BOSTON – If there’s one thing we can expect from the Boston Celtics, it’s that they will take a lot of shots.
In fact, last season they led the league with 89.4 field goal attempts per game. Getting shots off is a good thing.
Making them?
Even better.
And it is this latter point that serves as the motivation for the Celtics to give serious thought to adding another wing player to a roster that’s already guard-heavy.
Despite leading the league in shots taken, the Celtics ranked among the bottom-10 (25th overall) in field goal percentage.
That said, here are a handful of wing players who are on the Celtics’ radar this summer with free agency beginning on Thursday.
Boston Celtics
5. DeMar DeRozan, SG, Toronto
One of the better scoring wing players in the NBA, DeRozan did not plan to talk to any other teams during free agency other than the Toronto Raptors despite rumors during the season that the Los Angeles Lakers would make a run at the former USC standout and Compton, Calif. native. DeRozan has averaged at least 20 points each of the last three seasons which includes a career-high 23.5 points this past season. And unlike most wing scorers, DeRozan does not look to shoot 3s often. But as we saw last season when he shot a career-best 33.8 percent, it is becoming a more reliable shot that compliments his strength of attacking the rim. The Celtics would love to have a crack at him, but they know better. DeRozan isn’t going anywhere.
4. Evan Fournier, SG, Orlando (restricted)
Whatever chance teams thought they might have had at landing Fournier, took a hit when the Magic traded away Victor Oladipo to Oklahoma City. Do not be surprised if the Magic and Fournier’s camp work towards getting a deal done as Fournier averaged a career-high 15.4 points last season. The four-year veteran has improved his scoring average every season and shot a career-best 40 percent on 3s last season. Fournier’s shooting and deceptively solid ball-handling make him a vital cog in Orlando’s chances at success going forward. As for Boston, the Celtics like Fournier’s game but like DeRozan, understand it will be extremely difficult to pry him from his current team.
3. Arron Afflalo, SG/SF, New York
The nine-year veteran is one of the more under-rated free agents on the market this summer. An above-average defender, Afflalo has averaged double digits scoring each of the last six seasons in addition to being a career 38.5 percent 3-point shooter. Those two qualities make the 30-year-old Afflalo a player that one could easily see fitting in quite well with the Boston Celtics. However, acquiring him would likely involve moving at least one of the team’s younger guards just to create a clearer path to playing time. Because at this point in his career, Afflalo is very interested in being part of a winning situation in which he gets decent court time which is something that’s far from a given considering how the Celtics’ roster is currently constructed.
2. Jared Dudley, SG/SF, Washington
Dudley is one of the few free agents who has made no secret about wanting to play for the Celtics, and actually has something to offer. The 30-year-old Dudley is a career 8.4 points per game scorer who has embraced his role in this league as a key reserve off the bench. He is a near 40 percent (39.9) shooter from 3-point range for his career and shot 42 percent last season for the Washington Wizards. The challenge is figuring out what role he would play for a Celtics team that’s extremely deep with perimeter talent. But Dudley’s 3-point shooting, desire to don the Green and White, and experience are all factors that make him an attractive free agent to Boston.
1. Evan Turner, SG/SF, Boston
There may not have been any player on the Celtics roster that head coach Brad Stevens trusted more than Evan Turner, something that should not be taken lightly when it comes to Turner’s free agency and how he handles what should be a decent amount of suitors. His career was at a crossroads when he came to Boston two years ago. Now he’s considered one of the best reserves in the NBA, a player whose multi-faceted skillset fits in well with the direction that most teams are looking to go with their roster. Turner’s price tag should be north of $10 million per season, which might be a bit too rich for the Celtics’ liking. But if a deal can be struck, Boston would be wise to do so. Because as much as they benefited from Isaiah Thomas’ all-star season and the emergence of Jae Crowder and the steady play of Avery Bradley at both ends of the floor, it was Turner who had the ball in his hands down the stretch of many games. And it was Turner who often made the right decision when it mattered most, something that’s not lost on the Celtics or head coach Brad Stevens who has made no secret about his desire to have Turner back with Boston next season.
A. Sherrod Blakely can be followed on Twitter: @SherrodbCSN