Chase Budinger didn’t receive any guaranteed money from the Nets on his new contract, but he’ll have the opportunity to earn a regular-season roster spot, and if he can crack the 15-man squad, he’ll collect his full salary, according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. Pincus reports (via Twitter) that Budinger’s contract is an all-or-nothing deal, which becomes fully guaranteed if Budinger makes the team.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Raptors general manager Jeff Weltman is pleased with the team’s offseason, as he tells Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. Weltman pointed to the team’s 10 players who are 25 or under as a sign the franchise has “invested in youth,” and singled out first-round picks Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam as rookies who could establish rotation roles.
- In the view of Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Joel Embiid‘s health will play a major part in solving the Sixers‘ logjam at center. If Embiid is healthy, it makes Jahlil Okafor more expendable, since Embiid can produce on offense. If Embiid isn’t healthy, it’s more imperative that the team hangs onto Okafor, who can score in the low post.
- Speaking on Tuesday to reporters, including Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com, new big man Al Horford said that it “feels right” to be playing for the Celtics, adding that he feels like the club is capable of winning a championship.
I’m a Celtics fan, but if they’re capable of winning a championship this year, I can beat Usain Bolt in a race…
Probably right, but if I had to bet on a team other than Cleveland or GSW, it’d be Boston. just that I wouldn’t bet against GS and Cavs without massive odds
Yeah I understand outside of Cleveland the east is a crapshoot, but Toronto is still scary, the Pacers are gonna bounce back, and I think the Pistons are in line for a step forward. The new look Knicks are interesting, but not a threat to Boston. I’d like to pick Boston as the 2 seed, but Indy and Toronto scare me off of making it a lock.
The Celtics will not win a title this year, but will be fun to watch and have a solid foundation and will start looking like a championship team in the next few years.
Raptors GM Jeff Weltman, I am pretty sure its Masai Ujiri
Weltman is the GM, Ujiri is the president
Celtics still need a rim protector.