Even before the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics had been the greatest NBA club all season. The Celtics had a successful trade deadline, adding big man depth in Xavier Tillman and obtaining a young potential in Jaden Springer. With the buyout market season underway, the Celtics would be prudent to pursue Danilo Gallinari and/or Thaddeus Young.
The Celtics don’t need any more depth, but it doesn’t hurt as they prepare for what they expect to be a long postseason run. They have an available roster space and might utilize it to convert someone like Neemias Queta, who has a two-way deal. However, they should consider enlisting the assistance of additional veterans.
Gallinari is undoubtedly the best player on the buyout market. He was moved to the Detroit Pistons, where he played only a few games before being waived. Gallinari is a combo forward who can fill in as the backup small forward. Sam Hauser presently holds that place, but Gallinari would provide the Celtics with a more experienced option.
Gallinari returned this season after missing all of previous year due to an ACL injury. Prior to that, he was averaging double figures for the Atlanta Hawks. This year, despite his lower scoring averages, he shot well in the tiny sample size he had with the Pistons. In six games, he shot 54.5 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from three points.
Gallinari is anticipated to attract interest from a few clubs, so the Celtics will face some competition. But perhaps a vital position on a championship-caliber squad will entice him.
Thaddeus Young might be the Celtics’ backup plan in the buyout market.
If the Celtics do not sign Danilo Gallinari, they may pursue Thaddeus Young. Young is also a combo forward, albeit he hasn’t been as productive as Gallinari in recent seasons. He has spent the last few years as more of a seasoned mentor for the Toronto Raptors.
His presence on the Celtics would be that of a locker room person, but having a couple of such individuals is never a bad thing, especially on a championship-caliber team. This season, Young has appeared in 23 games for the Raptors, including six starts. He averaged 5.0 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 62.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from the free throw line.
If the Celtics sign Young, they will presumably not rely too much on him for on-court production. If they miss out on Gallinari, simply sticking with what they have should suffice. There has been talk of them maybe converting Neemias Queta to a normal contract, which is arguably the smartest move.
The Celtics’ current roster includes enough players to win a title. Gallinari might give them an extra push. Young is a viable backup option, but he is not a top priority. Gallinari should be the team’s primary priority on the buyout market, but losing him isn’t such a big concern.
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