The Celtics put in WORK on Friday during the 2nd day of NBA free agency
We all knew that the Boston Celtics were not going to stand still in free agency this year. Not after reaching game 6 of the NBA Finals! Fans across the globe knew the Celtics had to get some bench pieces to make this team even stronger. And boy, did they make some big moves! Let’s take a look at the moves the Celtics made during Friday’s second day of NBA free agency.
Celtics free agency move #1: Signing Danilo Gallinari
Can confirm that Danilo Gallinari plans to sign with the Celtics after clearing waivers, as @wojespn said.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 1, 2022
This is a move that I thought would indeed happen. It makes all the sense in the world! The Boston Celtics lacked bench scoring during the NBA Finals. Guys like Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard were nonexistent in the Finals. That’s why the Celtics were smart on the second day of free agency to nab Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari is the type of player that will give you good scoring off the bench. He is a career 38% three point shooter. That’s huge for a Celtics team that loves to shoot the three ball. Gallinari can also give Jayson Tatum some much needed rest, without worrying about where the scoring can come from at those times. Gallinari will most likely take up the 6.4 million dollar mid-level exception. At 33 years old, I think Gallinari is fine making that money, while also being part of a contender.
Celtics FA move #2: Trading for Malcolm Brogdon
BLOCKBUSTER trade for #Celtics, per @wojespn:
Malcolm Brogdon to Boston.
Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith a 2023 first-round pick, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan to Indiana.
Win-now mode for Brad Stevens.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) July 1, 2022
This was the trade that I certainly wasn’t expecting. The Celtics ended up getting Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. What did it cost them? Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fits, and Juwan Morgan. Along with a first round pick next year. Losing the pick stinks, but it’s showing something. Brad Stevens is clearly in win now mode. Brogdon will give you good minutes off the bench, averaging 19 points a game last season in Indiana. Brogdon’s injury history is a little concerning. But when fully healthy, the Celtics have themselves a sixth man that could probably start. This move also gets rid of end of the bench guys that really only played in blowouts. Aaron Nesmith could develop into a good NBA player and Daniel Theis is serviceable. But what a move by Brad Stevens here!
More to come?
I think the Celtics have one or two more moves left. They have the Evan Fournier 17.1 million trade package exception that expires July 18th. That could be used to add a guy like a TJ Warren, potentially. They also have some vet minimums they can use, maybe on a guy like Thomas Bryant. Could there even be another big trade? Who knows. Whatever the case is, job well done by Brad Stevens for bringing in two impactful players that will certainly bolster the Celtics bench.
–Al Nahigian (@BigAl2793 on Twitter)
Featured Image credit: Boston Sports Journal
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