The Celtics intend to keep forward Semi Ojeleye on their roster through July 1, guaranteeing his salary for the 2019/20 season, reports Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link). Ojeleye is on a minimum-salary deal, so he’ll earn $1,618,520 next season.
Even as the Celtics’ roster appears set to undergo some unexpected changes this summer, Ojeleye never appeared to be a candidate to be released before his guarantee date. The 24-year-old appeared in 56 games for Boston last season, averaging 3.3 PPG and 1.5 RPG.
With Al Horford, Aron Baynes, and Marcus Morris all potentially on the way out, Ojeleye could be in line for a larger role in the Celtics’ frontcourt next season.
Retaining Ojeleye won’t impact the Celtics’ ability to offer a maximum-salary contract to Kemba Walker. The team projects to have up to about $34MM in space, even after accounting for Ojeleye.
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- A source close to Al Horford insists that no final decision has been made about his future, but his time in Boston is over, Himmelsbach confirms. Horford is tentatively expected to hold free agent meetings in Atlanta next week when free agency begins, a source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic.
- The Celtics have yet to tender a qualifying offer to Terry Rozier, and figure to take that decision down to the wire, Himmelsbach writes. I’d expect Boston to issue a QO to Rozier just in case, but that offer could be renounced early in free agency if the team reaches a deal with Kemba Walker or another big-name free agent.
- A league source tells Himmelsbach that D’Angelo Russell is a player who would interest the Celtics. Presumably, he’d be a backup plan if Boston can’t secure an agreement with Walker.
- There have been no directives from team ownership about what direction the Celtics should take this summer, according to Himmelsbach, who adds that the club won’t make any moves based on additions or subtractions of other Eastern Conference rivals.
Russell would seem to be a better target than Kemba. He is younger, taller, and could cost a bit less. Cs could then get use the money they save to big man they need.
Russell is a younger Kyrie. A diva and a ballhog. No thanks. Kemba is nice, but I agree they should go for a big man instead (Vucevic, Turner, Bamba, etc, whoever gets available), and resign Rozier for cheap. The backcourt and the wings are set, just need a quality big.
With Robert Williams, Daniel Theis and Ojeleye as bigs I can see the Celts as an 8 maybe even a 7 seed.
Please don’t blow all the cap space on Kemba.