Celtics should not trade Terry Rozier for Tyreke Evans (or any other rental)

Terry Rozier has always held a special place in Danny Ainge’s heart. Ainge shocked the NBA world three years ago by taking the athletic Louisville guard with the 16th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, much higher than the late first round/early second round range he was projected to land in.

Ainge stuck by Rozier for his first two seasons, despite regular bouts of inconsistent play. He showed flashes of brilliance with his rebounding and athleticism, but his shooting was subpar and he played out of control basketball at times. Despite those flaws, Ainge reportedly turned down overtures to trade the 23-year-old guard as part of a package for Serge Ibaka at last year’s trade deadline, and resisted the temptation to include him in a deal during the team’s overhaul last summer.

The 6-foot-2 guard has made some major strides during his third NBA season, but that did not stop multiple prominent names on the web from suggesting the Celtics should deal Rozier to the Memphis Grizzlies for Tyreke Evans. Rozier responded to those rumors by posting a triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) in his first career start on Wednesday night, leading the charge for the hosts in a dominant 103-73 win over the Knicks.

Even without the performance, I was ready to write this: The Celtics should not trade Rozier for Evans (or any other trade deadline rental).Rozier made a pretty strong case for himself on that front Wednesday as he posted career-high with 11 rebounds and 10 assists over 32 minutes. He set the tone for the Celtics from the very start of the game with 11 first-quarter points and then proceeded to set the table for his teammates for the rest of the evening.

“He’s hitting guys at the right time,” Al Horford explained. “He was coming off to go to score the ball or he’s looking for guys and making the right plays. That shows a lot of growth from him and I hope that he takes this and just keeps growing and playing with that -- when he’s assertive like that -- I think that’s the word. I think that he’s a totally different player and it was really fun to see that.”

Rozier became just the second player in NBA history to post a triple-double in his first career NBA start and it was also the first triple-double in over two years for the Celtics.

“That’s amazing,” Jaylen Brown declared. “That’s just a testament to him. As soon as he gets the opportunity, and that’s what we see? I just give all credit to Terry. He’s been working his butt off all year. That’s the first time he got an opportunity to start and he puts up a triple-double. That’s just a testament to his hard work and the dedication he puts on his craft.”

The standout performance is reflective of a year of progress for Rozier. His field goal percentage is still subpar at 39 percent, but he’s shooting a career-high 35.7 percent from 3-point range. Rozier has also posted career highs in nearly every statistical category (points, rebounds, assists, steals) with his increased playing time off the bench.

The improved consistency combined with his athleticism has made Rozier a vital part of the C’s rotation right now. He’s one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, which helps cover up for Boston’s lackluster boarding in the frontcourt when he's on the floor. His defense has become a strength as well and while he’s never been known for his court vision, games like we saw Wednesday show that he’s capable there.

“He's got high confidence,” Marcus Morris said. “He's a dog. He can get after people, score or he can dish it. One thing I think people don't give him enough credit for is his rebounding. He rebounds the hell out of the ball and he did that tonight. He got everybody involved and ran the team. He did a great job.”

More importantly for the Celtics and their team building, Rozier is cheap. He’s making $1.9 million this season and just $3 million next year before becoming a restricted free agent. He’s a great bang for the buck with his all-around production at that price and his familiarity with Stevens’ system is a crucial weapon now with the heavy turnover from last season.

“I came a long way from my rookie year,” Rozier explained. “Lot of credit goes to the coaches for helping me, and the hours watching film – how I can become a better offensive player by reading the defenses. They’re doing a great job of putting me in the right position to succeed.”

The allure of a player like Evans is enticing, but it’s important to recognize he’s not going to come close to putting up the numbers he does in Memphis right now in a place like Boston. He gets free reign down in Memphis within the offense, but he’s going to be learning a new system and trying to perform as a secondary option in a potential new home like Boston.

Rozier was one of the few Celtics who performed well in that secondary role during last year’s postseason. He shot the ball well, brought energy during his stints, didn’t turn the ball over and just played smart, steady basketball. There have been some bumps in the road this year, but he’s generally carried over that momentum to this season.

“I feel really good about Terry Rozier out there,” Brad Stevens said Wednesday. “I think he’s had a great year. He’s shown consistent progress since he’s been here.”

While Evans or another rental would be a nice boost to the offense in the short term, Rozier could be a part of the team’s long-term plan. He is a potential replacement at reserve point guard for Marcus Smart next season (if they let him walk in free agency) and his growth potential is worth far more than a couple months of a player the Celtics wouldn’t likely be able to re-sign in Evans (due to no Bird Rights and limited salary room next season).

If Evans or another rental could put the Celtics over the top as a contender, that’d be one thing. That’s not the case in this instance though. The Celtics should make a run at upgrading the roster at this trade deadline, but if they’re merely targeting rentals, Rozier shouldn’t be on the table.