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Boston Celtics: Josh Richardson’s versatility is valued by the Celtics

By Justin Trombino

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Josh Richardson #0 of the Dallas Mavericks directs the offense during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 21, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Josh Richardson #0 of the Dallas Mavericks directs the offense during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 21, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Although the Boston Celtics have had a quiet start to free agency in Brad Stevens’ new role as team president, he has put some moves in place that will benefit the Celtics moving forward. By doing so, the Celtics have acquired veteran swingman shooter Josh Richardson in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks.

Richardson is a six-year NBA veteran who’s a defensive-minded shooting guard. His best season came in 2017-18 when he was with the Miami Heat and averaged 1.5 steals per game, good for 14th in the league and a defensive real plus-minus of 2.25, which ranked fourth-best among small forwards that year.

The Boston Celtics acquired Josh Richardson with the hopes of adding depth around their All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Following the 2017-18 season, Richardson came back the next year with the Philadelphia 76ers and had another impressive defensive season. In the 2018-19 season, Richardson finished with 1.1 steals per game and a defensive real plus-minus of 2.1, which ranked fifth-best in the league that year among shooting guards.

In an interview after last week’s NBA Draft, Stevens acknowledged that the Celtics have a young team and expressed that adding “experience” and “edge” to the roster will be needed this season. Even more so down the stretch in a playoff series, as Stevens also mentioned that the lack of veterans on his past teams have essentially held them back.

Richardson’s signing follows Stevens’ offseason trend of acquiring defensive-minded players to add more depth to Boston’s roster. This is something the team desperately needed as the Celtics had the worst defensive rating in the eight-year coaching era under Stevens last season. To help with their defensive depth, the Celtics have brought in Al Horford.

Richardson has spent the last four and a half years of his career as a starter for the Heat, 76ers, and the Mavericks. In that time, he’s averaged 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game as a starter throughout his career. It appears that he will be a starter with the Celtics if Marcus Smart is in fact the starting point guard this season.

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It’s worth coming to a realization that Richardson is most likely the only potential scorer that the Boston Celtics are going to acquire this season to complement Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It’s also worth mentioning that Richardson, Horford, and Celtics head coach Ime Udoka have a previous connection due to their short time in Philadelphia two years ago.

Although Richardson’s numbers took a slight dip last year, he didn’t have this all-around terrible season that he’s being criticized for. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while posting .427/ .330/ .917 shooting splits in 59 games last season with the Mavericks.

The Celtics only had two players average greater than 42 percent from the field during the regular season last year. The addition of Richardson should alleviate some of the workload away from Tatum and Brown, which will allow them to operate more efficiently on offense.

The way that Stevens maneuvered the deal for Richardson was pure genius given the situation in which the Celtics want to work with. Richardson’s $11.6 million player option was just a little too rich to fit into the remaining $11 million trade exception that Boston expected to use for their big offseason signing.

In doing so, Stevens recognized that the new league year hadn’t been turned over yet, therefore, Stevens was able to land Richardson at his 2020-21 salary of $10.8 million, which was fitting for Boston’s trade exception and pretty masterful work on Stevens‘ part.

All in all, Richardson should be a great addition for the Boston Celtics. He has a history of being offensively and defensively versatile throughout his career and that’s something the Celtics are going to need from him the most.

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