The Celtics have plenty of time remaining to fill an open roster spot but it appears the team is exploring some options already. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Boston is one of three teams keeping tabs on Grizzlies wing John Konchar as trade season approaches next month. Scotto reports that Konchar is a candidate to be dealt before the trade deadline on a reeling Grizzlies squad with the Warriors and Lakers also showing interest in the 27-year-old.
Konchar is in the midst of his fifth season in Memphis after going undrafted out of Purdue Fort Wayne. He’s in the midst of a down year right now for Memphis, averaging just 3.0 points per game on a career low 34 percent shooting from the field. He has fallen out of the team’s rotation entirely this past week due to those struggles. However, he was a meaningful contributor for Memphis in recent years off the bench, posting averages of 4.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in his career while knocking down 37 percent of his 3-point attempts.
At 6-foot-5, Konchar would provide some valuable additional wing depth for Boston and the other part of his appeal is his salary. Konchar is only making $2.4 million this year and is also locked up on an affordable long-term deal after signing a three-year extension for $19 million last summer that puts him under team control through 2026.
That modest salary this season would fit into the team’s Grant Williams’ traded player exception worth just over $6 million. Boston could in theory just over up modest draft assets for him (with a non-guaranteed contract) if they want to try to acquire him.
Outside of adding some more depth at center, deep wing depth is probably the biggest area of weakness on the Celtics roster right now. Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk and Lamar Stevens have not impressed much in the first month of the season during limited opportunities. Dalano Banton has emerged in recent weeks but a lack of a reliable outside shot is concerning there so Konchar could be an appealing alternative on that front.
Trade season opens up across the NBA on December 15th when several players around the league become eligible to be dealt.
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