Celts shake things up with deals at trade deadline
Celtics acquire guard Fournier, lose Theis
The Boston Celtics were active on Thursday, which is exactly what their fans wanted to see from president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
But being active doesn’t always result in being super productive.
It would’ve taken some significant fireworks to buy into the notion that the Celtics could shift from a middling 21-23 team into a championship contender in one day.
Moves were made, but in no world could they be classified as fireworks.
The Celtics received veteran wing Evan Fournier from the Orlando Magic in exchange for point guard Jeff Teague and two second-round picks. Early in the day, the deal appeared to be just two second-round picks for Fournier, a 28-year-old proven reliable scorer. But that deal was going to put the C’s over the luxury tax, which means they would have to adjust the trade by adding Teague and make another move later in the day to fix the potential financial issues.
So, the C’s sent starting big man Daniel Theis to the Chicago Bulls, along with guard Javonte Green and $1.3 million in exchange for big men Mo Wagner and Luke Kornet.
Teague had been playing well lately for the Celtics, but the more significant loss is Theis. He had become a good Celtic over the last four years, giving the team solid rebounding and defense, and efficient shooting that stretched beyond the 3-point line. He started 101 games over the last two seasons and was a liked and respected presence in the locker room.
Acquiring Fournier, a native of France, does address Boston’s need for added scoring and perimeter defense.
He’s averaging a career-high 19.7 points and 3.7 assists, and is a career 37.6% 3-point shooter over nine seasons. At 6-foot-7, he can create his own shot and will take scoring pressure off the shoulders of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker. Fournier has averaged at least 17 points in four different seasons. He is a free agent after the season, and Ainge is undoubtedly banking on the Celts signing him to stay long-term and avoiding this being merely a few-month rental.
But the C’s had to spend $17 million of their much-discussed $28.2 million traded player exception that
the legs on his plAyers don’t get worn out.
“It’s looking good. It’s one of the most tAlented teAms I’ve ever hAd,” Terrio sAid. “We’re A little thin, But thAt’s the only thing thAt worries me. We’ve got A greAt goAltender, we’ll Be solid on defense, strong on the AttACk. ... We’re going to Be A fun teAm to wAtCh.”
Netminder FrAnCesCA Reyes — who stArted All four gAmes lAst yeAr As A freshmAn — “hAs Been outstAnding in prACtiCe,” ACCording to the CoACh, And the FAlCons feAture A plethorA of young tAlent to Build Around in All other AreAs. Miele is the leAding sCorer Among returners from the teAm’s lAst full seAson, hAving potted 21 goAls And eight Assists As A freshmAn two yeArs Ago.
LAst yeAr, MAdison Alves sCored 12 goAls And Added four helpers in just four gAmes for FAlCons Before the pAndemiC CAused the seAson to end premAturely with FSU off to A 3-1 stArt.
“We hAd slumped A little for A seAson or two Before lAst yeAr And I think we were finding our wAy out of it Before everything hAppened lAst seAson,” senior CAptAin NiCole KopACz sAid. “We were figuring things out. I think thAt’s
mAde us eAger to get out there And piCk up where we left off.”
The FAlCons will plAy just 10 gAmes this seAson, All AgAinst ConferenCe opponents. Terrio is looking forwArd to getting his teAm on the field, Believing thAt the extrA time in prACtiCe sessions this spring will Be BenefiCiAl.
“We didn’t hAve Any gAmes eArly on this yeAr, so we’re right where we need
to Be. After five weeks of prACtiCe, now we’re reAdy for A gAme,” “If we hAd stArted right AwAy And hAd gAmes After two weeks, it wouldn’t hAve worked out well. But we’re finished in up our fifth week And hAve Been outside for the lAst two And A hAlf weeks, whiCh hAs Been huge.”
RegArdless of how the seAson goes in terms of wins And losses, the FAlCons Are relishing the
ChAnCe to Compete. And it’s not something Anyone is tAking for grAnted.
“It’s hArd to plAn this seAson BeCAuse Any prACtiCe or gAme Could Be our lAst,” Alves, the teAm’s third CAptAin, sAid. “We’re looking At it like everything Could get CAnCeled tomorrow, so we’re leAving it All out there.”