5 Best-Value Free Agents for Boston Celtics to Pursue in 2015 NBA Free Agency
Much has been made of the Boston Celtics’ max cap room this summer. Speculation involving LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan has been rampant, but the reality is the C’s don’t need to go all-in this summer.
As inspiring as Boston’s 2015 playoff appearance was, this core of talent may be worth assessing for another year before deciding what kind of superstar would fit in best.
Luckily, the C’s can still get in on the free-agent frenzy without going star hunting; they just need to be a little more frugal.
A number of players are coming off contract this offseason who could help Boston get better right away, and if the C’s play their cards right, they could sign a couple of these guys without breaking the bank.
Most of them are young players who are finishing up cheap contracts and stand to earn a raise due to their play in 2014-15. They are the kinds of undervalued pieces that should entice a savvy front office like Boston’s.
While we can all spend our time tinkering with Cousins trade scenarios, let’s take a closer look at five good value free agents the C’s should be trying to court this summer.
Ed Davis, PF (Player Option)
1 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 8.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 60.1 FG%, 23.3 MPG
Ed Davis was a useful cog for an awful Los Angeles Lakers team, and he has probably played his way into something more than his $1.1 million player option. In fact, per ESPN Insider Nick Borges, he has already decided to test the waters of the open market.
Davis is not a 32-minutes-per-night kind of player, but he is useful in the right role. He has consistently been undervalued throughout his career, and while he’s due for a pay raise, Boston could likely get him something in the $4-5 million yearly range.
Davis would make a nice complement off the bench to Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, providing some toughness on both ends. He isn’t an elite defender, allowing player efficiency ratings of 18.0 and 19.8 to opposing 4s and 5s, respectively, according to 82games, but he’s a valuable energy guy.
Davis, in a more consistent role, could easily lead Boston in rebounds per game and provide the team with some crucial buckets in the paint. He would also provide the C’s with some much-needed rim protection. Davis isn’t a great defender on the ground, but his length and athleticism make him a solid shot-blocker.
Per Basketball-Reference.com, 71.4 percent of his shots come within three feet of the rim, and he converts those at a strong 60.1 percent clip. He’d be a natural fit running the floor in Brad Stevens’ offense and could provide the C’s with a little post-scoring juice on occasion.
Davis is also a good screener who could form a strong pick-and-roll tandem with Marcus Smart. Essentially, he could fill the role Boston hoped Brandan Wright would during the regular season, which is a useful spot in the rotation.
Finding high-energy bigs who are good on the glass is not an easy thing, and Boston should do everything possible to court Davis.
K.J. McDaniels, SG/SF (Restricted)
2 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 7.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 39.6 FG%, 28.7 3P%, 21.8 MPG
A deadline trade to the Houston Rockets forced K.J. McDaniels to ride the bench for the second half of the year, but the second-round rookie was electrifying as a Philadelphia 76er. Sure, some of those numbers are inflated from playing heavy minutes on a bad team, but McDaniels showed flashes of real defensive skill.
Per 82games, he held opposing 2s to a 13.0 PER and 3s to a 14.3 PER during his time in Philly. Those are impressive numbers, given that he was a rookie swingman who often had to guard elite scorers. He has also had a number of highlight-reel blocks, and a wing who can actually protect the hoop is a useful asset.
The 6’6” McDaniels has the athleticism and physical tools to be an elite wing defender and has shown some decent offensive polish. He isn’t a great jump shooter yet and jacks a few too many threes, but his mechanics aren’t terrible. There is room for improvement.
McDaniels’ best offensive skill is his ability to attack the rim in transition or off the bounce. If he can become even a league-average shooter, he could fit seamlessly into the C’s offense. In a more disciplined system, he’ll take better shots and not force the issue as often as he had to with the Sixers.
However, the concern is not only whether his numbers with Philly were a fluke, but also if he would overlap too much with Jae Crowder. McDaniels’ game as an athletic, defensive-minded wing is similar to Crowder’s, who played well in the postseason and should be a priority for Boston to re-sign. The Celtics could conceivably snag both, although that would not be easy to pull off.
McDaniels has a strange contract that CBS Sports’ Sam Vecenie breaks down, which could complicate matters. That said, it is difficult to see Houston shelling out big money to keep him, Corey Brewer and Josh Smith.
If the Rockets don’t seem interested in retaining him, Boston should put some feelers out to see if it could sign McDaniels.
Kyle Singler, SF (Restricted)
3 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 6.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 38.6 FG%, 39.8 3P%, 21.8 MPG
Boston still needs outside shooting, and few players in the league are better at launching from deep than Kyle Singler.
He was playing quite well in 2014-15 for the Detroit Pistons before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where his role and minutes shrunk. Still, the 6’8” marksman has had success in the league and is tremendous shooting off the catch.
