(Photo from the Boston Celtics Twitter)

By Justin Vadenais

So at the start of free agency, I wrote a post basically trashing Danny Ainge because it appeared that the Boston Celtics were going to lose Gordon Hayward for nothing. But although no players were recouped in the eventual Hayward sign and trade with Charlotte, Danny Ainge was able to get a very large trade exception, at approximately 28.5 million dollars. And although Danny said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s morning show “Toucher and Rich” that he doesn’t envision using the TPE in the near future, it is a very useful asset to have if during the season or next offseason a star player making that kind of money becomes available.

In addition to at least getting something back for Gordon Hayward, Ainge and the Celtics also signed 2 good veteran players to shorter term deals; something I really feel was lacking on Celtics teams of late. These 2 players are of course Center Tristan Thompson and Point Guard Jeff Teague.

Let’s start with Thompson. Kardashian baggage aside, Tristan Thompson is an immediate upgrade over Daniel Theis and, in my opinion, should be your starting Center game 1. No disrespect to Theis, he basically gave you everything you could expect during the season and bubble playoff run. But Thompson is both a better rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass but on the defensive end as well. He is also bigger and more built. He won’t be able to “shut down” some of the monster bigs in the East like Bam Adebayo or Joel Embiid, but he can at least be a lot more physical with them and in turn make them work a lot harder inside for their baskets. We all saw how easy it looked for Adebayo for much of the ECF.

Jeff Teague should have an immediate impact as well. On the night Teague signed we all thought, “Great. Now the Celtics can be careful with Kemba and if he ever needs to sit a few games to rest the knee Teague is a capable veteran starter to step in and rely on”. Well, since then the Celtics have told us that Kemba Walker will not be ready for the start of the season and will be reevaluated some time in early January. Again, if I am Brad Stevens, Jeff Teague is starting for me game 1 as well if Kemba isn’t ready. But I am not Brad so we will have to see what he rolls out. Either way, in addition to alleviating playing time for Kemba, Teague, and Thompson as well for that matter, should be a great veteran voice in the locker room to help Tatum and Brown with both on and off court leadership for this team. And even when Kemba is playing full minutes, Teague should be excellent as the creator and facilitator for the second unit, another weakness that was exposed in the bubble.

On a side note, I also just wanted to hit on the signing of Evan Turner as an assistant coach. I think that it’s great for both sides. It’s been widely reported that Brad Stevens and Evan Turner had a great mutual respect for one another. A huge opportunity for Turner to get his first coaching gig with a great team on a coaching staff that he is familiar with. And Turner will probably help Brad learn to better manage a locker room and connect with his players.

All in all, Danny Ainge addressed 2 key needs for the Celtics with legit solid veterans at the Center and backup Point Guard positions. Even with Hayward gone, I believe the Celtics are a better team than the one that lost to the Miami Heat in 6 games in the ECF. Combine these signings with an (hopefully) additional leap forward by both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics are one of the best teams in the NBA. I’m not ready to call them winning a title, especially with the Lakers looming large after their moves, but I think the Celtics will be in the mix until the very end again, and looking to make their first Finals appearance with this core. Go C’s, December 23rd can’t come fast enough.