- Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com examines a number of Celtics topics in his latest mailbag. Among the subjects Bulpett discusses is whether Payton Pritchard should play more. With Boston adding Malcolm Brogdon this offseason, Pritchard’s role is arguably more unclear, but he remains an effective option off the bench.
The Knicks are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2021/22 NBA season, with a $104MM new lead guard on the roster in Jalen Brunson. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News assesses the club’s roster, projecting starters and the likely first names off the bench.
Bondy also notes that, in terms of potential future deals, 2019 lottery pick Cam Reddish, acquired in a midseason trade with the Hawks, seems to want to move on. “It’s clear Cam has no place there,” a source close to the 6’8″ small forward told the Daily News. Bondy writes that the big question mark in the team’s starting lineup is at the shooting guard position, where the battle for suiting up as Brunson’s new backcourt mate looks to be between Evan Fournier and Quentin Grimes.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Following a return to the playoffs in 2021/22, the Raptors will be looking to build off their 48-34 season. Eric Koreen of The Athletic identifies paths to improvement for Toronto, including All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam‘s pull-up three-pointers, second-year forward Scottie Barnes‘s defense on the wing, and swingman OG Anunoby‘s scoring in isolation.
- The Celtics returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years last season. Jared Weiss of The Athletic examines ways in which head coach Ime Udoka could look to preserve the health of injury-prone starting center Robert Williams and 36-year-old starting power forward Al Horford, including giving more minutes to reserve Luke Kornet.
- New Nets wing Edmond Sumner has cleared an injury recovery hurdle, he announced in a tweet. The nature of the step Sumner took was not clarified. “Hit a big milestone today!” Sumner wrote in part. “Been patiently waiting to get up and down. Been grinding and trusting this process not rushing it.” Sumner signed with Brooklyn on a veteran’s minimum deal this offseason, after missing all of 2021/22 with a torn left Achilles tendon.
- Noah Vonleh‘s one-year, minimum-salary deal with the Celtics, which is now official, includes an Exhibit 9 clause, but not an Exhibit 10. Teams generally include Exhibit 10 clauses in order to either convert a contract to a two-way deal or because they expect the player to suit up for their G League affiliate. Vonleh isn’t eligible for a two-way deal and it appears there are no plans to have him join the Maine Celtics if he doesn’t make Boston’s regular season roster.
New Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon is comfortable with the idea of playing a sixth man role for his new team as Marcus Smart retains the starting point guard job. As Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe writes, Brogdon is also confident that the two guards will complement one another well when they share the floor.
“I think we have different strengths,” Brogdon said. “He’s an All-Defensive player and Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s incredible in that facet, but I also think he contributes offensively. You’ve seen his game grow and seen him be able to knock down shots and create for his teammates.
“And we both can play on and off the ball. That’s the beauty of us. We’re smart, we have high IQs, and we’re unselfish, so I think it’s going to work well.”
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- Although they were once viewed as a serious suitor for Kevin Durant, the Celtics never came “remotely close” to actually acquiring the former MVP, according to Himmelsbach, who heard from league sources that the Nets never pushed particularly hard to trade Durant.
- Jared Weiss of The Athletic considers possible trade options the Celtics could explore with Danilo Gallinari expected to miss most or all of the 2022/23 season, suggesting that Derrick White could potentially become a trade chip if Brogdon is healthy and effective. However, Weiss notes that Gallinari was more of a luxury than a necessity, meaning the team won’t feel urgency to go out and acquire a replacement.
- In his latest mailbag, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston discusses Sam Hauser‘s role, the battle for back-end roster spots, and expectations for Payton Pritchard, among other Celtics-related topics.
The Celtics are expected to apply for a disabled player exception in the wake of Danilo Gallinari‘s ACL tear, a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. A report Friday indicates that Gallinari hasn’t given up hope of playing toward the end of the upcoming season, but it appears to be a long shot given his age and the severity of the injury.
