With up to 14 players (pending player options) potentially under contract for the Celtics heading into the 2020-21 season, Danny Ainge has a lot of options this offseason as he tries to improve his roster and build the Celtics into a formidable contender.
The crowded depth chart indicates consolidation is an option Boston’s front office is going to need to explore. There is not going to be enough room for everyone to play regular minutes in a healthy rotation, and there are necessary improvements that need to be made to bolster depth after a disappointing finish in the Eastern Conference Finals.
To sort through it all, let’s take a closer look at the team’s roster in part 3 of the 2020 Celtics trade value power rankings. We’ll complete the full list in coming days but you can catch up by looking at spots No. 14-11, the value of the young guys in spots No. 10-8 in Part 2 and some key veteran parts in Part 3
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.
NBA News and Notes
—Smart hire by Doc Rivers in Philadelphia this week bringing aboard former Kings head coach Dave Joerger as a top assistant. With the Sixers flexibility limited in terms of offseason moves, Joerger will be a nice weapon for Rivers to help maximize his current mismatched personnel.
—One spot to keep an eye on for a potential move up on draft night for the Celtics? Detroit at No. 7. They have nearly half of their roster to fill this offseason in the midst of rebuilding so adding two or three first-round picks could hold some appeal for them if the C’s see someone they want at that spot.
—Eric Bledsoe remains one of the most likely trade candidates this offseason for a Bucks team that’s looking to get better but it’s hard to find any team (contending or rebuilding) that will want to give up anything of value for the 30-year-old that has been at his worst in the postseason for three straight years now.
—Look for NBA champion Rajon Rondo to opt-out of his player option with the Lakers and strike one final deal before retirement.
—The NBA and NBPA will likely reach new terms on the collective bargaining agreement adjustment by October 30th according to an ESPN report. Once that agreement is in place and an adjusted salary cap is set, the trade market should open up ahead of the November draft next month (a freeze is in place currently).
