The Celtics took several steps towards fortifying their roster by agreeing to terms with Vincent Poirier, Daniel Theis and Brad Wanamaker on Tuesday. Wanamaker was the latest addition after coming to terms on a one-year deal for the league minimum, per a league source. The agreements provide a boost for the Celtics depth but also signals the end of flashy free-agent signings for Boston this offseason, barring some creativeness by the front office. What remaining options does Danny Ainge have to improve this roster? Let's work through the remaining options and reset the depth chart after the addition of the trio and Enes Kanter.
2019-20 Cap situation
Kemba Walker: $32.7 million
Gordon Hayward: $32.7 million
Marcus Smart: $12.6 million
Jayson Tatum: $7.8 million
Jaylen Brown: $6.5 million
Daniel Theis: $5 million
Enes Kanter: $4.76 million
Guerschon Yabusele: $3.1 million
Robert Williams: $1.9 million
Brad Wanamaker: $1.45 million
Semi Ojeleye: $1.3 million
Vincent Poirier: $897,158
Romeo Langford (No. 14 pick): $3.45 million
Grant Williams (No. 22 pick): $2.38 million
Carsen Edwards (No. 33 pick): $897,158
Is it a surprise Wanamaker is coming back?
A little bit. The Celtics' backcourt was already pretty crowded but the team obviously sold him on some opportunity at the backup point guard spot with Terry Rozier out the door. Smart will likely get reps at backup PG at times but if Wanamaker believes he can beat out Carsen Edwards, there will be a chance for him as well to play. Just like the frontcourt, competition should be quite fierce during training camp as guys battle for their spots in the rotation.
How many roster spots do the Celtics have open?
None, assuming all of the team's top draft picks (Langford, Williams, Edwards) are signed to NBA deals. Tremont Waters will likely be added on a two-way contract with Max Straus. The C's can sign more players (up to 20 can be on the roster for the preseason) but they have a full 15-man roster if they just choose to make no more tweaks with this current group.
What means do the Celtics have to sign players still on the free-agent market?
Currently, the team can only sign players for the veteran's minimum. They used their full room-level exception to come to terms with Kanter and the team does not get access to the full mid-level exception ($9.2 million) since they are going to have to fall below the salary cap to sign Walker. Any time you fall below the salary cap, you lose access to the full mid-level.
What about the sign-and-trade with Rozier? I thought that was supposed to help the Celtics get access the full mid-level?
It only does if the deal is expanded to include Al Horford or Kyrie Irving. The purpose of a bigger deal would be allowing the Celtics to operate as an above-the-cap team (salary matching Horford or Irving and Rozier for Walker, which would allow Boston to get access to the full mid-level exception again and maintain Bird Rights on Marcus Morris. However, it's going to cost the Celtics at least a first-round pick (maybe more) to get the Nets or 76ers to facilitate that kind of a move. It might not be worth it for Boston to go that route since there aren't many appealing options left on the open market. Nothing will be official until July 6 (when the moratorium lifts) so the C's will search until then, but the odds remain that the Celtics will just net something minor from Charlotte (a second-round pick) for trading them Rozier.
Could Marcus Morris still return or be sign-and-traded?
Yes, but only if the C's pull off an unlikely three-team sign-and-trade as described above. Boston could still sign-and-trade him somewhere but they could not take back any money and still have the ability to sign Walker without some other roster moves. The odds seem high that Morris will sign elsewhere to a team with remaining cap room (Lakers or Clippers).
How can the Celtics realistically upgrade the roster now?
Straight up trades is the best bet at this point. A look at the roster shows that there is still going to be plenty of competition at point guard and center.
Ballhandlers: Walker, Smart, Edwards, Wanamaker
Wings: Hayward, Tatum, Brown, Langford, Ojeleye
Undersized bigs: Grant Williams, Yabusele
Centers: Kanter, Theis, Poirier, Rob Williams
Who is eligible to be traded?
For now, everyone who was under contract heading into this offseason (Hayward, Brown, Tatum, Smart, Ojeleye, Rob Williams, Yabusele). The rookies can be dealt 30 days after they sign their contracts (likely sometime in August). The new free agent signings (Theis, Poirier, Kanter, Wanamaker) can't be dealt until December 15th per CBA rules.
What's next?
The Celtics will continue to explore trade and sign-and-trade possibilities but there is a good chance that this is the roster that the team will start next season with. I would certainly be shocked if this is the group that ends next season given the glut of players at the center spot and other parts of the roster but there are plenty of movable contracts here.