The Celtics will target these free agents on the open market this offseason.
The Boston Celtics are the team to beat this season. They have the best record in the NBA and a roster nobody wants to face in the playoffs. The defending champion Nuggets won’t give up the crown easily, and the Celtics may need to make a few tweaks to knock them off. Boston is a feared team that is just getting started.
They added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the offseason to create the best top six in the world. Holiday has a player option this summer, but Boston is expected to bring him back. Barring a disaster, things should be even better in year two, and the Celtics will be able to upgrade their depth.
Boston has at least three players becoming free agents, and the front office will go after ring chasers in free agency. The Celtics are projected to be over the second tax apron, which leaves them with just minimum contracts to add talent. Here are a few names worth targeting.
7. Kris Dunn
The former top-five draft pick remade his career with the Utah Jazz. Dunn was viewed as a bust and virtually out of the league before a ten-day contract in 2023. The 6’3 guard showcased his defensive chops and improved jumper to stick with the franchise.
6. Dennis Smith Jr.
DSJ is another top prospect who nearly fell out of the league. The Mavericks drafted him ninth overall in 2017, but it became clear in his second season that he would not be the lead ball-handler and playmaker with Luka Doncic in Dallas. After being traded to the Knicks, Smith Jr. bounced around the league and had to reinvent himself as a backup point guard.
5. Cedi Osman
The Celtics added five wings in the 2023 offseason in hopes of finding a quality backup for their star duo, but Sam Hauser has seized that bench role. The 6’8 forward is an elite shooter, but his defense remains a question mark. Can Boston trust him through multiple playoff runs?
4. Jeff Green
The veteran forward had arguably the best years of his career playing for the Celtics. Green spent parts of five seasons in Boston where he averaged 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 30.5 minutes per game. The 37-year-old will not be replicating those numbers, but he can still play a crucial role on a contender.
3. Jae’Sean Tate
The Rockets have a $7.0 million team option on Tate’s contract for next season. The 6’4 forward’s minutes and production are down for the fourth straight year. It may be time for Houston to move on, but the 28-year-old is still showing promise as a role player.
2. Jae Crowder
Crowder had arguably his best season with the Celtics in 2016. The 6’6 forward spent three years in Boston, and the franchise made the playoffs each time. Not uncommon for Crowder as his team has qualified for the postseason for a decade straight with plenty of credit to him. The 33-year-old is a role player who helps his team win.
1. Kyle Lowry
Lowry is no longer an elite point guard. The six-time All-Star turns 38 years old in March and is in his 18th NBA season. He has been playing nearly 30 minutes per game since joining the 76ers via the buyout market, but injuries are forcing Philly’s hand.
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