The Boston Celtics made their moves before the trade deadline on Thursday, but they still have an open roster slot that allows them to dabble in the buyout market. As a result, the team may try to add one more player before the regular season concludes.
Boston’s non-taxpayer midlevel budget of $12.4 million means that not many options are available to it. However, Danilo Gallinari, a former free agent signee who is currently with the Detroit Pistons, is one name who does fit the Celtics’ tight budget.
Boston is reportedly interested in 35-year-old Gallinari to “some extent,” according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.
“Shooting is always in style. Although Gallinari’s movement isn’t as good as it once was, he can still shoot the three pointer. In six games with the Pistons following his trade, he averaged 8.7 points per contest and shot 58.3% from three, according to Helin’s Friday post. Despite this, they waived him (he was dealt to Detroit as part of the Marvin Bagley III trade after beginning the season with the Wizards). Although clubs aren’t taking him up to play a significant playoff role, he still has a useful skill that can get them through the rest of the regular season.Gallinari was sold from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Marvin Bagley III after he was unable to evade the madness around the trade deadline. However, Gallinari doesn’t get much by joining the Pistons (8-44), who are the weakest team in the Eastern Conference.
Gallinari was signed to a two-year deal with the Celtics just a year ago. However, Gallinari never played for Boston after sustaining a torn ACL injury that ended his season while playing in FIBA tournaments for the Italian national team.Later, in the summer, Boston traded for Kristaps Porzingis and acquired the 16-year veteran as part of a three-team deal. That has obviously aged just as well as most of the decisions made by Brad Stevens, the president of basketball operations for the Celtics. However, with Gallinari, a lifetime 38.2% three-point shooter, and the C’s both having open doors once more, it’s possible that a half-season reunion is in the cards.
