Boston Celtics must watch the buyout market

The Boston Celtics decided to not make any moves at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline. Because they decided to not make any moves, the team must now watch the buyout market closely.

There were rumors that the Boston Celtics could possibly make some moves before the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline. Ultimately no one was traded for Lou Williams or Tyreke Evans, and Marcus Smart was never moved because Boston’s asking price was too high.

Williams signed an extension with the Los Angeles Clippers before the deadline was over, which put an end to the trade rumors. The Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t get a first round pick out of anyone because Evans will be a free agent at the end of the year.

A lot of crazy moves were made and a lot of them came from the Celtics’ Eastern Conference rivals, the Cleveland Cavaliers. They made one last push to revamp their roster in hopes of fixing whatever issues have held them back.

The Celtics did, however, sign Greg Monroe to a one-year, $5 million deal after he was bought out by the Phoenix Suns. This was a good sign for the team because they’ve lacked depth at the center position all season long. This move allows Al Horford and Aron Baynes to get more resting time. Not only that, but they lack the ability to score the ball of the bench.

Boston ranks 23rd in the NBA in bench points and adding Monroe does help with some of those scoring issues – but he’s not a major difference-maker. Sure, a lot of the guys that are bought out aren’t going to be game-changers, but they’re players that can certainly help the team moving forward. Without a doubt the Celtics should and will look at potential candidates that can possibly help with some issues in the scoring department.

One other thing that they need extra help with is depth. It’s no secret that the team has possibly faced the most injuries out of any teams this season. Despite all the injuries, they’ve remained one of the best teams in the league, holding the best record in the East.

One name that’s surfaced is Joe Johnson, according to Yahoo! Sports‘ Chris Mannix:

Johnson is not the same player he once was, but he certainly has value. He’s 36 years old and can still score the ball. He’s only scoring 7.3 points per game, but a change of scenery could do him some good.

Some other names that could be bought out are Tyreke Evans, Shabazz Muhammad, Vince Carter and Marco Belinelli (who has been already).

While they may want him to stay, the odds are still fairly high for a buyout agreement. The Sacramento Kings are not making playoffs and Carter is nearing the end of his career. It’s also been reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Grizzlies would like to re-sign Evans, but let’s face it, it makes no sense for either party. The Grizzlies are heading for a rebuild and Evans is 28.

Muhammad would be an interesting piece if he were to be bought out by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He once was the No. 1 recruit out of high school and was a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

However, he’s struggled mightily in the NBA. In his rookie year, he never received many minutes, but this was largely due to Rick Adelman‘s coaching style in not playing his younger players. After he retired, the team was able to find more minutes for him with the great Flip Saunders under control.

He found some success, until this season came around. He’s a hustle player, but will not pass the ball, play defense and plays with a little bit of old school basketball. Though he can shoot it from 3, it’s certainly not his strong suit. He wouldn’t necessarily be the best fit for the team, seeing as he’s a selfish, non-defensive player.

Next: Biggest winners and losers of the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline

Any of those names that are possible buyout candidates are players the Celtics should pursue. They would certainly help the team score the ball and provide depth and experience come playoff time.