Five players the Celtics could target to upgrade the roster (who aren’t Giannis)

This story originally appeared in the Globe’s Sunday Basketball Notes. Read the rest here.

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According to those around the NBA, the Celtics are expected to be active this summer in their roster upgrade. Perhaps watching the rival Knicks play win their first title in 53 years served as enough incentive to put together another championship-caliber roster.

The Celtics could start their return to prominence by using their $27.7 million trade exception, the second-largest in the league. The Grizzlies have a $28.8 million exception generated from the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.

The condition for using a trade exception, which is similar to a coupon, is that the Celtics could acquire a player who earned $27.7 million or less in a deal without having to send out equal salary. The player cannot earn more than the trade exception, and multiple players cannot be combined into one exception.

Here is a list of potential candidates for that trade exception, veteran players who could help the Celtics right away, adding another key component to the lineup.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens’s trade of Simons to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic could have been considered a regrettable move because Vucevic struggled after Simons was solid in his Boston stint. But the deal did create the trade exception and the Celtics could either re-sign Simons using their mid-level exception or have the Bulls re-sign Simons and acquire him through a sign-and-trade. Either way, Simons would be a welcome addition, giving the bench another scoring lift and a player who meshed well with his teammates and with Mazzulla’s system. Simons is an unrestricted free agent and may not receive the lucrative contract he was initially seeking. He’s a player who could be available in the opening days of free agency.

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Coming off a missed season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, VanVleet is set to return to the Rockets fully healthy. The question is whether the Rockets will want him back. The pressure is on coach Ime Udoka to win next season after an embarrassing first-round playoff elimination to the shorthanded Lakers and they may be seeking a frontline point guard. VanVleet could not only stabilize the offense but also provide a scoring threat and emerge as a veteran leader. He will earn $25 million in the final year of his contract and the Rockets could make him available.

Now this would be the best-case scenario for the Celtics. Murphy is a young, talented wing who can defend, score at the rim, and shoot the 3-pointer. He is entering the second year of a four-year deal and would require considerable draft compensation in return. It’s uncertain if Pelicans president Joe Dumars is willing to give up such a valuable piece for picks, or does he want to hold onto the team’s core. With having to pay the likes of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears rookie extensions over the next few years, the Pelicans may be looking to slice payroll.

Monk has been on the block before in Sacramento and the house-cleaning Kings could make him available for draft assets. The guard has rarely played in a winning situation and winning culture so it’s unsure whether his game would elevate with a playoff team where his role would be more specific. Monk is player who can score in bursts and give any bench a fearless bucket getter. He may be the most obtainable of the players on this list and could be a welcome addition to the bench.

The Nuggets acquired Johnson from the Nets for a quality 3-point shooter and strong defender. Johnson struggled this season and Denver may be looking to move him as they continue to tinker with the roster. The forward is entering the final year of his contract and could be acquired for draft compensation. Denver may be inclined to use the Johnson money on bringing back valuable wing Peyton Watson, who is a restricted free agent. Johnson’s scoring took a dip from the previous season in Brooklyn but he made 43 percent of his 3-point attempts and is a plus defender. But the addition of Johnson may mean the potential end in Boston for Derrick White.

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