The NBA’s free agency period is less than 24 hours old, and the landscape of team-building around the league has changed considerably. As of this moment, the only team to have signed a player is the Philadelphia 76ers, who inked J.J. Redick to a one-year, $23 million deal. While the Boston Celtics are still on the clock, they apparently have signed Avery Bradley to a five-year, $70 million contract, a deal that will make him the NBA’s highest-paid defender.
We’re at that point in the NBA free agency period where things are starting to become less crazy and more strategic. Teams are now deciding what they want to do with their cap space, which players they want to keep and which they will let go. With that in mind, it’s time to start looking at the future of the NBA.
The NBA has been one of the most dynamic sporting leagues in the world for quite some time now, and its free agency period is no exception. When the summer sun begins to set on the league, teams are forced to make tough decisions on whether or not to re-sign their existing players or let them walk for the chance to sign new ones. The summer of 2021, though, will be different than any other in recent memory—there’s a very good chance that no player will be able to walk away without the other team’s consent.. Read more about golden state warriors free agency rumors 2021 and let us know what you think.
The Boston Celtics have already restructured their front office, with Brad Stevens promoted to president of basketball operations and new head coach Ime Udoka hired. However, they still have work to do after the first week of NBA free agency, as they need to address the gaps on their squad.
Free Agency for the Celtics
The starting point guard position is their greatest need right now, particularly after trading away Kemba Walker in the summer. Despite being a four-time All-Star, the 31-year-old was unable to make the most of his time in Boston owing to a severe knee ailment that plagued him for the previous two seasons.
Following the trade of Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics failed to create a splash in the 2021 NBA Draft with their lone second-round pick. Juhann Begarin, a raw talent who played in France’s LNB Pro B before moving to the NBA, was selected with the 45th selection. At 19, the kid will have to adapt to the American style of play, which may take some time before he can make a regular contribution for the Celtics.
Boston also lost out on a number of prominent free players who might have helped the club with playmaking. Patty Mills, a veteran guard, might have been a valuable asset for them, particularly following his outstanding performance as the captain of the Australian Boomers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, they were defeated by the Brooklyn Nets, who were able to sign Mills to a two-year contract at a low cost.
Lonzo Ball, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley, and Spencer Dinwiddie are just a few players the Celtics might have pursued in free agency. To make matters worse, the squad failed to keep Evan Fournier, who just had a great performance for the French national team in the Olympic games.
With averages of 13.0 points and 3.1 assists in 16 games played, he was able to offer much-needed scoring and playmaking for the Celtics despite his brief stay. Fournier ultimately decided to join the New York Knicks, signing a four-year, $78 million contract.
For the time being, the Celtics still have Marcus Smart, a dependable veteran who can contribute on both sides of the court. Payton Pritchard, an entering sophomore who showed glimpses of his talent during his first season, will be his backup. In addition, the Celtics acquired Kris Dunn in a three-team deal, but there are still doubts about the kind of effect he can have on the club, particularly given his past stints with the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks when he failed to be consistent.
At the end, it’ll be interesting to see whether the combination of those three players can keep the Celtics afloat, particularly in such a critical position on the court. On that topic, the club can either acquire additional depth behind them or locate a player capable of taking over as the starting point guard next season.
After losing out on some of the finest available talent in free agency’s opening week, Udoka and company will have to act quickly and beat the clock if they want to find the perfect guy for the position before the 2021-22 season.
This is a story about the NBA free agent market as it stands today and what teams may or may not do at the start of free agency on July 1, 2021. So let’s start with what we know, who is available, and what they may cost.. Read more about warriors free agency 2021 and let us know what you think.
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