The NBA recently reached a notable date on its calendar. On Dec. 15, 81 players became trade eligible, bringing the total amount who fit that description to 88 percent of the Association.
Deals this month are uncommon, and none have happened in the last two seasons, but it’s a time when the groundwork gets laid for future trades.
On the most recent episode of The Lowe Post podcast, host and ESPN NBA analyst Zach Lowe welcomed colleague Tim Bontemps. The two agreed this is the best Boston Celtics team of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era.
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The former and the Philadelphia 76ers are the only teams ranked in the top five in offensive and defensive rating. The latter has the highest net rating (11.5). The Celtics are second in that category (9.1).
The consensus is they have the best top six in the NBA. Beyond that, Sam Hauser has solidified the seventh spot in the rotation, developing into a two-way wing. And Payton Pritchard is producing 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per contest. He’s drilling an average of 39.4 percent of the four threes he’s hoisting, and his growth operating the pick-and-roll is evident.
But with Boston over the second apron and all in on capturing its 18th championship, there have been reports noting an expectation the franchise is active in the trade and buyout markets.
While discussing what type of player the Celtics should target, Lowe and Bontemps identified a wing they believe the team’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, should pursue.
One is an individual Boston’s already connected to, John Konchar of the Memphis Grizzlies. The four-year veteran isn’t a rotation fixture, and his minutes fluctuate. They’ve decreased from 20.8 in the 2022-23 campaign to 18 this season.
The six-foot-five wing is averaging 3.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and nearly a steal per game in 22 appearances. The 27-year-old is an effective low-volume three-point shooter, converting 1.8 attempts at a 36.9 percent clip for his career.
Konchar’s only making 33.3 percent of his 2.2 shots from beyond the arc this campaign, but he’s proven he can handle inconsistent playing time and typically stays in rhythm despite not getting many touches or minutes.
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The former Purdue-Fort Wayne star is under contract for $2.4 million this season. So, his deal fits comfortably into the $6.2 million traded player exception (TPE) the Celtics created in the sign-and-trade that sent Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks.
His three-year, $18.5 million extension, with an average annual value of $6.2 million, takes effect in 2024-25. Konchar would give the Celtics another shooter, and his contract could prove helpful in a future trade.
The other potential target Lowe and Bontemps brought up was Cedi Osman. The six-foot-seven forward is generating 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and nearly two assists per game for the struggling San Antonio Spurs.
The 28-year-old, a career 35.4 percent three-point shooter on 4.3 attempts, is knocking down 36.1 percent of his 3.6 shots from beyond the arc this season.
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And with San Antonio, 4-23, residing at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, he’s a logical trade candidate. If the Celtics want him, their relationship with the Spurs could help get a deal done.
The C’s were also recently linked to Isaiah Stewart. He’s a playoff-caliber rotation player who can operate at the four and the five spots, but he has a poison pill restriction until Jul. 1, 2024, and a four-year, $60 million extension that kicks in next season.
The latter has an average annual value of $15 million. So, Boston would have to gut its extended rotation and take on an increased financial burden that makes acquiring him unlikely.
