SALT LAKE CITY – Are the Boston Celtics now a destination for free-agent buyout candidates?
“I think so,” Evan Turner said before tonight’s game against the Jazz.
Boy, have things changed.
Over the past few seasons, Boston has filled out empty roster spots with diamonds in the rough, such as Chris Babb, Chris Johnson, Dwight Powell and Tim Frazier. Things may have changed.
Now, with a hold on the third seed in the Eastern Conference and premiere wins versus teams like the Clippers and the Cavaliers, the Celtics are a team that should be attractive to any free agent leading up to the March 1 deadline for playoff eligibility.
“Honestly, you’ve got the highlight teams that everyone talks about and the contenders, but if you watch us play and if you come to each game, we beat those teams,” Turner said with confidence. “We also compete every single night. When you put those into the equation along with the atmosphere and the city and stuff, I think it’s a great place and a great fit for the right guy.”
Speaking of the city and the organization in general, Turner gave his take on why Boston should be an attractive option for free agents in the coming weeks and beyond.
“The up-and-up, the progression,” he said to begin his list of reasons. “The way we play ball – we play team ball.
“Besides team atmosphere, the city is nice and the fans are great. To play at TD Garden is a crazy experience. It’s always rockin’. There’s not much more you could ask for in that certain sense, and if it’s a great free-agent, they can help us get over the top.”
Brad Stevens wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the option of adding a player who may become a free agent during the next two weeks. He said that he and Danny Ainge have not discussed if or how the team will fill the open roster spot, but said that there would be specific goals if the C’s decide to do so.
“I know based on all of our discussions that we’re only filling our roster with people we think can help us,” Stevens said. “Regardless of if somebody knows who they are or not, I think it’s more important that we find the right fits for our roster if we’re going to fill that spot.”
He later said that the team must be “patient” and “smart” about who it chooses to add to the mix.
Based upon Turner’s comments, that player could wind up being a well-known veteran.
Such wouldn’t have been conceivable as recently as a season ago.
– Marc D’Amico
