans to resign him after the season. The only real way I would like to see Oladipo in green is if Kemba is not fully healthy. I'm hoping and wishing he is back to 100%, but if not I wouldn't mind seeing an All-Star caliber player to pair alongside Tatum and Brown.