4 guard-and-big pairings that could improve the Celtics

The Boston Celtics have recently been at the forefront of a seemingly endless cycle of rumors and speculation.

With the NBA Draft and free agency rapidly approaching, one might expect those events to dominate the conversation. However, amid the flurry of developments surrounding a possible trade, those offseason milestones have largely taken a backseat, until now.

The Celtics have multiple avenues to bolster their depth at both guard and center this offseason. Below are four potential draft-and-free agent pairings that could help accomplish that goal.

All the free agents featured in these scenarios are projected to command contracts at or below the value of the Celtics’ non-taxpayer Mid-level exception (MLE), which is worth just over $15 million. The same approach was taken with the draft prospects. Each player highlighted is currently projected to be available around Boston’s No. 27 overall selection, although anyone who follows the draft closely knows those projections can shift dramatically in the blink of an eye.

The ultimate question, however, is one I will leave for the community to answer: Which of these combinations would benefit the Celtics the most? Be sure to hit the comments (respectfully).  
 
Anfernee Simons (FA) + Tarris Reed (Draft) Center – UConn

After being traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic, former Celtics guard Anfernee Simons was asked whether he could envision a return to Boston at some point in the future. Simons did not hesitate with his response.

“For sure,” Simons replied.

Now just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true, but I do think a much nicer phone call from Brad Stevens to Simons this summer wouldn’t hurt. In 49 games wearing green, Simons averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc on seven attempts per contest, establishing himself as one of the league’s most prolific flamethrowers off the bench.

After not seeing the floor in the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears increasingly unlikely that Nikola Vučević will return to Boston next season. While his departure would create an opening for another big man, a position we’ll revisit shortly, it would also leave the Celtics in need of additional scoring punch off the bench. Simons is an unrestricted free agent and should be in the early to late teens range as far as per year money. I think the team could really use his shooting regardless of what the team ends up looking like around him.

At the center spot we have 22-year-old big man Tarris Reed who is a physically imposing college center known for his interior scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence in the paint. At roughly 6’10” and 260+ pounds, he plays with a traditional big-man profile, using his strength and frame to establish deep position on the block. His most consistent offensive production comes from close range, where he finishes through contact, converts put backs, and punishes switches or smaller defenders in the post. He also made a huge jump as a passer last season which helps him fit even better for a team like the Celtics.

Defensively, Reed projects as a paint protector who can anchor a second unit or situational lineups. He is a strong rebounder on both ends (nine rebounds per game) and has shown the ability to alter shots simply through size and positioning, even if he is not an elite vertical athlete. Reed also holds his own well on the perimeter for a big of his size, adding valuable defensive versatility. He provides even more value as he is a good defensive playmaker. Aside from his two blocks per game last season, Reed also has great hands and anticipation that helped him average a steal per.

He has slowly been creeping up mock drafts as of late, but I don’t see him going too far outside of Boston’s range.

Ebuka Okorie (Draft) Guard – Stanford + Jock Landale (FA)

If you’re anything like Brad Stevens and think Boston could use a jolt of rim pressure, Okorie Island is exactly where you want to be. The freshmen guard ranked in the 99th percentile last season in rim attempts per 100 possessions (13.1) and unassisted rim attempts. Averaging 23.2 points per game on shooting splits of 46/35/83 further solidified him as one of the premier shot creators in the draft class, an archetype the Celtics could greatly benefit from adding to their roster.

Okorie leverages a polished handle and impressive speed plus quickness to create access to virtually any area of the floor. The jump shot may not be the most visually appealing, but the results are strong: 35 percent from three on six attempts per game, 83 percent from the free-throw line on seven attempts, and 43 percent from mid-range, efficiency indicators that are hard to dismiss.

Okorie’s draft projection is among the most difficult to pin down at this stage. He has been mocked as high as No. 8 to the Atlanta Hawks and as low as No. 26 to the Denver Nuggets. While Draft Night is inherently unpredictable, his range stands out as one of the widest projections in the first round.

Jock Landale is a physical, traditional center who has carved out a steady role in the NBA as a backup big capable of providing interior scoring, screening, and rebounding in short bursts. At 6’11”, he relies more on strength, positioning, and touch around the rim than vertical explosiveness, making him effective as a roll man in pick-and-roll actions and a reliable finisher in tight spaces.

In his most recent season, the 30-year-old put up career numbers averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 59/38/63 shooting splits. While not a high-impact defender, he brings functional size, boxing out, and scheme-based rim protection that make him serviceable in rotational minutes on competitive teams.

