ESPN's "All-Contract Team" (includes four Celtics)

[President Red]

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43385239/nba-all-contract-team-knicks-brunson-leads-our-15-man-roster

In contrast to the recent article that included JB's contract on a negative list, ESPN assembled a fifteen-man roster comprised of players with high value for price.  It's an "insider" article, so I'll quote the green portions.

Point Guards

Jalen Brunson
Scotty Pippin, Jr.
Payton Pritchard

Pritchard, a leading Sixth Man of the Year contender who is averaging 14.6 points and shooting 41.3% from 3-point range on 8.3 attempts per game, will be a mainstay on this list. Pritchard is in the first year of a four-year, $30 million rookie extension that won't ever touch 5% of the total salary cap. Pritchard has been a key reserve in what the Celtics hope will be their own dynastic run.

And team-friendly deals such as Pritchard's are why the Celtics can start five players making a total of $163.3 million; that's almost as much as our team's 15-man roster.

Shooting Guards

Deuce McBride
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Derrick White

Before arriving in Boston, White had been a sub-35% 3-point shooter in San Antonio, and the general belief around the league was that he was more of a third guard than a consistent starter. But now that he is not only shooting in the high 30s from 3 but on massive volume (37.9% on 8.9 attempts per game this season), White has fully emerged as an All-Star-caliber guard.

At 6-foot-5 with his playmaking skills, defensive chops (he's averaging at least a block per game for a second straight campaign) and that shooting component, he's a value on this contract before his extension kicks in next season and also a perfect complementary player next to Brunson in our starting backcourt.

Small Forwards

Josh Hart
Dean Wade
Sam Hauser

Hauser's rapid development from a two-way player to a core rotation player for an NBA champion last season is a model for how teams should utilize the back half of their rosters and proof that they can develop players while being in championship contention, as Boston has been for the better part of a decade.

Back issues this season have contributed to Hauser's dip in 3-point shooting (37.6% after going above 40% in each of his first three seasons). That kind of shooting is simply too good to pass up with that contract.

Power Forwards

Jaren Jackson, Jr.
Derrick Jones
Al Horford

It's a true testament to Horford's incredible longevity that the 38-year-old could be an option for this list. But he remains an excellent 3-point shooter (37% on 5.3 attempts per game) and has shown over the past few years in Boston that he's quite capable of playing either as a lone center on the court or alongside Kristaps Porzingis in different matchups.

On a balanced roster with this kind of depth, Horford could easily plug into the rotation when needed, and be given time off when he needs a break, keeping him fresh for a potential deep postseason run. And in a league where versatile size is more valuable than ever before, finding a big who provides that for under $10 million is a great bargain.

Centers

Jarrett Allen
Ivica Zubac
Jay Huff


What, no Celtics centers on the list??  Fire PBS today! 

[Vermont Green]

This is interesting.  The starters get all the talk for the Celtics but 3 of these 4 are our top 3 bench players.  Hauser and Horford have not been as good as last season so far, Pritchard of course started red hot but has settled in more in line with his career averages for the last 12-15 games or so.  These 3 make a big difference, certainly collectively matter as much as a starter, and they have been off a little as compared to last season, I would say.

Pritchard definitely won us some games earlier on but not so much lately.  He has still been plenty good for a bench player, but not like the start of the season.

[aefgogreen]

This is interesting.  The starters get all the talk for the Celtics but 3 of these 4 are our top 3 bench players.  Hauser and Horford have not been as good as last season so far, Pritchard of course started red hot but has settled in more in line with his career averages for the last 12-15 games or so.  These 3 make a big difference, certainly collectively matter as much as a starter, and they have been off a little as compared to last season, I would say.

Pritchard definitely won us some games earlier on but not so much lately.  He has still been plenty good for a bench player, but not like the start of the season.

Hauser has been improving.  I didn't realize he had back issues.