The Boston Celtics did not have the marquee run in the NBA Draft and free agency like they were hoping to. General manager Danny Ainge was convinced that big names would flock to Boston and instead the Celtics were forced to settle for smaller names which came with smaller contracts. However, could Boston be setting themselves up for long-term success with the contracts they handed out?
The Celtics have a good chance at getting a lot of bang for their buck while setting up for bigger moves in the future. The two top moves made by Boston outside of re-signing Jae Crowder to a five-year contract was acquiring both Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson on two-year deals that are essentially one-year contracts. According to the Boston Herald, while the contracts to Jerebko and Johnson seem steep at first glance, they both become non-guaranteed after the first year. That means either the Celtics just got two players that could turn out be extremely productive or they got excellent trade pieces in the coming season.
Boston is hoping to create a lot out of little with their roster. Moves could still be in the making for the team. A trade of Gerald Wallace is a top priority, but will be difficult to come by. Wallace has the highest contract on the team and will be earning $10 million next season. According to the Boston Herald, the Celtics would ideally like to package him into a trade deal, but interest is low.
The quiet free agency period also means that players like Jared Sullinger have been taken off the trade market for the time being. According to ESPN New York writer Ian Begley, both the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats eyed a trade for Sullinger, but nothing came of it. However, with the addition of Johnson, Sullinger is on notice. Johnson is expected to be the starting power forward in 2015 while that leaves Sullinger to fight for time on the court. the departure of Brandon Bass helps his future with the franchise, but that does not mean the Celtics are not watching him closely. The team will likely be active once again when the mid-season trade deadline rolls around and Sullinger could pop up once again.
