A Top Celtics Free-Agent Target Signs Elsewhere, Where Does Boston Go from Here?

After missing out on a top target, an evaluation of the Celtics' options.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics are a title contender armed with a $3.23 million disabled player exception the NBA granted them after Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL.

But as much as Boston would like to add another wing to its roster to at least help manage minutes in the final stretch of the regular season, there's an impediment that's prevented it from happening already.

"The other thing that is kind of the hard part about this team is, if we were going to make a move to bring in a person that was going to play a ton of minutes, you almost have to subtract somebody else that plays a ton of minutes," expressed Celtics' president of basketball operations Brad Stevens a day after the trade deadline.

"Our team has a good way about itself. I think we’ve got good depth. I think we’ve got thirteen players that can play and impact each other in a really good way. But we also have a bunch of guys that don’t need to do it every night. And so that ability to play, but not have to need to play is a big deal. And I think that’s what we need to have as a team. It’s not about an individual; this is about a goal."

Embracing a role like Blake Griffin's, which comes with spending games as a spectator and the expectation of riding the bench during the playoffs, isn't for most, especially as current free agents hoping to latch on with a team and then earn the best deal possible over the summer.

Perhaps that's why Will Barton, a player Boston targeted on the buyout market, is signing with the Toronto Raptors, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

So where do the Celtics go from here?

One option is bringing in Carmelo Anthony if he's open to a role like Griffin's. Given Anthony's friendships with Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, Boston might have to compete with the Suns to sign him.

There are other options for veteran leaders, including Joe Johnson, who the Celtics, including stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, valued having around in Johnson's short time back in Boston last season.

The Celtics could even decide it's finally time for an Isaiah Thomas reunion. But as fun as that would be, the reality is they have the deepest team in the NBA and don't lack for leadership.

They have excellent team chemistry, and even on nights they want to trim minutes or give someone a game off, they have plenty of depth to handle that.

They could add someone on a multi-year deal to help make the math work in a potential offseason trade like last year, when in-season signings Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, and Nik Stauskas helped Boston acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers.

That option's starting to seem more likely, but if the Celtics want to proceed as currently constructed, they have everything they need to pace themselves through the rest of the regular season and capture banner 18.

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Addresses Free-Throw Disparity in Celtics' Loss to Knicks

Former Celtic Defends Jayson Tatum After His First-Career Ejection

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Celtics' Shot Selection After Long-Range Struggles in Loss vs. Knicks

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Knicks: New York Bests Boston on a Cold Shooting Night by the Visitors

Joe Mazzulla's Message to the Celtics After Clinching Season Series vs. Sixers

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Game-Winning Shot vs. Sixers, Including His Message to the Celtics in the Preceding Timeout

Film Room: How the Celtics Defend Joel Embiid

Jayson Tatum Unveils Jordan Tatum 1's