If the request is approved, Boston’s DPE would be about $3.2MM, which is half of Gallinari’s salary for 2022/23. The team would be able use that amount to sign a free agent, claim a player off waivers or acquire a player through trade, though Himmelsbach views that last option as unlikely because the Celtics already have two trade exceptions that are worth more.
Boston signed Gallinari in July to provide veteran help off the bench and another three-point shooting threat. His contract includes a $6.8MM player option for next season that he seems almost certain to exercise in light of the injury.
There’s more from Boston:
- With Gallinari likely unavailable for the entire season, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe looks at some options that are still available on the free agent market. He points to Carmelo Anthony, who might welcome the chance to end his career on a title contender, along with DeMarcus Cousins, Jeremy Lamb, Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Washburn notes that Kevin Durant‘s trade demand worked to the Celtics’ advantage because it froze the free agent market for several weeks, leaving a wealth of veteran players available in September.
- Malcolm Brogdon may used as the primary backup wing to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Brian Robb of MassLive writes in a mailbag column. Brogdon, who was acquired from the Pacers in July, has the size to handle the role at 6’5″ and is probably the team’s best defensive option at that position. Robb notes that it would also provide more backcourt minutes for Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.
- Grant Williams will likely ask for a starting salary in the mid-teens in his extension negotiations, Robb adds in the same piece. Robb doesn’t believe president of basketball operations Brad Stevens will meet that price, even though Williams becomes more important with Gallinari sidelined.
NBA players who sustain ACL tears often take a full calendar year to return to action, but Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari isn’t giving up on playing in 2022/23 after learning of his diagnosis, according to Tim Bontemps and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. A source tells Wojnarowski that Gallinari is determined to try to play before before the end of the season.
“This has been a tough week for me as I have learned the extent of my injury,” Gallinari wrote today in a statement on Twitter. “This game means everything to me and not being able to be on the court with my Celtics teammates hurts. I plan to give everything I can to the Celtics organization and my teammates as we hunt for a title.”
Even if the Celtics make another deep playoff run and play into May or June, Gallinari would need to make it back onto the court approximately eight or nine months after tearing his ACL in order to contribute in the postseason. That’s a tall order for any player, let alone a 34-year-old who tore the same ACL in 2013.
Here’s more out of Boston:
- Gallinari is expected to undergo surgery on his left knee after the swelling goes down, a league source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. According to Himmelsbach, Grant Williams will likely play an increased role with Gallinari out, while Sam Hauser will have a chance to earn a spot in the regular rotation.
- Jared Weiss of The Athletic takes a look at what’s next for the Celtics with Gallinari sidelined, noting that Boston still has a pair of trade exceptions worth $6.9MM and $5.9MM that could be useful if the team wants to try to add some reliable veteran depth via trade.
- In another article for The Athletic, Weiss examines how the Cavaliers’ acquisition of Donovan Mitchell affects the Celtics’ place in the Eastern Conference hierarchy and considers whether Collin Sexton‘s new four-year, $72MM deal will be a reference point when Boston discusses a potential rookie scale extension with Grant Williams.
The news for Danilo Gallinari and the Celtics has gone from bad to worse, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Gallinari underwent further evaluation on his injured left knee and has now been diagnosed with an ACL tear.
After Gallinari injured his knee playing for Italy in a World Cup qualifying game last week, reports indicated that the Italian national team’s medical staff determined the ACL was intact. The veteran forward was later diagnosed with a torn meniscus, but additional examinations have revealed a more serious injury.
It’s a brutal turn of events for Gallinari and the Celtics. A torn meniscus is a significant enough injury on its own, but there was a chance that the 34-year-old could return from that ailment in a matter of weeks, or at least at some point during the 2022/23 season. An ACL tear is likely to keep Gallinari on the shelf for the entire year.
A 13-year NBA veteran, Gallinari spent the last two seasons with the Hawks, averaging 12.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG on .434/.392/.915 shooting in 117 games (24.7 MPG) during that time. He was traded to San Antonio this summer in the Dejounte Murray blockbuster, then was waived by the Spurs before his salary for 2022/23 became fully guaranteed.
