Why The Boston Celtics Valued An Open Roster Spot Over Jabari Parker

The Boston Celtics have parted ways with Jabari Parker, seen here playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

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After weeks of heated debate from passionate outsiders, the Boston Celtics finally made a notable transaction last week. While it wasn’t one that will move the needle in any direction, cutting power forward Jabari Parker should end up being the first of many moves from a team that has become of the biggest question marks in the NBA.

None of this discussion is really about Parker, who unquestionably deserves a roster slot. On the rare occasions that he was given a chance to play, the second pick of the 2014 draft acquitted himself well but also ended up being perfectly expendable in terms of both Boston’s short and long-term plans.

The Celtics waived Parker mostly because they valued the flexibility of having an open roster spot but it was also a financial decision. Parker’s contract was not fully guaranteed, which meant that if the team kept him beyond this weekend, they would have had to pay him $2.24 million for the year. Now, the 26-year-old’s contract will only count for $1.07 million against the salary cap.

That is, of course, unless another team picks Parker off waivers, in which case that organization will be on the hook for his salary. As we’ve seen in the past, this little caveat likely means that teams will simply wait out the waiver-wire process before signing Parker, who averaged 5.3 points in 22 games with Boston. Considering the rash of hardship contracts the league has had to hand out over the course of the last month, he should not lack for suitors once that time comes around.

Given that he averaged only 11.4 minutes per game during these appearances, Parker’s absence shouldn’t really be notable for the Celtics. Certainly, the Parker move wasn’t a factor in the Celtics’ extremely needed 99-75 win against the New York Knicks on Saturday night. Considering how well Evan Fournier has played against Boston, the biggest key was that he wasn’t available to pop in and embarrass his old team.

No, this was not about Parker’s play or even about the money they saved (although money is always at least partly a factor in these situations). With the trade deadline fast approaching, the true benefit for Boston is having that roster slot free for future flexibility. It would be surprising if this weren’t the first tiny domino to fall as first-time general manager Brad Stevens attempts to figure out how to best compliment the theoretically-dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

The good news is that Stevens has a new tool in his toolbox. With the Maine Red Claws season finally begun, the Celtics can use their G League affiliate to tighten up their roster while getting their younger players more reliable playing time. 

It won’t hurt, say, either Bruno Fernando or the team for him to get more playing time away from the big club. It’s a bit peculiar that they also exiled Aaron Nesmith, who has spent much of this season in head coach Ime Udoka’s doghouse. As long as Nesmith’s absence with the Celtics is merely a temporary situation designed to get him sorely-needed minutes on an off-day, it’s hard to criticize that decision too much.

If none of this sounds particularly game-changing, it’s because it’s not. Still, the Celtics are showing signs that they are doing something. What we’ve seen clearly in the first half of this NBA season is that the Celtics’ Plan A has collapsed. With the trade deadline approaching, it’s time for the organization to show that it does, in fact, have a Plan B.

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