As expected, Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari has exercised his $6.8MM player option for the 2023/24 season, his agent Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.3MM contract with Boston as a free agent last summer. However, he never suited up for his new club, having missed the entire ’22/23 season with a major knee injury.
The 34-year-old sustained a torn left ACL last August while playing in a World Cup qualifier for the Italian national team. It was his second torn ACL in the same knee — the first came back in 2013, which caused him to miss the ’13/14 season.
According to Wojnarowski, Gallinari is expected to have a “sizeable role” for the Celtics next season. The veteran forward is close to being fully recovered from the injury.
A talented scorer and shooter, Gallinari holds career averages of 15.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 1.9 APG on .428/.382/.877 shooting in 728 career regular season games (29.9 MPG). In ’21/22 with Atlanta, his last healthy campaign, he averaged 11.7 PPG and 4.7 RPG on .434/.381/.904 shooting in 66 games (25.3 MPG).
Find a back up center and run them all back. Celtics will be the team to beat in the East!
Could have used his scoring in playoffs. Definitely bring him back. I still think Celtics need a rim protector. A real center…..
Yeah! A real rim protector! Perhaps they could make a move to aquire Robert Williams III.
And I always agree but 6’8 Williams should be playing PF. A center taller than 6’11 all star type. Tatum at SF, brown at SG, Smart, Brodgon G Williams Horford and White as backups. Trade Pritchard, Danilo and Kornet. Find the starting center and starting PG. Find a veteran assistant coach . Sign veterans on the bench. Time to win is now
You think he’s a rim protector. He’s listed 6’9” 240 LBs. Yeah the NBA is real scared to come in on him. You should update your brain.
Bron is listed at 6’9” 250 LBs. Wow he must the best rim protector ever ……
Silly me, you’re right Al, it’s not like he has a 7’5″ wingspan with a 40.5 inch vertical leap or anything. It’s not like opposing players had a 38.6 FGP when he was their primary defender last season.
How about kristaps, m Turner, or Ayton? Find another PG
This is a joke comment, right?
Look at your rim protector. Heat lived in the paint …..
link to statmuse.com
Shot 48% FG as a team …. When you going to learn lol
I looked at your link; thanks. Seems to me allowing the Heat to shoot 43.4% from three-point range in the Playoffs was Celtics big problem. And our weakness all season long.
I agree
Even if he’s only playing at 80 percent of what he was, he still is their best big off the bench by far.
Hope he brought a ski mask.
Didn’t see that one coming.
And thade their picks to help
With all the hype and coverage the CELTICS always get from media, no one would think that this franchise has only won one (1) championship post Bird’s heyday …….. that’s 1 championship in the last 37 seasons.
Damn your right