Boston Celtics Rumors | Hoops Rumors

QO Updates: Wanamaker, Hernangomez, Fall, Chiozza, More

November 19th, 2020 at 4:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics won’t be making a qualifying offer to guard Brad Wanamaker, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The decision will ensure that Wanamaker becomes an unrestricted free agent on Friday, rather than an RFA.

The decision is a little surprising, as Wanamaker’s QO would only have been worth about $1.82MM. And he was a fairly reliable bench contributor in Boston in 2019/20, averaging 6.9 PPG and 2.5 APG on .448/.363/.926 shooting in 71 games (19.3 MPG). However, with Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard entering the mix, the Celtics don’t have a ton of roster spots to go around.

There’s still a chance that Wanamaker could return to the Celtics, particularly if Gordon Hayward ends up elsewhere, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.

Here are several more updates on qualifying offer decisions from around the NBA:

The Timberwolves, as expected, tendered a qualifying offer to power forward Juan Hernangomez, making him a restricted free agent, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). That QO is worth about $4.6MM. Hernangomez could accept it, but is more likely to try to negotiate a new, longer-term deal with Minnesota.
The Celtics extended qualifying offers to both of their two-way players, Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters, the team announced in a press release. Those QOs are for new two-way deals with $50K guarantees.
The Pacers won’t extend qualifying offers to big man Alize Johnson or two-way players Brian Bowen and Naz Mitrou-Long, tweets Scotto. All three players will become unrestricted free agents.
Among other two-way players, Nets guard Chris Chiozza will receive a qualifying offer, but Pelicans guard Josh Gray won’t, according to Scotto (Twitter links). The Heat also won’t send a QO to two-way player Kyle Alexander, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Gordon Hayward Opts Out, Will Become Free Agent

November 19th, 2020 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has turned down the $34.2MM player option on his contract for 2020/21 and will become an unrestricted free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

While Hayward won’t be able to match the $34.2MM salary he would have earned if he has simply opted in, his decision signals that he’s confident he’ll be able to secure a multiyear deal that features a far larger overall guarantee. Al Horford took this path with the Celtics a year ago, turning down a $30MM option to sign a four-year contract that guaranteed him $97MM.

While Horford left Boston, there’s no guarantee that Hayward will do so. The Celtics hold his Bird rights and still have the ability to sign him to a new long-term contract. However, it sounds like they’ll face plenty of competition for his services. The Hawks and Knicks – the two clubs with the most cap room in the NBA – have both been linked to the veteran forward.

A sign-and-trade is also a possibility, so teams over the cap could be in play for Hayward as well. As Marc Stein of The New York Times tweets, the Pacers – who have been frequently linked to the Indiana native – have explored potentially trading for him.

Hayward, 30, still didn’t quite look like his old All-Star self in 2019/20, but he was a lot closer than in his first two seasons in Boston. In 52 games this year, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .500/.383/.855 shooting. His size and play-making ability will make him a popular target in free agency.

Ainge Sought To Move Up In Draft

November 19th, 2020 at 3:18pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Celtics were advised that they shouldn’t pursue a James Harden deal with the Rockets, longtime Celtics beat reporter Steve Bulpett tweets. The front office researched the possibility of adding Harden and were urged to stay away, as the intel regarding the fallout in the Houston organization painted an ugly picture. Presumably, Harden was a part of that dysfunction.
The Celtics had three first-round picks to dangle on Wednesday but didn’t move up. It wasn’t for lack of trying, another longtime Celtics beat reporter Mark Murphy tweets. GM Danny Ainge said they explored the possibility but there was “not anything that was really tempting for us in the first part of the draft.” Boston held onto the first two picks and traded the other to the Grizzlies for two future second-rounders.

Celtics’ Enes Kanter Picks Up 2020/21 Player Option

November 19th, 2020 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics center Enes Kanter has picked up his player option for the 2020/21 season, reports Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link). The move locks in his $5MM salary for the coming year.

A report last month suggested that Kanter might surprise a lot of people by entering the free agent market. Given the current economic climate, as well as Kanter’s diminished role during the restart, he ultimately chose to keep the guaranteed money.

Kanter was part of the Celtics’ big man rotation most of the regular season, averaging 8.1 PPG and 7.4 RPG in 16.9 MPG. His defensive shortcomings and lack of a perimeter shot led coach Brad Stevens to lean on Daniel Theis in the postseason. Kanter, 28, made only 11 playoff appearances and averaged just 9.3 MPG in those outings.

Kanter doesn’t figure to get significant playing time next season but his expiring contract could come in handy at some point for Boston’s front office.

Knicks Eyeing Gordon Hayward

November 19th, 2020 at 3:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have been aggressive in their pursuit of Celtics forward Gordon Hayward this week, sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).

Hayward’s decision on his $34.2MM player option for 2020/21 is due this afternoon, and Stein suggests there’s a “growing belief” around the league that the veteran could turn down that option. If he does, New York may emerge as his most logical landing spot, given that the team is projected to have upwards of $40MM in cap room after its series of roster moves today.