Once he reached free agency, Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.3MM deal with the Celtics, who used their full taxpayer mid-level exception to bring him aboard. He was expected to provide some scoring punch in Boston’s frontcourt, but now seems unlikely to contribute until 2023/24.
The second year on Gallinari’s deal is a player option — it looks like a safe bet he’ll end up exercising it, since he’s unlikely to do well on the free agent market next summer as a 35-year-old coming off a torn ACL. He tore the same ACL in 2013 as a member of the Nuggets.
With Gallinari likely to miss all of ’22/23, the Celtics will have the ability to apply for a disabled player exception, which would be worth 50% of his salary (about $3.2MM), notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
A disabled player exception can be used to sign a free agent, to claim a player off waivers, or to acquire a player in a trade, as long as the team has an available roster spot to accommodate the addition. The exception can only be used on a single player and can only accommodate a player on a one-year deal. A free agent signee can’t get a multiyear contract, and any trade or waiver target must be in the final year of his contract.
Hoops Rumors is in the process of taking a closer look at each NBA team’s current roster situation, evaluating which clubs still have some moves to make and which ones seem most prepared for training camp to begin.
This series is meant to provide a snapshot of each team’s roster at this time, so these articles won’t be updated in the coming weeks as more signings, trades, and cuts are made. You can follow our roster counts page to keep tabs on teams’ open spots as opening night nears.
We’re continuing our pre-camp Roster Snapshot series today with the Atlantic Division. Let’s dive in…
Boston Celtics
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 10
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 2
- Al Horford (partial guarantee), Luke Kornet (partial guarantee)
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
- Players on two-way contracts: 2
- Restricted free agents: 1
- Brodric Thomas (two-way)
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 2
Horford is a lock to be on the Celtics’ 15-man regular season roster and Kornet’s partial guarantee gives him an inside path. If we assume Boston will start the season with a roster spot open in order to maintain roster flexibility and reduce the team’s tax bill, that leaves two spots up for grabs.
Caboclo, Valentine, Vonleh, and Thomas will all likely be in the mix for those openings, and the C’s have the spots necessary on their 20-man offseason roster to bring in a couple more camp invitees to take part in that competition.
Brooklyn Nets
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 12
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 2
- Edmond Sumner (partial guarantee), Yuta Watanabe
- Players on two-way contracts: 1
- Restricted free agents: 1
- David Duke (two-way)
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 2
- Markieff Morris, Donovan Williams (Exhibit 10)
After hanging onto Durant and Irving, the Nets are still working on filling out their roster. It’s possible some combination of Sumner, Watanabe, and Morris will fill the remaining two or three spots on the 15-man squad, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Duke works himself into that mix or if Brooklyn brings in another veteran free agent or two to compete for a roster spot.
If Duke doesn’t get a promotion to the Nets’ 15-man roster, he’s the best bet to fill the open two-way slot next to Williams.
New York Knicks
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 13
- Players on two-way contracts: 2
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 2
- Garrison Brooks (Exhibit 10), Jean Montero (Exhibit 10)
Up until Thursday, it looked like the Knicks’ roster may still undergo a major overhaul, with the possibility of a Donovan Mitchell trade threatening to shake things up. Now that Mitchell is headed to Cleveland, New York’s offseason to-do list appears nearly done.
The Knicks do still have two openings on their 15-man roster and aren’t in any danger of going into tax territory, so they could comfortably fill both of those remaining spots. A veteran free agent signing or two is one possibility — New York could also look to make a minor trade, or could wait until the preseason to see which players currently on rosters might shake loose as teams make cuts.
Philadelphia 76ers
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 12
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 4
- Charles Bassey (partial guarantee), Isaiah Joe, Trevelin Queen (partial guarantee), Paul Reed
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
- Players on two-way contracts: 2
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 1
- Aminu Mohammed (Exhibit 10)
With 12 players on guaranteed contracts and four on partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals, the Sixers will have to trade or release at least one player before opening night.
