As the Boston Celtics prepare for next season, which is only a few days away, their main focus has been to lower the team's total salary.
They traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis at the beginning of the offseason, saving them a fortune.
If they are looking to continue this trend, while also maintaining a competitive roster, Fansided’s Will Eudy has a perfect guy to fill out their starting lineup.
“Nick (Richards) will be on an expiring contract this year. He's headed into the final season of a three-year deal, and he'll be owed just $5 million this season,” Eudy said Sunday.
“If you look at the whole picture of Richards' five-year professional career, it's clear that he brings a certain value to the table. He may not be an All-Star, but he's going to offer size, production, and a proven track record of NBA-caliber minutes as an interior scorer and rebounder.”
“Having a situation where Richards is playing on an expiring deal gives the Celtics that much more flexibility."
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Nick Richards currently plays for the Phoenix Suns, and they traded for him with the idea that he could be the starting center alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to bring a championship to Phoenix.
Richards has grown into a solid big man in the league and isn’t a ball-dominant guy who will take shots away from other players.
If, halfway through the season, the Celtics are in need of a legit big man and are in a spot to compete, Richards could be the perfect trade candidate.
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