Some Random Celtics Thoughts- Part 5- A stretch 4

In the first part of this series, I shared that the Stretch 4 position is, in my eyes, Danny Ainge's blind spot. In 2008, a Jamario Moon-type player (that is, a freakishly athletic combo forward who catch switch everything, and give players like Lebron trouble) would have won the Celtics an extra title with KG, Pierce, and Rondo.

The Celtics haven't had this type of player since James Posey, and it's been a thorn in their side, every single year. Heck, this year, the Heat took old friend Jae Crowder and turned him lose in the role, with tremendous success (Crowder isn't as athletic as Moon, or a few other players I'll mention here... but he shoots better than most of them).

Jerami Grant is the ideal fit for this Celtics team. He can be a 4 that's able to switch everything, provide tremendous help defense, shoot 3's, dunk over everyone, and yeah... the list goes on and on. The problem, of course, is that Jerami Grant isn't walking through that door. He's going to get paid a lot more than the Celtics can offer in free agency, and as explained previously, the C's can't do a sign and trade because of where they are in terms of the cap.

So, that means we're looking elsewhere.

In terms of trade options, James Johnson in Minnesota could work. He's quite pricey though, so there's no obvious fit for a deal here.

Danillo Gallinari fits the mold here, but seems likely to get more than the Celtics can offer in free agency. Though his defense leaves something to be desired for this role, he's a lights out shooter.

If Gallo's too expensive, well, the free agent pickings are actually pretty slim. Thabo Sefolosha? Meh. Marvin WIlliams? Bring back Semi? It's bleak.

There is, however, one name on the free agent list that makes some sense... even if there are Celtics fans who will hate this. Jeff Green could be a perfectly viable do-everything 4 who plays with Smart, Brown, Tatum and Grant Willams, facilitates like a maniac, makes the right reads/passes, hits corner 3s, and dives down to the dunker spot when guarded by a guard. Am I crazy to think that, on a minimum salary contract, this is the exact right player for the Celtics as currently constructed?

In the draft, there are a few guys that seems like they could fill this role over time... Precious Achiuwa is the top target for me, and if I were the Celtics, I'd happily consider moving up to get him. He's freakishly athletic, and could legimately end up in the defensive player of the year discussion if essentially turned into a free safety with lots of length and strong defenders around him.

Though he's not my preferred choice, I feel like Jaden McDaniels checks a lot of the boxes I'm looking at, as well as being a guy that falls into the Celtics' typical wheelhouse (highly regarded HS player who struggles in their first year at college).

Paul Reed from DePaul has a lot of the attributes I'm seeking here, and could be a fit. Should that fail... a lot of the same things can be said about Kenyon Martin Jr (the C's have apparently already spoken with him), who will need more development time, and could be a guy the Celtics look at later.

Next up, a pipedream (or 2), a state of the roster, and a draft big board, and then a full offseason plan to wrap everything together.