Washington Wizards power forward Davis Bertans is getting a lot of attention around the league, and that won't diminish after his performance in the team's 114-107 loss to the Hornets Tuesday night.
Bertans hit 8-of-12 from 3-point land to score a career-high 32 points, while grabbing nine rebounds.
The Latvian big man was the No. 42 pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs but didn't join them until the 2016-17 season. Bertans is a long 6-foot-10 with a masterful stroke from deep. The fact that he would fit seamlessly into any NBA lineup makes him a desired commodity. With John Wall out for the season, Washington is going nowhere. They will certainly be taking calls on the long-range sharpshooter, and the Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge should almost certainly be on the phone.
Wizards Davis Bertans is a 6'10" long-distance sharpshooter . The Latvian Laser is getting a lot of attention lately. Danny Ainge will be calling— Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) December 11, 2019
Highlights: Davis Bertans career-high 32 points, eight 3-pointers vs. Ho... https://t.co/orI5RLmaBB via @YouTube
On the season, Bertans is averaging 15.7 points on 46-percent shooting from the field, 46-percent on 3-pointers and 85-percent from the free throw line. The 27-year-old Latvian Laser is in the last year of his rookie deal, earning $7 million this season. The Celtics currently have no big man with anything close to Davis' accuracy from deep. Ainge would be very reluctant to part with the Memphis first-round pick in any deal, but Boston's own first-rounder could be a starting point.
Salary-matching should not be a major issue, but the longer-term brings some questions. Gordon Hayward has a player option for next season, and Jayson Tatum will be in the final year of his rookie deal, barring an extension. Ainge really needs to at least make an inquiry on this kid. He has a high - and fairly quick - release. His ability to stretch the floor and open driving lanes for Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker and Hayward would be a huge bonus. Ainge should give this one a shot.
Tom Lane
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Photos used are courtesy of Bleacher Report
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