Even though he is coming off his best season, Landale is an aging center that missed the playoffs with an injury. He is fully expected to be ready for his next campaign and put that ankle sprain behind him, but those two factors can be a reason why a franchise gets him for a really team friendly number.

Collin Sexton (FA) + Henri Veesaar (Draft) Center – North Carolina

Before being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Chicago Bulls, Collin Sexton was having a really underrated season.

In Buzz City, he averaged 14 points and four assists on efficient shooting splits of 48/39/87, a really impressive line for a guard of his size. With an expanded role in Chicago, he increased his scoring output by a couple of points while maintaining that same level of efficiency. Despite not being able to play meaningful basketball for a while now, I’ve always liked the relentless nature and competitive stamina that Sexton brings every night. The scoring guard has had four straight seasons of at least 39% from three as his volume from there continues to grow.

At 27 years old, he enters unrestricted free agency with what doesn’t seem to be a robust market. Boston could benefit from this and bring him in on a smaller deal.

Henri Veesaar is a modern big man prospect known for his combination of size and developing offensive skill set.

Standing at nearly 7 feet tall, Veesaar has the potential to bring real shot making versatility to an NBA team. He averaged 17 points last year on outstanding efficiency for a big who shoots all over the floor. His 60/43/61 shooting splits helped him achieve a 66.4 true shooting percentage which ranked in the 99th percentile. However Veesaar is asked to score, he has the skill set to do so. Unlike many stretch bigs, he is comfortable putting the ball on the floor for a few dribbles, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass when defenses rotate. He has also flashed the potential to be more than just a stationary handoff passer. While he does a strong job of keeping the offense connected by moving the ball quickly to guards and maintaining flow, he also shows intriguing rip-and-run reads that add an element of creativity to his playmaking.

While he isn’t the greatest athlete or the strongest body inside, his length, skill, and timing allowed him to be really effective around the rim as he shot 79% from there last season. He has an array of hooks and floaters when he has to create for himself, plus he can be a vertical threat when rolling to the rim. He also shot 48% from the mid-range.

Veesaar was effective on the glass last season, posting a 21.9% defensive rebounding rate and averaging 8.7 total rebounds per game. Defensively there is some work to do but at the very least he showed the ability to use his size and length to block and contest shots at the rim nicely.

I haven’t seen Veesaar inside the top-20 in any mock draft I’ve come across, so as things stand, it appears Boston could have a realistic opportunity to select him.

Sergio De Larrea (Draft) Guard/Wing – Valencia + Robert Williams III (FA)

Spainsh guard Sergio De Larrea is a very intriguing prospect with outstanding positional size.  He is known for his poise, playmaking ability, and improved catch and shoot three point shot and when you couple that with measurements of 6’6” barefoot and a 6’9” wingspan, things really get interesting.

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Off the dribble, he is comfortable running pick-and-roll sets, using his size to read the floor over the top of defenses and make simple, correct decisions. He tends to play with patience, rarely forcing tough shots, instead probing defenses until he can deliver the ball to the roll man, kick out to shooters, or reset the action. His handle is solid rather than flashy, but it is steady enough to keep him in control in half-court settings.

Defensively, De Larrea’s size and instincts give him real versatility in the backcourt. He has the frame to defend multiple guard types and competes well at the point of attack, using positioning rather than pure explosiveness to stay in front of ballhandlers. With that being said, he isn’t the best athlete, and the lack of foot speed versus quick handlers can be hard for him. His maturity, feel for the game, and ability to manage possessions stand out for his age.

At the beginning of the process, I had only seen De Larrea in the second round of mocks but in the last couple days he has snuck into the bottom of the first round to the Dallas Mavericks at pick 30. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sneaks up even more before the draft, but there is still a good chance he’s available when Boston selects.

Robert Williams III remains an elite defensive center, with his impact defined by rim protection, vertical athleticism, and instinctive play as an anchor on the back line.

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Last season, Robert Williams III recorded 4.1 blocks per 100 possessions, placing him in the 98th percentile league-wide. Even when he wasn’t directly blocking shots, his rim deterrence remained elite, as opponents shot 14% worse at the rim against him as the primary defender, ranking in the 92nd percentile.

Offensively, Williams is still one of the best vertical spacers, offensive rebounders, and quick decision makers at the center position. He also has begun to stretch out his shooting range as he shot 39% from three in the regular season but on only 23 total attempts. He did manage to hit three in the Blazers five-game series with the Spurs. He averaged an impressive 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in that series.

The primary concern with Robert Williams III has long been, and likely will continue to be, his durability. However, he is coming off his healthiest season in a while and further reinforced his value with an impressive playoff series vs. the Western Conference champions.