Last season, the Celtics shot just 32.7 percent from beyond the arc, one of the lowest numbers in the league.
Singler took 53.4 percent of his shots with the Pistons from deep last season, per Basketball-Reference.com, which means he is unafraid to fire when he’s open and doesn’t try to overextend himself offensively. Having him on the court would automatically lift Boston's number, and he has proved to be more than just a one-dimensional piece.
Singler is a decent team defender. He can’t shut down elite scorers, but he rotates well, knows where to be and has bulked up considerably since being drafted. With Detroit, he held opposing small forwards to a respectable 13.9 PER, per 82games.
Singler could start over Crowder at the 3 or come in as a scoring threat off the bench.
Boston’s backcourt of Smart and Avery Bradley isn't going to be hitting threes at a high clip, so having a forward who can stretch out the defense is instrumental in opening up driving lanes. Singler is a restricted free agent who will garner interest from other teams that need spacing, but the promise of a bigger role with a smart franchise may lure him to Boston.
Omer Asik, C (Unrestricted)
4 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 7.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 51.7 FG%, 26.1 MPG
Omer Asik didn’t have a stellar year next to Anthony Davis, but he’s still a good option if Boston wants to acquire a true center on a reasonable deal. He’s a true 7-footer with two-way skills, and those players are not that easy to come by nowadays.
His defensive acumen has fallen somewhat since his days with the Chicago Bulls, as Asik held opposing centers to a PER of 18.6 with New Orleans, per 82games. Still, he’s decent covering the pick-and-roll and can move his feet well to stay in front of smaller players. He isn’t an elite rim protector, but he would be an upgrade in the paint over Olynyk or Sully just because he’s long and willing to be physical.
Asik’s offensive game doesn’t have a ton of polish, but he does a nice job of moving along the baseline or rolling to the hoop after setting a pick. Last season, 89.6 percent of his shots came within three feet of the rim, per Basketball-Reference.com, although he hit an uninspiring 55.3 percent of those.
It would be nice if he could develop a few go-to post moves or a more reliable mid-range jumper, but at least he plays within himself offensively and is electric on the offensive glass. Asik isn’t a dominant athlete, but he runs the floor well and should get a few transition buckets, beating other centers down the court.
He could be particularly effective if Sully and Olynyk continue to improve their three-point shooting, which would leave him free to move around in the paint.
He just finished the last year of a back-loaded three-year contract and should be earning somewhere in the $7-9 million range annually. That’s not a small price, but Boston has plenty of cap room and could use a true 5 for the first time since Kendrick Perkins. By itself, his contract wouldn’t be a traditional “value,” but he plays a coveted position with a shallow talent pool, making him a player who should intrigue Boston.
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF (Player Option)
5 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 5.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 41.2 FG%, 27.4 3P%, 18.5 MPG
A stellar, if brief, playoff run means Al-Farouq Aminu stands to earn much more than his $1.1 million player option, as he told the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Florek.
In five games for Dallas, Aminu averaged 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while canning 54.8 percent of his shots and 63.6 percent of his three-pointers. Those percentages are obviously unsustainable, but it’s worth wondering if he could post similar counting stats in a more expanded role.
Aminu is a tremendous athlete who is capable of making staggering plays above the rim. He has mastered the fast-break block and has thrown down his share of eye-opening dunks.
However, he has always been seen as a limited player due to his inconsistent jumper. A terrific rebounding small forward and a decent defender, Aminu has failed to develop the outside shot that would likely land him a more consistent starting role.
Per Basketball-Reference.com, he has also been jacking up more and more triples, especially in 2014-15 when 34.7 percent of his shots came from beyond the arc. The Celtics have shown they’re willing to live with questionable shooters launching threes, but they would need more consistency from Aminu in order to sign him to a longer-term contract.
Still, if he can prove his playoff performance wasn’t a fluke, he’d be a great get for Boston. He played decent defense on James Harden, came up huge on the offensive glass and generally took smart shots within the flow of the offense.
On a fast-paced team that values floor spacing, he could do serious damage by crashing the glass from the perimeter. He could also potentially play some 4 in more mobile lineups. Aminu would also provide Boston with some shot-blocking on the wing that the team sorely needs. He can’t be the lynchpin of the defense, but he recovers well and has the versatility to switch and cover smaller players as needed.
During the regular season, his individual defensive numbers weren’t great, as he yielded a solid 12.7 PER to 2-guards but a 17.9 PER to small forwards, according to 82games. However, he’s young (24) and may have been trying to prove himself by gambling in order to get more minutes. On a team where his role is more clearly defined, he should play with a bit more poise on that end.
The C's shouldn't pay Aminu like a starter, but if they want insurance behind Crowder and can get the Maverick for something like three years, $12 million, it would be a great addition.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
