Examining Jahlil Okafor and 6 other new names that are eligible to be traded into the Celtics' DPE

The Celtics' front office has limited options when it comes to finding players that fit into the team's  $8.4 million disabled player exception. I went over the list of potential options for the Boston Sports Journal last week but a number of new names can now be added to that group following yesterday's rookie option deadline. Eight teams declined 2018-19 team options on the rookie contracts of eight players, which those eight players are now playing on expiring deals for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. That change in their current contract status makes them eligible to fit into the Celtics' DPE in a trade.

Jahlil Okafor is the biggest name out of the bunch and he's told reporters in Philadelphia today that he wants a buyout or a trade, but are there other intriguing targets on the list for the Celtics outside of the big man? Let's look at the full rundown of names.

Two important caveats before we dive into the list.

1. These players had their cheap team options declined for a reason (i.e. most aren't good). All of these players have not been very good in the early stages of their career, to the point that their respective teams did not want to commit a reasonable salary to them for the next season despite their young age (all are in early 20s). Some haven't got a chance to play much (Johnson, McCullough) because they just aren't good enough while others (Vaughn, Okafor) have had too many players in front of them at their position. Either way, all of these guys (outside of maybe Okafor and Hezonja) are depth pieces for the bottom of a roster.

2. These players no longer hold Bird Rights with their respective teams once their contracts expire (whether they stay with them or are traded). That means if the Celtics trade for a player like Okafor, they will not be able to offer him more than a $6.3 million salary for next season (the amount Okafor was set to make during 2018-19 on his rookie deal before it was declined). That's not a big deal for a lot of these guys (who could be playing for roster spots next year and won't cost much either way) but does matter if a player has a breakout season over the rest of this season. Unless a team has salary cap space, it won't be able to offer a sizable raise to any of these players. If anything, it just reduces the trade value of all of these guys on their current deals, which was pretty low already.

Jahlil Okafor (C)
76ers
No. 3 pick in 2015
Earns $4.99 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $6,313,832 in 2018-19
Career stats: 14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 apg 51% FG

Mario Hezonja (SG/SF)
Magic
No. 5 pick in 2015
Earns $4.1 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $5,167,231 in 2018-19
Career stats: 16.3 mpg, 40.1% FG, 33.4% 3pt, 5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Josh Huestis (PF)
Thunder
No. 29 in 2014
Earns $1.41 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $2,243,326 in 2018-19
Career stats: 14 games, 2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 36% FG

Brice Johnson (PF)
Clippers
No. 25 in 2016
Earns $1.33 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $1,544,951 in 2018-19
Career stats: 5 total games, 2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Rashad Vaughn (SG)
Bucks
No. 17 in 2015
Earns $1.89 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $2,901,565 in 2018-19
Career stats: 13.8 mpg, 33% FG, 31.1% 3pt, 3.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Kevon Looney (PF)
Warriors
No. 30 in 2015
Earns $1.47 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $2,227,081 in 2018-19
Career stats: 8.1 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg

Chris McCullough (PF)
Wizards
No. 29 in 2015
Earns $1.47 million in 2017-18
Team option declined for $2,243,326
Career stats: 11.0 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg (41 total games)

Analysis: You can cross guys like Huestis, Johnson and McCullough off the list immediately. Those players may not be worthy of a roster spot and certainly aren't worth using the DPE on. Looney and Vaughn are intriguing fringe rotation pieces. The Warriors likely declined Looney's option because they are going to have a monster luxury tax bill for next year and aren't going to have room for Looney to play much anyway. He missed most of his rookie season but there is some potential untapped upside there just because he really hasn't received much of a chance in Golden State.

Vaughn and Hezonja are wing shooters, which is what the Celtics need more of, in theory, after losing Gordon Hayward for the season. The problem with both players is that they haven't done that well in their careers yet (both sub 34 percent 3-point shooters) to justify regular rotation minutes. It's unlikely either would be much of an upgrade over what the Celtics are using now.

Finally, we have Okafor. The Celtics have been tied to the former Duke center in trade rumors for years now but it's hard to see him fitting into the C's rotation as things currently stand. Aron Baynes has been terrific in the middle and Daniel Theis has played above expectations backing him up off the bench. Both have been instrumental to a Celtics' defense that has been the best in the league out of the gate.

While Okafor's potential upside is tempting (he's only 21!), where does he fit in for minutes on this team, especially when Marcus Morris returns? Brad Stevens likes to play more small ball anyway and Okafor's lack of defense and non-existent 3-point range just does not fit this team's overall scheme well on either end. If the Celtics had a hole in the frontcourt behind Al Horford and Baynes, that would be one thing. It's not an issue for now though, making it hard to see the Celtics pursuing Okafor as a rental, unless the team does not think it can count on Theis to sustain his play.

If the asking price is just a second round pick, I wouldn't rule out the possibility. The guy was the No. 3 overall pick for a reason and Brad Stevens might be the right guy to get more out of him. A potential buyout would make things easier as well (since C's wouldn't necessarily have to use DPE spot to sign him, just veteran's minimum). However, the guess here is the Celtics are better off waiting for stronger fits to become available (via buyout or trade) to use their DPE, rather than making a move on Okafor or any of these other new potential targets for it.