Some Best Guesses At This "Solid Veteran" The Celtics Are Reportedly After

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Every day we get another leak in terms of what the Celts are going to try to do with their billion draft picks this year while deep down we all know the answer is either punt the picks for future picks, or draft players to stash overseas. We've all lived this life for a while where we hear about how Ainge wants to package and trade his picks, only to ya know….never package and trade his picks.

The other day it was the report that he was looking to package his three first rounders in order to move up, with the idea being that he wanted USC's Onyeka Okongwu. Fine by me! But I do think that is a bit of a pipe dream, because honestly, I don't think the picks the Celts own are that valuable to where they can jump into that high of the lottery.

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Well then Zach Lowe dropped this little nugget

Reports that Boston has explored trading its three first-round picks -- Nos. 14, 26, and 30 -- to move up are accurate, sources say, but not surprising. Teams with that many picks explore everything; Boston has also sniffed around using picks to acquire a solid veteran, sources say. There are few such veterans available in future-for-present deals with almost the whole league trying to win.

OK, I'll bite. Now remember, we aren't talking about low cost free agent veterans. We're talking about guys currently on a roster that a team might be willing to part with for some low end picks. Let's go through their position of needs and see who might actually fit this description.

Guards

I'll keep saying this until I am blue in the face. Backup point guard is a huge need on this team heading into next season. If the Celts aren't going to draft one with one of these picks, they need to find that production somewhere, and it needs to be someone that isn't overly expensive. I know Lowe mentioned Dennis Schroder in that column, but the dude makes $15.5M and has 1 year left on his deal. How are you making that money work without someone like Smart? Even something like Kanter/Semi/Romeo and all 3 picks doesn't work financially. So let's focus on some low cost guys.

Derrick White

I really can't stop thinking about someone like the Spurs. They are currently at 11 and are staring at a potential rebuild. They have a plethora of guards with Dejounte Murray/Derrick White/Patty Mills/Bryn Forbes on the roster. Patty Mills is a Pop favorite and makes too much money, but what about Derrick White? He makes minimum money, around $3M, so maybe you could pry him away for some picks and a low cost salary to send back. He has good size, has shown flashes, and helps fill that reserve guard role.

Seth Curry

This is probably a stretch, but he does fit. A good shooter, someone who is under contract for 3 more years at $7M, $8M, and $8M. If there is a shooter that the Mavs feel they could replace Curry with, I wonder if they would consider it. Again, it's a pipedream because Curry is part of their rotation and the Mavs are looking to contend, but we know Mark Cuban isn't afraid to take risks, and it might potentially open up even more space for them to chase Giannis. The Celts could certainly use this shooting off their bench.

Dennis Smith Jr

OK, what's the deal with DSJ and the Knicks. It seems like that's been a disaster from the jump, the Knicks most likely are drafting his position this year anyway and already have Frankie Smokes on the roster. He doesn't make a ton since he's on his rookie deal, and honestly nobody knows if the Knicks even know what they are doing with this new regime. DSJ could very well be a low cost/low risk option as a reserve guard off the bench. His health is kind of a disaster, but when has that ever mattered to this team before.

Tomas Satoransky

If the Bulls end up drafted LaMelo, they need to unload some guards after drafting Coby White the year before. Enter Satoransky. He makes around $10M next year and then only has $5M guaranteed for 2021-22. He's a vet, he has good size at the position and can play on/off the ball, and the Bulls might be willing to swap a guy like him for additional assets to help round out their rebuild.

Wings

Hey, if Hayward is truly gone, they need to find his wing minutes somewhere. 

Will Barton

With how good MPJ looked and really the Nuggets as a whole without Barton, I wonder if he could be had for the right price. He makes around $13M so that's a bit of an issue making the money work, but the Nuggets do not have any pick in this draft before 22. Most mocks have them taking a shooter, well you could potentially get a nice shooter at 14, and maybe even package some additional picks to move up if needed. This also wouldn't be the worst option if Hayward does leave, since Barton can either start or come off the bench. Denver loves him so I doubt they'd be interested, but I'd call if I were Ainge.

Doug McDermott

Another guy who isn't overly expensive at just $7.3M, he has one year left on his deal before UFA in 2021. The tough part would be the fact that Jeremy Lamb is coming off an injury so maybe they would want to keep McDermott, but they could potentially find those minutes in the draft. He'd give the Celts another bench shooter with good size, even if his defense is concerning. 

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Bigs

This area is tough. The good bigs out there make too much money, and I'd be just as fine if the Celts addressed this need with either a low end draft pick combined with minimum deals on the free agent market. But for the sake of this blog, let's look around.

PJ Tucker

If the Rockets are blowing things up, I call about PJ Tucker. Why not? He's a veteran presence, his defense is fucking nails, and he's mastered the corner three. He doesn't make a ton of money either. The Rockets owner is always looking to save money, so maybe you throw back low end salaries and some late 1st rd picks and call it a day.

Frank Kaminsky

The price on Frank the Tank has to be dirt cheap. Especially if the Suns bring back Baynes/Saric. Why wouldn't they flip him for some late picks. Now he may end up hitting the free agent market if the Suns turn down his club option which makes this whole thing pointless, but why not take a flier on a guy who can theoretically stretch the floor for your second unit? He could be like 65% of Kelly Olynyk in this offense right?

So as you can see, unless there are names we don't even know about that could be available, I'm not sure what type of return Ainge is going to get for a proven veteran. That's why the play for me would be packaging picks to move up and get a young cost-controlled player that fills a need. It's not like your cap situation is going to get any better in the coming years, so expiring deals don't really mean that much to me. Give me a guy that you have for a handful of years on low money and maybe it hits.