Former Griz exec, Athletic analyst John Hollinger, Athletic writer Jay King offer Celtics 2022 offseason TPE, free agency targets

While there is plenty of reporting about trade rumbles at this time of the season — just a few weeks ahead of the 2022 deadline for teams to exchange players with each other — there is also no shortage of speculation about which players ought to be dealt to which teams, too.

And given the Boston Celtics are widely seen to be among the NBA’s most active franchises on the 2022 NBA trade market, it should not surprise to see plenty of such speculation. Some are even extending the window of projection beyond the deadline to include potential offseason moves.

Not all such prognostication is created equal, however, and those with an intimate knowledge of how front offices run ought to be considered a little more closely.

Particularly when the window in question is a little bit further down the road and bringing in complex concerns regarding traded player exceptions and balancing other cap concerns. One such example is that of The Athletic’s John Hollinger, who recently created a wide-ranging article with fellow Athletic writer Jay King.

In it, they discussed (among many things) who the Celtics might want to target as a potential trade target this offseason with their collection of TPEs, as well as a handful of players they could sign outright.

Let’s take a look at who Hollinger and King have in mind for Boston’s future.

2022 offseason TPE target - Norman Powell, Portland Trail Blazers

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Hollinger sees Powell as “a top-notch target for the (Evan) Fournier exception if he is still a Blazer on draft night” which he thinks would cost the Celtics their pick in this year’s draft.

Putting up 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 44.8% from the floor, 39.3% from deep, and 80.7% from the stripe while making $16.7 million next season, it’s not hard to see the allure.

He might want the ball a bit much at 13.5 field goal attempts per game to be an ideal fit next to star wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, but if he is available for the sort of ask Hollinger believes, it’s a clear no-brainer.

2022 offseason TPE target - Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Already rumored to have been part of a deal package for veteran Celtics guard Marcus Smart, this trade also could make sense for Boston if it is willing to cough up its 2022 first on draft night.

While he’s not quite so proficient or efficient as Powell from deep at 36.2%, he can also pass the rock a bit and defends well enough to potentially start for Boston.

And with a paycheck to the tune of just $14.5 million in 2022-23, he’s a good value contract on a player who may grow the deal into one of the better values in the league by the time it ends in 2025-26,

2022 offseason TPE target - Devonte’ Graham, New Orleans Pelicans

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

One of Hollinger’s favorites despite the mediocre defense of the former Charlotte Hornet and the fact that he “struggles as a pure creator,” for the former Grizzlies exec, Graham still pops as a Celtics TPE target for Hollinger.

Noting he “can really shoot and he’s a good passer” despite not being “the guy who is going to break down the other team off the dribble,” the Athletic analyst thinks his poor fit with the Pels might open opportunity for Boston.

Earning just $11.5 million in 2022-23 and putting up 14 points, 2.6 boards, 4.5 assists, and a steal per game while hitting 36.1% from 3, it is the fact that he isn’t much better from 2 (39.1%) that causes concern while also intriguing.

2022 offseason TPE target - Monte Morris, Denver Nuggets

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Given he is likely to be somewhat extraneous once the Nuggets return to full health, Morris could be a potential TPE target for Hollinger given he is “a good passer at the point would obviously be a major upgrade on what we’ve seen this year.”

“He likely would come more cheaply both in terms of assets (perhaps two seconds or a swap of a first for a second) and money (he makes $9.5 million next year and just fits into the Thompson exception),” which tick off several criteria of what the club ought to be looking for in such a deal.

Morris has logged 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while hitting 46.3% of his shots and 36.1 of his treys starting all but one game for Denver this season.

2022-23 free agency mid-level exception targets - John Wall, Houston Rockets

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

We’ll start with the free agency target Hollinger described as “wacky” — presumably because of the need for Wall to be bought out first — but apart from that foible is perhaps less wacky than plenty of other suggestions.

He is of course earning far too much money for Boston (or most teams) to deal for given his $47.3 million paycheck for next season, but if he did get bought out, he has shown he is still a capable if diminished floor general.

In the 40 games he’s played for the Rockets this season, he has recorded 20.6 points, 3.2 boards, 6.9 assists, and a steal per game. His volume 3-point shooting is a problem at 31.7%, but might be worth bringing on regardless at such a low cost — assuming such a move appeals.

2022-23 free agency mid-level exception targets - Ricky Rubio, Cleveland Cavaliers

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Described as a “natural set-up guy” by Hollinger, such a player is what the Celtics need whether it emerges from within or is acquired from without.

That Rubio is 31 years old and coming off of a torn ACL may depress his value enough to put him in Boston’s range financially with the mini-mid-level exception, but far from certain given how much he helped spark high-level play in Cleveland.

But then, even if they got literally half of the 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game Rubio managed with the Cavs last season, it’d be a solid get for the Celtics at the projected $6.2 ceiling for such contracts if the leadership he brought with it had a similar effect on Boston’s play.

2022-23 free agency mid-level exception targets - Tyus Jones, Memphis Grizzlies

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

While not much of a scorer at 8.2 points per game this season with the Grizzlies, that isn’t why Hollinger thinks Boston might be interested in the Duke product.

Playing just 21.1 minutes per game this season, he’s also logged 4.2 dimes per game as another of the former Memphis exec’s “set-up guys” the Celtics ought to be after.

A little short at 6-feet and perhaps unlucky to be hitting free agency in a summer with little cap room available, it’s not out of the question Boston might be able to nab Jones on the cheap.

2022-23 free agency longshot target - Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

King’s sole “suggestion” — scare quotes here because the Athletic reporter notes the significant difficulty Boston would have in acquiring a player with a salary likely to be larger than any other prospect noted here — appeals for good reason.

What King describes as “a strong fit” is a player who looks to be on the cusp of developing into a true starting-level floor general capable of playing at a high enough level to be worth such an investment.

Currently, the son of Celtics short-timer Rick Brunson is putting up 15.8 points, 3.8 boards, 5.6 assists, and nearly a steal per game with the Mavs.

Watch the clip embedded above to hear what the crew has to say.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01fstn8tf05cdwpd5s71 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fstn8tf05cdwpd5s71/01fstn8tf05cdwpd5s71-77f741ab78f665e0929a2983ef139149.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=70836,70833,70830,70819]

[listicle id=70826]

[vertical-gallery id=70838]

1

1