JULY 2, 4:03pm: The Celtics have officially signed Wanamaker, the team announced today in a press release. Because it’s a minimum salary contract, it can be finalized during the July moratorium.
JUNE 26, 5:59pm: Wanamaker and the Celtics have agreed on a guaranteed one-year, minimum salary deal worth approximately $831K, per international basketball journalist David Pick.
Per Pick, Wanamaker left $3.8MM on the table in Europe to get his shot in the NBA.
JUNE 25, 3:04pm: The Celtics are in the process of finalizing a deal with EuroLeague guard Brad Wanamaker, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (via Twitter), Boston would like to sign Wanamaker to a two-year contract, while Wanamaker would prefer one year, but it appears the two sides will work out an agreement. The Celtics would be able to officially finalize the signing once the new NBA league year begins in July.
Wanamaker, who played his college ball at Pittsburgh, went undrafted in 2011 and has bounced around various leagues since then, playing in the G League and overseas. The 6’4″ combo guard has emerged as one of the more effective players in Europe, earning an All-EuroLeague Second Team nod in 2017 and winning the MVP award for the Turkish League Finals this year. In 2017/18, he averaged a team-high 11.8 PPG and made 40.2% of his three-pointers in 31 Turkish League games for EuroLeague powerhouse Fenerbahce.
This will be the second straight offseason that the Celtics have dipped into the international ranks to fill out their roster. A year ago, the club brought Shane Larkin back from Europe and also signed Daniel Theis out of the German League. Wanamaker and Theis played together for Brose Bamberg in Germany from 2014 to 2016.
International basketball journalist David Pick first reported earlier this month that the Celtics were giving “strong consideration” to signing Wanamaker. The Magic, Nets, Sixers, and Heat were also said to have interest.
These are the kind of guys Luca Doncic played against. Scrub fringe NBA guys, and those not even considered even that. But he’s the MVP of That League over there. Superstar NBA potential LOL. Should have been picked 12 or 14 not number 3.
Luka’s going to be a real nice player. He’s not going to be a bust. But I would have picked 10 other guys ahead of him.
He’s 19. Lay off the Stephen A. Smith.
I don’t listen to or watch Stephen A Smith. Can’t stand him actually. Does he say the same thing?
I think the kid is great. I’m going after all the people that are labeling him the best European player to ever come out.
How many NBA caliber players bigs did Ayton play against?
Ayton is not a 6-6 point forward.
You can see Ayton’s game without having him go against NBA guys. It’s all right there in front of you.
Over where?
Wow Doncic not even mentioned here and you had that itch to keep hating on him
I’m calling out, and will continue to call out, anyone who deems this guy the second coming of …..Sarunus Marciulionis? Goran Dragic? Rudy Fernandez?
Those are the best guards to ever come out of Europe. And everyone says that Luca is head-and-shoulders above those guys. We’ll see. I’m just looking at history and the track record of European ball players coming out. To be any good you’ve got to be a 7-footer. End of story. Dirk, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, unicorn….
I’m not hating on him, I’m just saying Luca will never make an All-Star team. The number 3 pick should have that potential. That’s all I’m saying.
I dont think he’s as good as Dragic, but he plays a different position than him, although they’re both arguably combo guards. Doncic is more of a 2, while Dragic is a PG
You do realize that Wanamaker & Larkin are still better than 99.99% of college kids, & probably better than more than half of the guys in this draft, whatever you say, euroleague is years ahead of college, NCAA, is one of the weakest leagues in the world man, some very good teams, but all teenagers & a bunch of athletes that cannot ball. For example you think Ayton met in all season with just even 1 center like the ones he will meet in the NBA, Horford, Embiid, Kanter, Valanciunas, Whiteside, Vucevic, DH12, Drummond, Turner, Sabonis, LMA, Capella, AD, DMC, Gasol bros., Nurkic, Adams, Gobert, Jokic, KAT, Lopez, DJ… you cannot compare. Everyone knows euroleague is the 2nd best league in the world, ain’t the NBA, by any means, but is way ahead of NCAA, which isn’t one of the top 10 leagues in the world, so please stop hating euros man.
Try understanding this in English. He’s a great kid and a fantastic player but he’s not the greatest Euro to ever come out.
He’s not worth the number 3 pick in this year’s draft.
Not sure who you’re talking about that hates euros.
My problem is the hyper sensationalism the media places on guys.
Was their sensationalism around Ayton? Couldn’t take his team any where in the tourney. At least Doncic has some hardware to display coming into this draft. I don’t care about either player but I’m curious how you determine who is worth the #3 pick
You haven’t seen him play. You’ve said it yourself
Neither have you when i asked !!
That’s not true. I said I’ve never been to Europe. I said I’ve seen him play a decent amount. Not a super large amount, but I’ve seen at least 15 games, possibly more, including against good NBA players in Eurobasket
You’ve seen him on TV, I’ve seen video highlights… what’s the difference?
We both have not seen him live playing games.
Good NBA players in Europe? Those are one of the NBA players or washed up guys in Europe. Shane Larkin? Nick calathes? Brad Wanamaker?
You think Luca will be an All-Star I say there’s no way. We’ll just have to wait and see. That’s your opinion that’s my opinion and that’s what the comments are all about. I trust you state your opinions in good faith and I’m trying to do so as well. Healthy conversation. I appreciate your posts.
Eurobasket…NBA players play in that tournament
Why is this guy wanting to play for Boston? Signing a 0.8MM/year contract & leaving 3.8MM in Europe, if it was me I rather take the money, he probably will never make that up again, at his age he won’t become a star or build a career to recoup that, he is a pro you got look after your family man, stay in Europe.
Good point but you figure if he’s made 3.8 or similar in the last few years he should be set up pretty well.
There is a lot to be said about Legacy and accomplishments and an NBA career is something to be proud of for these guys.
Big difference between, “yes I played in Europe” or “yes I played in the NBA.” It’s something to strive for and I understand the pursuit.
Because Boston is the greatest city ever