Given how close they are to the hard cap, the 76ers seem more likely to cut a player who doesn’t have a full guarantee in order to create a little extra flexibility, so Queen and Joe are among those who could be in danger. A trade involving a player like Korkmaz also shouldn’t be ruled out, though it will be trickier to pull off.
Toronto Raptors
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 13
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 4
- Dalano Banton (partial guarantee), Justin Champagnie (partial guarantee), Josh Jackson (exact details TBD), D.J. Wilson (partial guarantee)
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
- Players on two-way contracts: 2
- Restricted free agents: 2
- Jalen Harris (two-way), David Johnson (two-way)
Even after waiving Svi Mykhailiuk, the Raptors have a crowded roster. It seems likely that all 13 players on guaranteed contracts will open the season on the 15-man squad — Hernangomez may not be a lock, but Toronto wouldn’t have given him a fully guaranteed salary if he wasn’t part of the team’s plans.
If we pencil in those 13, it leaves two open spots for Banton, Champagnie, Jackson, Wilson, and possibly two-way RFAs Harris and Johnson. The latter two are wild cards, since they could also factor into the two-way picture if Toronto is willing to carry one or both of them over Dowtin and/or Harper. There’s plenty still to be sorted out here.
Previously:
Speaking to Spencer Davies of BasketballNews.com, new Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said the franchise’s history is one important reason why he was excited to be traded from Indiana to Boston this offseason.
“I mean, they’re the most winning organization in the league, and I think they’re more hungry to win than anybody,” Brogdon said. “You can see that with the move they made for me and (Danilo) Gallinari. They want to improve. They want to win a championship. It’s all about Banner 18 for ’em. Now that’s all it’s about for me as well, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Brogdon also talked to Davies about Gallinari’s injury, the role he thinks he can play in Boston, and his involvement with the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa program. The conversation is worth checking out in full for Celtics fans.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- While the Nets‘ additions of Royce O’Neale, T.J. Warren, Edmond Sumner, and Markieff Morris should provide some depth around their stars, the team could still use more depth at center and a reliable backup point guard, argues Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. Winfield views Kyrie Irving and Patty Mills as score-first guards and notes that Ben Simmons will be used all over the court, meaning there still may be a need for a traditional floor general.
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic shares the results of his Raptors fan survey, which reflect the fanbase’s high confidence level in team president Masai Ujiri and suggest that fans would be comfortable offering Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet lucrative long-term contract extensions.
- Sam Cohn of The Philadelphia Inquirer takes an interesting, in-depth look at the road that Georges Niang took to the NBA and to the Sixers. Niang is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $3.47MM in 2022/23.
As initially reported by Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca, the Raptors used exactly $1.5MM of their mid-level exception to sign rookie big man Christian Koloko to a three-year contract on Friday. With the second and third years worth the minimum, Koloko’s deal has a total three-year value of $5,239,563.
The first two years of that contract are fully guaranteed, Hoops Rumors has learned, with the third year non-guaranteed. Koloko’s salary for 2024/25 would become fully guaranteed if he hasn’t been waived within 48 hours of the 2024 NBA draft.
Here are a few more details on newly-signed contracts from around the NBA:
- The new one-year, non-guaranteed contracts for Bruno Caboclo (Celtics), Chris Silva (Hawks), and Justin Tillman (Nuggets) all include Exhibit 10 language. Silva’s and Tillman’s deals could be converted into two-way contracts, but Caboclo’s can’t, since he has too many years of NBA service to be two-way eligible.
- Yuta Watanabe‘s one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Nets includes an Exhibit 9 clause, but not an Exhibit 10. That essentially means that Watanabe is only in the mix to compete for a regular season roster spot and probably won’t be joining Brooklyn’s G League affiliate if he’s cut (he’s ineligible for a two-way deal).
- Alize Johnson‘s non-guaranteed contract with the Spurs is an Exhibit 9, but not an Exhibit 10. Tommy Kuhse‘s deal is an Exhibit 10, so he could have it converted into a two-way deal or could become an affiliate player for the Austin Spurs.