OCTOBER 3: Gabriel’s signing is official, the Celtics announced in a press release.
OCTOBER 1: Journeyman power forward/center Wenyen Gabriel is signing with the Celtics, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
With Robert Williams III now en route to the Trail Blazers, the Celtics have acted quickly to shore up their frontcourt depth. Charania notes that Gabriel will hope to carve out rotation minutes off the bench with Boston. He will play behind expected starters Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
The 6’9″ big man out of Kentucky spent the past two seasons as a springy reserve with the Lakers.
In 2022/23, Gabriel was mostly employed by head coach Darvin Ham as a small-ball five. Across 68 contests with Los Angeles, the 26-year-old averaged 5.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.5 BPG and 0.5 APG in just 15.1 MPG. He largely fell out of the team’s rotation during its run to the Western Conference Finals this spring, as his shooting deficiencies and inability to guard true centers made him something of a liability.
Charania tweets that Boston had brought in Gabriel for workouts recently as the club looked to fill out its roster. Gabriel helped his native South Sudan nab its first Olympic berth ever during the FIBA World Cup this summer. He averaged 9.2 PPG and 6.8 RPG during the tournament, Charania notes.
Gabriel has also played for the Kings, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, and Nets during his four-year NBA career.
I’m slightly surprised. I thought Blake would’ve been the signing.
He still might be. Brad sure tooted his horn earlier this week.
What? No Dwight Howard? How can 95 % of Warrior fans be so wrong?
Tatum better hit the weight room. He’s going to be playing a lot of the 4 this year.
Those same 4’s have to guard him too.
They are all midgets right so it’s good
A New England kid on the Celtics I like it! I like his game too. A C+ version of Jerami Grant
Go pick up from the Celtics after losing Williams.
Can protect the rim, rebound, attack in transition, and good screener. Fills their needs.
A journey man ……. Celtics are fools for not signing Howard.
There is no such thing as a 6’ 9”, 209 lb rim protector …….
U do realize if everything goes as planned this kid won’t even play plus it a camp contract so he may not even make the team
He is gonna play. Porzingis will have to be nursed all through the season. They will put him on the injury list every chance they get to hope he has something in the tank for May.
I don’t believe Porzingis has ever played an NBA game in May or June.
Al Horford is like 36 now.
Luke Kornet will see extensive minutes. Frontcourt is very thin.
Celtics added Porzingis and Wenyen Gabriel while subtracting Robert Williams and Grant Williams from the frontcourt.
Porzingis played 60+ games last year. Not good for his durability this year. He is already having issues with his feet.
Remember this time last year when you were saying Brooklyn was going to win it all?
Rob Williams has averaged 42 games a year over 5 years and you’re talking about how Porzingis is injury prone
You could at least pretend you weren’t just trolling.
At this point of his career Dwight Howard is the epitome of a journeyman.
I was hoping they brought in Biyombo,Noel, or Dedmon even Warren would’ve been good maybe Griffin will comeback
Or maybe sign Tacko Fall again…
This is better signing than any can see. Weynen is destined to be a better player by some stretch than what is currently percieved.
Looking at this signing on a different day, I wonder if the Cs are going to run out Porzingis and Horford as a Center tandem, playing them each for about 20-28 minutes a game depending on the matchup, and then figure out the PF slot with a healthy helping of Tatum. Brisett, Gabriel, Lamar Stevens, and Jordan Walsh can all play the 4 with differing skillsets, and Tatum can handle the 4 as well. And it’s not like being primarily 5’s prevents Porzingis or Horford from playing minutes at the 4 either; they’re both capable. They could probably use at least one more big, but they do have an open camp spot even after this signing.
(rooting for Queta to get a shot, even as a backup)
Also, Jrue/D-White/Brown/Tatum/Horford looks like a pretty intense small-ball lineup they could go to for stretches. And we all know how much Boston loves to go small.
Yeah, the Celtics are thin up front, no doubt, But Tatum and Brissett are definitely going to play a lot of 4 this year.
Brisset isn’t nearly as much of a drop off from Grant Williams as many think.
Not on defense, but his shooting is mid. Better at attacking closeouts and putting the ball on the floor, though.
Crazy idea but they should sign I Thomas and Blake Griffin and I would give them a A+ even though i have been critical of them
PG. Holiday SG. Brown SF. Tatum PF. Kristaps C. Horford 6th man White. This should be the lineup. Hate tweener ball. SFs pretending to be PFs. All the old basketball players of before are rolling over in their graves