Should the Celtics pursue Hawks’ Kevin Huerter as a traded player exception target?

The Boston Celtics would be wise to call the Atlanta Hawks about one of their potentially surplus wings according to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, and we are inclined to agree. In a draft-day analysis of what teams around the league ought to be doing, Hollinger writes “If Boston can stomach the luxury tax hit, a trade of Atlanta’s Kevin Huerter to the Celtics would make a lot of sense for both sides.”

“Huerter would give Boston another big wing off the bench who can score, improving their bench, and he’s on the same timeline as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum,” adds the Athletic analyst. “Atlanta would duck the luxury tax and create some wiggle room to address its defensive weaknesses.”

Given, as Hollinger notes, the ability of the Celtics’ $17.1 million trade exception (TPE) to absorb Huerter’s $14.5 million salary, such a deal could very well make sense for both sides.

Given the extant talent and upside of the young Huerter, it would make sense to expect the Hawks to want some draft assets back, but Huerter is among our top targets for Boston’s largest TPE heading into 2022 NBA free agency.

With career averages of 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and nearly a steal per game, the Celtics would have to get very lucky indeed to find a more apt TPE target for their future and present both.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire.

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