C’s go on sans Durant
Picks GSW and leaves scorer void
SALT LAKE CITY — Kevin Durant published his decision yesterday morning on The Players’ Tribune website.
Its impact fanned out like a boulder hitting a pond.
Isaiah Thomas, so pivotal in the Celtics’ recruitment of Golden State’s newest superstar, posted his hurt: “If you use the warriors in 2k17 your automatically weak lol.”
Unless, of course, Durant “uses” the Warriors to get back to Thomas’ team next summer, provided he doesn’t take that tweet too seriously.
In the most anticipated move of the offseason, Durant agreed to a contract with the Warriors for $54 million over two years that includes a player option.
But the lack of Durant coming to the Celtics meant different things to different players.
Jonas Jerebko, still hoping the Celtics pick up his $5 million option, a bargain in today’s NBA marketplace, tweeted a picture of himself in Celtics uniform, his back toward the camera, with the following caption: “i hope to be back playing in that green and white again #CelticPride”
Jerebko’s post was hit with a mixed response, including some apparent trolling, and responded, “so much love and so much hate at (t)he same time. Keeps me going so keep it up! This is why i work hard everyday. #startedfromthebottom.”
Jae Crowder was attacked by a similar troll mob after the Celts failed to trade for Jimmy Butler, and tweeted a nearidentical response.
Amir Johnson has the same concern as Jerebko, since the C’s have until July 7 to pick up his option, too. Now that the Celts don’t have to worry about a Durant-sized contract, the gaps in that payroll are more forgiving.
And besides, the combination of Johnson and Crowder defending next to the new defensive anchor, Al Horford, makes a lot of sense defensively.
But even with Horford’s playmaking and ability to stretch the floor a bit, the Celtics are still a team with a big offensive need.
That’s why Danny Ainge isn’t finished, and the president of basketball operations is sure to be involved when the secondary phase of free agency hits stride, which is roughly now.
Not counting Jerebko and Johnson, and including rookies Jaylen Brown and Ante Zizic (Guerschon Yabusele is expected to be stashed) the Celtics have 13 players under contract. Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller, both restricted free agents, are presumably gone.
Now that the Celtics have their rim protector in Horford, though, it’s time to take another look at the free agent pool.
Barring a trade, an ever-present possibility with Ainge, this time the Celtics will delve into the free-agent pool with an eye on a scorer. Harrison Barnes was renounced by the Warriors yesterday at almost the moment they agreed to terms with Durant. In max contract terms, that’s where the Celts might have started, even if Barnes’ stock took a hit due to a mediocre performance in the NBA Finals.
But the small forward naturally hit pay dirt yesterday with a Dallas team that had been spurned by a lot of big free agents over the last two days. Barnes will make $94 million over four years, not bad for a player who was the fourth-best player on his team, albeit in Golden State.
In terms of scorers, though, the Celtics are on the search. Right now the free agents who best fit that description are a trio of independent thinkers — J.R. Smith, Lance Stephenson and Dion Waiters, the latter restricted.
Probably not what the Celtics are looking for.