The Celtics traded player exception is one of the most exhausting, overused phrases this season. It doesn’t seem like everyone actually knows what it is.
It’s not a voucher to cash in for a player. Last week, the Celtics paired two second-round picks in exchange for an expiring deal for shooting guard Evan Fournier.
Boston has about $11 million remaining on what was the largest TPE is NBA history.
So how can they use it before it expires? Well the key here is whether they can extend Fournier to be apart of their future or extend Fournier as part of a sign and trade to a different club.
If the latter happens, the Celtics can get -- you guessed it -- a brand new traded player exception! For hypothetical purposes, let’s say Fournier has just above average showing in the remainder of the 2021 season. Ainge likes the player but not enough to keep him apart of the core. Boston and Fournier agree with a three-year, $54 million deal.
Ainge could ship Fournier out in a deal similar to one that brought him here to create a brand new TPE. A reminder that the Celtics may not combine TPEs. So the $11 million TPE leftover from Gordon Hayward plus this brand new $18 million TPE created via Fournier sign and trade can not be combined to acquire a $29 million player.
Here are five names to keep an eye on this summer and how they can fit into the Celtics plans.
1) Kyle Anderson, Memphis Grizzlies: Slow-mo is one of my favorite players in the NBA. His nickname truly fits as Kyle never gets sped up or down. He can play multiple positions and is a lengthy, above average defender.
Contract status this summer: One-year, $9.93M remaining.
How the Celtics come into play: Celtics trade second round picks for Anderson’s expiring deal. This all but wipes out the remaining $11M from the Hayward TPE. The Celtics do not need to move on from Fournier to make an Anderston-to-Boston trade possible.
2) Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz: This will be tough for the Jazz to move on from such an important part of their team. He’s shooting an absurd 49% from three this season on 5.5 attempts per game. Joe will be 34 next season.
Contract status this summer: One-year, $14M remaining.
How the Celtics come into play: If the Celtics determine that Marcus Smart will not be a part of the future, might I suggest a Smart for Ingles swap? Expiring deal for expiring deal. Mike Conley is a free agent this summer for Utah.
3) TJ Warren, Indiana Pacers: Warren has had a rough year only playing in four games due to lingering foot issues that date back to the Orlando bubble. Warren has been shut down for the season and underwent surgery in January to repair a stress fracture. Boston reportedly wanted “Myles Turner AND TJ Warren or Victor Oladipo” in the sign-and-trade for Hayward. Warren looked like a star in the Orlando bubble and his next team could win big if he stays healthy.
Contract status this summer: One-year, $12.69M.
How the Celtics come into play: The Celtics can buy low on Warren in a very similar deal to the Fournier trade (more garbage picks for a player who may not be re-signed). He makes too much to use the remainder of the Hayward TPE so this now would dip into the Fournier TPE.
4) Patrick Beverly, Los Angeles Clippers: The Celtics could use a defensive pest at point guard. Beverly is the type of player you hate to play against but love his energy when he’s on your team. He’s making way too much money for a guy that only shoots six times a game. But if he’s here, he doesn’t need to shoot anything besides wide open threes. Beverly is shooting 42 percent from deep this season.
Contract status this summer: One-year, $14.3M.
How the Celtics come into play: The Clippers reportedly made Beverly and Lou Williams available at this year’s trade deadline and already moved Lou Wil back to Atlanta so he can be closer to the wings at Magic City. I wouldn’t mind sending a future protected first rounder for Beverly and hoping you can extend him.
5) Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards. Obvious.
Contract status this summer: One-year, $34.5M with a player option of $37 million for 2022-23.
How the Celtics come into play: It starts with Jaylen Brown. The TPE can’t be combined with Jaylen’s salary to absorb Beal’s Glenn Ordway-esque salary. Brown plus a first round pick for Beal isn’t crazy. Beal is the league’s leading scorer and will likely have a half dozen teams trying to pry him from Washington this summer.