Celtics Trade Value Power Rankings: Part 1

With just seven players currently under contract for the Celtics heading into the 2019-20 season, there will be plenty of opportunity for change this offseason as Danny Ainge attempts to put together a contender.

While plenty of Ainge's offseason is dependent on the futures of Boston’s free agents to be, the first major move by the Celtics may very well come before July even hits. The NBA Draft (and the days leading up to it) is a very busy time for trades normaly and after years of standing pat on draft night, the sense of urgency should be high for the franchise as a case is built to convince Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and others to return to Boston.    

Ainge’s maneuvering at this time will be largely dependent on how the league views his personnel against his own evaluations of those same players.

To sort through it all, let’s take a closer look at the players under team control in our first edition of the 2019 Celtics trade value power rankings. We’ll count down the list in the coming days while taking into account polling from several league executives. We'll start with the players with the least trade value and working up to top assets on the roster, highlighting the type of assets they could fetch (if any) and the likelihood of said players being moved. Since the Celtics also have three first-round draft picks in 2019, we will include those picks in the rankings as a reference point.

Criteria: This isn’t simply ranking the best-to-worst players on the roster. There is significantly more that goes into a player’s trade value around the league than just talent (although that’s important). A player’s age, contract situation and injury history are all vital factors. Multiple scouts from around the league were consulted as this list was put together.

10. Guerschon Yabusele
Age: 23
2019-20 salary: $3.1 million
Remaining contract: Two years, $7.8 million total (Final year is a team option)
2018-19 stats: 6.1 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.4 apg (41 games)
Overview: Like the majority of the young players on the Celtics roster this year, Yabusele did not show much growth in year two of his career. He actually played just 16 more minutes than his rookie season, a discouraging number when you consider the number of injuries that hit Boston’s frontcourt. Yabusele did see limited opportunities here and there but outside of a standout half against the Grizzlies in December, he did not make a meaningful imprint on the floor at all while serving primarily as garbage time bench depth.

It’s understandable that Yabusele did not play much given the talent that was in front of him, but his individual numbers don’t show much to get excited about. He cut down the frequency of his 3-pointer attempts (from 56 to 36 percent of his shot attempts) but he still knocked down a subpar 32 percent of the mostly wide open looks from deep.

Yabusele's turnover rate remained steady while his defensive rebounding rate took a strong dip, not an encouraging sign for a 6-foot-8 big man that carries a hefty frame. His assist rate also declined, making one of his potential upside traits (passing) look less promising.

There are some glimmers of potential here still given the limited sample size. Yabusele moves well for a big man on defense and has shown a nice touch around the rim (72 percent inside of three feet), but he’s a borderline NBA prospect right now at best. For trade value purposes, Yabusele had his $3.1 million option picked up last fall in order to be used as salary filler in a deal and that’s his likely purpose this summer. If the C’s make a deal for Anthony Davis or another star, Yabusele is likely to be included to help make the money work. He won’t be viewed as a net asset in any deal but he doesn’t make enough ($3.1 million for one guaranteed year) to be viewed as a negative asset. Perhaps he gets a chance somewhere next year, maybe even in Boston if they go young. The more likely bet is that his fourth-year option will be declined this fall and Yabusele will be playing for a roster spot in a training camp this fall, wherever he lands.  

What could the Celtics get for him? Nothing of note. They would probably have to include some cash if they wanted to dump his salary somewhere.

9. Semi Ojeleye
Age: 24
2019-20 salary: $1.6 million
Remaining contract: Two years, $3.4 million (non-guaranteed if waived before 7/1/19)
2018-19 stats: 9 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 apg, 31% 3pt (56 games)
Overview: No rotation player on the Celtics had a higher net rating than Ojeleye during the course of the 2018-19 season. Still, the second-year forward had his playing time nearly cut in half (1150 to 594 minutes) as Stevens shifted to a veteran-heavy lineup that he stuck with during the ups and downs of the season.

“I told Semi this the other day, I’m not sure he’s not our most improved player,” Brad Stevens said back in March. “And the unfortunate part is because of our depth at those positions, the wing positions, it’s hard for him to find many minutes. Again, he’s as good of a human being and as good of a worker as I’ve ever been around.”

Ojeleye waited patiently for his turn over the course of the year and did not show a ton of improvement in most meaningful areas (31 percent from 3-point range for the second straight year). Still, he made considerable strides inside the arc, increasing his 2-pt FG percentage by 20 points to 56.5 percent while doubling his attempts. He didn’t get to the rim a ton but he showed off a vastly improved finishing ability when he got there.

Ojeleye didn’t get a chance to show off those skills much during the regular season or postseason while sitting behind Marcus Morris, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward. Stevens even elected to lean more heavily on Baynes than Ojeleye in the postseason, a choice that did not pay off well when it comes to Giannis Anteokounmpo in the postseason. When Ojeleye did get chances against the Bucks, he was a little too hesitant on offense, failing to make the Bucks defense pay enough around the rim when they left him open.

All things considered, Ojeleye is nearly guaranteed to get a bigger chance somewhere next year. He’s under a bargain contract for the next two seasons and he may be a top option for reserve power forward in Boston if Morris finds a bigger deal elsewhere. He has his flaws on the offensive end but he showed enough growth last year to secure a spot in the league. Whether or not he’s included as a trade sweetener in a deal this summer or jumps into a bigger role in Boston next year remains to be seen.

What could the Celtics get for him? Probably nothing beyond a second round pick. However, he could be used as an added piece of a bigger deal that could help convince a team to gamble while taking a collection of young picks and players.


8. Robert Williams
Age: 21
2019-20 salary: $1.94 million
Remaining contract: Three years, $7.6 million (team option for final two seasons)
2018-19 stats: 8.8 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.2 apg, 70% FG (30 games)
Overview: As the season progressed, there was no player on the Celtics roster that the Garden crowd got more excited to see enter a game than Robert Williams. The athletic phenom delivered a collection of dunks and blocks that got the crowd buzzing nearly every time he entered the game.

Williams role diminished as the year went on, however, thanks to a collection of injuries and a depth chart logjam. Additionally, for as impressive as Williams was around the rim, the C’s offense fell off a cliff (100 points per 100 possessions) when he was in the game largely due to his inability to be a threat anywhere besides the rim. He shot 70.6 percent from the field but took 83 percent of his shots within three feet. That’s not a great fit for Stevens’ pace and space scheme.

Williams also showed some rookie growing pains on the defensive end. He has some encouraging performances against Davis and Myles Turner but was bullied by bigger centers due to his frame and lack of awareness. Opposing point guards also had a field day against him on switches and in the pick-and-roll. Ultimately, Stevens went with the experience of Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis over him when electing to go big off the bench, an understandable choice given the tumultuous season but one that left fans wondering what Williams could be with more minutes.

Williams showed enough promise and is young enough (age: 21) where he still looks like a solid prospect for a player drafted at No. 27. He’ll be a cheap piece for the next three years while he develops, whether it’s Boston or elsewhere.

What could the Celtics get for him? A protected first round pick or another player recent late first round pick with promise (and also flaws).  

Coming later this week: Part 2 of the trade value power rankings