KEY POINTS

  • Josh Richardson has agreed to a one-year extension with the Boston Celtics
  • His contract is now valued at $24 million, a potential trade piece in the future
  • Marcus Smart and Richardson could become the focal points of a Celtics trade for Beal

The NBA offseason’s free agency bonanza and trading spree is slowing to a crawl as free agents settle into their teams but the Boston Celtics may not be done just yet.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that recently-acquired forward Josh Richardson has signed an extension with the team, bringing his contract up to two years, $24 million.

Richardson was acquired by the Celtics earlier in the month from the Dallas Mavericks as they used the roughly $11 million trade exception they created last offseason, thanks to the Gordon Hayward deal that sent him to the Charlotte Hornets, and big man Moses Brown.

“I think that Josh brings a great grit, again and edge,” said newly minted president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “He can defend several positions. I think that last year was a little bit of an anomaly in how he shot the ball. He’s always been a good shooter and our numbers would say that when he gets the open opportunities, he’s better obviously than he shot last year."

“But he wants to win. Like winning is really important to him. I think the way that he separated himself when he joined the league with him being a mid-second-round pick was he showed his competitive character out of the gate. I think that that is something that we’re looking forward to adding to our team.”

However, Richardson adding another year to his deal could be a way for the Celtics to make him a valuable trade asset down the line.

The belief around the league is that Richardson will become a salary-matching trade piece for the Celtics in acquiring Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, should the latter become available.

The Celtics have also signed Marcus Smart to an extension this summer, and he will most likely be the centerpiece in that potential Beal deal.

Should things work out for Richardson in Boston, the Celtics have signed a quality 3-and-D wing player that can nicely fill the gap that Evan Fournier left as he decided to join the New York Knicks.

Richardson’s extension is definitely a win-win situation for Boston fans, and it could work out well for the Celtics as well in the long run.

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