Two of the greatest blockbusters of the 2023 NBA offseason were arranged by the Boston Celtics.
They might not have finished trading yet.
Their roster is a tad top-heavy, even if Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps PorziņĖis currently make up their starting lineup. Obviously, their lack of depth hasn’t been a big problem up until now, but when the playoffs roll around, things may be different.
Unless, of course, the Shamrocks rectify this shortfall during trade season. And based to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, it appears that’s just what they have in mind. The Celtics are expected to be “active in the trade market… to try to see if they can beef up their bench rotation.”
The second unit could benefit from the boost provided by the next three supporting players.
Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Celtics were among the clubs who purportedly showed interest in Reggie Bullock before he signed with the Houston Rockets in early October. Bullock’s proven skill set has already lured them in, so it’s unlikely that the rocky beginning to his Space City term would deter them. They’re considerably more inclined to believe in him given his almost ten-year history of reliable three-and-D play.
His 205-pound, 6’6″ physique enables him to switch between defensive duties without losing a beat. Even if his three-ball may not be firing at the moment, his scorching 38.4% career success percentage hasn’t been affected at all.In the current NBA, finding a three-and-D wing for a low cost is a rare opportunity, and if the Celtics were correct to predict his potential for a comeback, this may be one of those rare times.
Andre Drummond, Chicago Bulls
Even though Luke Kornet has impressed the Celtics with his 78.4 field goal % and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference, they may still be hesitant to totally commit to him as their third big man.
Although that position may seem specialized, considering the uncertainties surrounding Boston’s top two big men, it may have a significant impact. Al Horford’s thirty-seventh birthday is getting closer to the past, and PorziņĚis is once again having trouble staying fit. Andre Drummond might be a cheap depth piece for the Celtics if their inside collection is a worry at all.
With Drummond a 30-year-old backup whose contract is about to expire, the Chicago Bulls appear ready for a fire sale. It’s difficult to see how that wouldn’t include a Drummond move.His advantages and disadvantages appear to be well-established at this time, so Boston shouldn’t anticipate anything noteworthy from him outside of the confined region but should expect a lot of action inside it. While he has never been the shot-blocker that his build and bounce say he should be, he can still wreak havoc as a sneaky-strong steals source with faster hands than you’d think. He is a reliable scorer at the rim and an unrelenting rebounder.
John Konchar, Memphis Grizzlies
For the Memphis Grizzlies, who are still without Ja Morant, it appears like things are getting late, early. This has many wondering if the team would at least make some judicious trades before the deadline. The Celtics are supposedly “among the teams who’ve kept tabs on Konchar’s situation from afar,” according to Scotto, so if reserve forward John Konchar decided to enter the trade market, Boston may give him a call.
Like many players in Memphis, Konchar has had a terrible start to the season, but he is the type of role player who might improve if he is surrounded by a stronger group of players. He remains active when it comes to defense, usually being in the right place at the right time. Although he has never been a prolific shooter, he may still be useful in that area given that he shot 40.6 percent from three over his first three seasons.
With Brown and Tatum, the Celtics have two of the top wings in the game, but the group of players behind them thins out rapidly. As far as real wings that head coach Joe Mazzulla can rely on, Sam Hauser is having a breakout season. In the unlikely event that Boston needs to go farther than usual in their wing rotation, Konchar may at least offer some protection.