10 players who could be fits for Celtics in NBA free agency
The Celtics are limited in what they can do in free agency, but there are some players they might be able to sign with their limited resources.
The start of NBA free agency is near. Free agents will be able to negotiate and agree to deals starting at 6 p.m. Monday as dominoes continue to fall.
While some big money will be thrown around Monday evening and throughout the week, don’t expect the Celtics to be one of the teams to dish out major cash in free agency. As of Sunday, they’re roughly $4 million shy of the second luxury tax apron, essentially meaning they can only re-sign their own free agents or sign players to the veteran’s minimum.
However, there have been rumors that the Celtics could still shed some more salary following their decision to trade Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this week. Depending on how much salary they shed, the Celtics could have the taxpayer’s mid-level exception available to them, which would allow them to sign a player for $5.69 million.
So, with all of that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 pending free agents who could be fits for the Celtics.
C Al Horford & C Luke Kornet
If Brad Stevens is to be believed, the Celtics’ attempts to brng back Horford and Kornet will be their first order of business in free agency.
“As you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there is no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens said on Wednesday. “Those guys are huge parts of this organization.
“They’re going to have, I’m sure, plenty of options all over the place, and that’s well-deserved, but I think that would be a priority,” Stevens added. “At the same time, I don’t want to put pressure on them. It’s their call, ultimately. But, yeah, we would love to have those guys back.”
Following the departure of Kristaps Porzingis, keeping Horford and Kornet became even more imperative. Their only veteran bigs are Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman Sr., with both players rarely seeing the rotations last season.
But the argument could be made that Horford and Kornet were Boston’s most reliable bigs in 2024-25, considering Porzingis’s extended absences. But Horford also played relatively well last season, averaging nine points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game in his age-38 season. Boston’s starting five also played better with Horford in the lineup instead of Porzingis.
As for Kornet, it’s arguable that the 29-year-old had a career year in 2024-25. He averaged six points, 5.3 rebounds, and a block in 18.6 minutes per game. His 14.9 net rating was also the fourth-best mark in the league last season (min. 50 games played).
The Celtics were able to keep Kornet last offseason when he re-signed on the veteran’s minimum ($2.09 million), but it seems likely they’ll have to pay more than that in order to ensure he remains in Boston next year. Some people around the league believe that Kornet could land a deal that lands him $10 million per year, according to Heavy’s Steve Bulpett.
C Kevon Looney
Looking beyond their own big men, Looney could be another enticing option for the Celtics if he’s willing to play on the veteran’s minimum. The longtime Warriors center played a key role in their last title season in 2021-22, averaging 5.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the postseason that year.
Now 29, Looney has been relegated to more of a bench role over the last two seasons. He’s averaged 4.5 points and 5.9 in 15.6 minutes per game in that stretch, starting 42 of 150 games. He’s also continued to be a strong defensive presence for Golden State, with his 106.9 defensive rating ranking 21st last season (min. 50 games played).
F Javonte Green
The Celtics are going to need more wing depth with Jayson Tatum’s extended absence this season, even if they already acquired a veteran (Georges Niang) and used their first-round pick (Hugo Gonzalez) on the position. Green has some familiarity with the organization, spending two seasons with the team (2019-21) as he actually became close friends with Tatum during that time.
Green, who’ll turn 32 in July, has mostly been an end-of-the-rotation player since he left Boston, using his energy and athleticism to make plays. He averaged 5.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and a steal per game last season, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from deep. He started 19 of the 68 games he played in as well, beginning the year with the Pelicans before getting traded to the Cavaliers.
C Clint Capela
If the Celtics are able to clear enough cap space to gain access to the taxpayer’s mid-level exception, Capela might be one of the best options available to use it on. The veteran center was a double-double machine from 2017-24, becoming one of the league’s top rebounders and rim protectors over his time with the Rockets and Hawks.
Last season, the 31-year-old Capela saw his stats slightly dip. He didn’t average a double-double for the first time in a season since 2016-17, but he still had respectable numbers (8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, one block in 21.4 minutes per game).
C Thomas Bryant
Bryant unexpectedly had some important moments for the Pacers in their run to the NBA Finals this past season, averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds over 56 regular-season games with Indiana. He notably stepped up in the Pacers’ series-clinching win over the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, scoring 11 points in 13 minutes.
Bryant has also shown some willingness to take 3-pointers in his career. He’s shot 34.6 percent from deep in his career, averaging 1.5 attempts in 17.7 minutes per game.
G/F Luke Kennard
If the Celtics have to trade Sam Hauser as a means to open up some more cap room, Kennard might be their most likely option to replace him on the free-agent market. Kennard, who was a teammate of Tatum’s at Duke, has been one of the league’s best 3-point shooters since he was drafted in 2017. He’s shot 43.8 percent from deep over his eight-year career, leading the league in 3-point percentage twice.
Unlike Hauser, Kennard also has some ability as a playmaker, too. He’s averaged over three assists per game while mostly playing off the bench for the Grizzlies in the last two years. Considering his ability to shoot and create for others, the 29-year-old Kennard will likely only be an option if they have the taxpayer’s mid-level exception available, although could go for even more than that.
G/F Bruce Brown
After playing a key role in the Nuggets’ path to a title in 2023, Brown has had a largely forgettable last two seasons. He signed a two-year, $45 million deal to join the Pacers after that title run, but Indianapolis shipped him to Toronto in the middle of the year of that deal. He was traded again this past season, getting moved from the Raptors to the Pelicans.
Brown, who’ll turn 29 in August, only played 41 games in 2024-25 after getting arthroscopic knee surgery last offseason, averaging 8.3 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 22.5 minutes per game.
While Brown is only 6-foot-4, his positional versatility was vital in Denver’s run to the title. With the Celtics needing whatever help they can get to make a playoff run in 2025-26, that could be useful for them. And for Brown, it could serve as an opportunity to get back on track, playing in the city he grew up.
G Dalano Banton
If the Celtics wind up moving Anfernee Simons, their depth at guard wouldn’t be too great. An injury to Derrick White or Payton Pritchard would likely mean that Baylor Scheierman or another relatively inexperienced player would be in line to get significant minutes.
Banton, 25, could be an option in a free-agency class that doesn’t feature many quality guards. The 6-9 guard was able to carve out a role for himself with the Trail Blazers last season, averaging 8.3 points, 2.4 assists, and two rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game as he frequently initiated Portland’s offense off the bench. Stevens previously signed Banton to the Celtics in the 2023 offseason, but traded him later that year to help open up a roster spot.
C Bol Bol
If the Celtics want to take a swing on a backup big, not many of the cheap free-agent options have the potential upside Bol Bol has. The 7-3 big has made plenty of highlight plays due to his athleticism, averaging 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in just 12.4 minutes per game last season with the Suns. He’s also shown an ability to make 3-pointers, shooting 37.2 percent from distance over the last two seasons.
However, Bol Bol has struggled to put it all together on a consistent basis. He’s also dealt with a slew of injuries in his career, playing in just 202 games in six seasons.
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