However, Ian Begley of SNY.tv throws some cold water on the idea of Hayward making the move to New York. According to Begley (via Twitter), some people in the Knicks’ front office have had interest in acquiring Hayward, but it’s considered less likely now that the team has used its picks in the 2020 draft.

The Hawks, another team that will have significant cap room this weekend, have also been identified as a potential suitor for Hayward. We should find out soon whether he has decided to opt into the final year of his contract with the Celtics or if he’ll hit the open market tomorrow.

Grizzlies To Acquire No. 30 Pick, Draft Desmond Bane

November 18th, 2020 at 9:57pm CST by Luke Adams

UPDATE: This trade was folded into a larger three-team deal and is now official.

The Grizzlies have agreed to acquire the No. 30 pick from the Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links). Memphis will use the selection to draft TCU shooting guard Desmond Bane, Woj adds.

In exchange for that No. 30 pick, Boston will receive two future second-round picks from the Grizzlies, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.

The Celtics had three first-round selections but didn’t want to add that many rookies to a team with championship aspirations. They will apparently retain their first two picks — Vanderbilt’s Aaron Nesmith (No. 14) and Oregon’s Payton Pritchard (No. 26).

Bane, 22, is viewed as one of the draft’s best shooters and could compete for a rotation spot as a rookie. He improved his draft stock with strong workouts and interviews, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

A four-year college player, Bane averaged 16.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 3.9 APG as a senior.

Kennard To Clippers, Shamet To Nets In Three-Team Trade

November 18th, 2020 at 8:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Clippers, Nets, and Pistons have agreed to a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).

Wojnarowski and Charania report that Brooklyn will acquire Landry Shamet in the three-team trade, with Luke Kennard going to the Clippers and the Pistons acquiring Rodney McGruder and the No. 19 overall pick in tonight’s draft (Twitter link). Detroit selected Villanova forward Saddiq Bey using that selection.

The Clippers are betting that Kennard, who averaged 15.8 PPG on .442/.399/.893 shooting in 28 games for Detroit last season, will be an upgrade on Shamet, who recorded 9.3 PPG on .404/.375/.855 shooting in 53 games.

The Clippers also discussed a bigger trade with the Celtics which included Shamet, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo tweets.

Kennard has a slightly less favorable contract than Shamet — he’s extension-eligible this fall and will be a restricted free agent in 2021 if he doesn’t sign a new deal. He’ll earn $5.3MM in 2020/21. Shamet, meanwhile, will earn $2MM in ’20/21 and $3.8MM in ’21/22 before potentially reaching restricted free agency in 2022.

Kennard is coming off an injury-marred season in which he played just 28 games due to tendinitis in both knees. However, he looked completely healthy during the team’s workouts in September.

Shamet provides another rotation guard for the Nets at a reasonable salary.

Bey is the third first-round pick by Detroit. It earlier selected Euro guard Killian Hayes at No. 7 and Washington center Isaiah Stewart at No. 16.

Draft Rumors: Warriors, Smart, Wolves, Thunder, Cavs, More

November 18th, 2020 at 6:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors and Celtics had some discussions about a deal that would have involved the No. 2 pick and guard Marcus Smart according to Matt Moore of ActionNetwork.com. Sources tell Moore that those talks didn’t ultimately gain traction and aren’t expected to resume after the Celtics rejected a counter-offer from Golden State.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that the Celtics called the Warriors to gauge their interest in moving the No. 2 pick and made Smart available, but talks “didn’t escalate.”

Here’s more on the draft as we prepare for what should be a fun night:

Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link) is hearing that the Timberwolves will likely remain at No. 1, barring a “blockbuster” move. However, it sounds like the No. 17 pick is still very much in play. Jeremy Woo of SI.com reports (via Twitter) that the Thunder are exploring a deal for the No. 17 pick.
Isaac Okoro is rising on the Cavaliers‘ board, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), who says if Cleveland trades down to No. 8, it would likely hinge on the team’s ability to land Okoro at that spot.
The Clippers are looking to buy a second-round pick and/or trade up from No. 57, league sources tell Scotto.
The Suns could still trade down from No. 10 or use the pick in a deal for a veteran player, but they’re unlikely to move up, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.

"Mutual Interest" Between Pacers, Hayward

November 18th, 2020 at 4:38pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets that there is “mutual interest” between Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, beloved for his college tenure at Butler, and the Pacers. The clearest path to adding the former All-Star would be a sign-and-trade, which would require Hayward opting out of his $34.2MM player option for the 2020/21 season.

Celtics Hoping To Offload Draft Picks

November 18th, 2020 at 1:15pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With a current commitment to 16 players on their roster, the Celtics are looking to offload some of their three draft picks this season, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. The Celtics would could achieve this by packaging their Nos. 14, 26, and 30 picks to move into the top 10. As we previously detailed, Boston could be looking to move as high as the top three. Alternately, the team could perhaps look to flip the No. 14 pick for a future first-rounder and use the lower two picks as draft-and-stash options, or trade the lower picks along with little-used role players.