Celtics Expected to ‘Zero In’ on This Longtime Free-Agent Target

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Celtics Expected to ‘Zero In’ on This Longtime Free-Agent Target



By Sean Deveney
Updated Oct 15, 2020 at 9:24am




Free agent Danilo Gallinari, against the Boston Celtics in 2016


When it comes to NBA free agency, there is a name lingering that should be familiar to fans of the Celtics: Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari, who will officially be on the market whenever the league allows free agency to begin.

The Celtics have had interest in Gallinari for years, most significantly in the winter of 2015, when Gallinari was in Denver and the Nuggets were shopping him. At 6-foot-10, with a sweet perimeter shooting stroke, Gallinari is the kind of floor-stretching big man Celtics president Danny Ainge has long been interested in bringing to Boston.

The Celtics could be after him again. “He is someone I would expect Boston to zero in on, a veteran guy who can put them over the top,” one league executive told Heavy.com.

The Celtics discussed piecing together a package for him five years ago.

Steve Bulpett
@SteveBHoop
Celts/Denver discussed Gallinari deal, but nothing doing as of now. Some conflicting talk from sources, but may want to keep an eye on this.
12:19 PM · Jul 13, 2015


They were reported to be “monitoring” Gallinari last season with the Thunder, too.

NBA Central
@TheNBACentral
The Boston Celtics are reportedly monitoring the trade market for Danilo Gallinari, per @EricPincus
8:14 PM · Jan 10, 2020


Now, it is possible that Gallinari could be had on the cheap. The Celtics, pinned against the luxury tax, can’t afford to pay Gallinari market value but he made clear in an interview this week that he would be willing to take less money for a chance to win. He is prioritizing playing for a contender over a payday.

“At this time, yes,” he said, according to Sportando. “I’m not 20 anymore.”

The Celtics have been in the Eastern Conference finals in three of the last four years. They also offer Gallinari a good opportunity, with three talented, basket-attacking ballhandlers in Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Gallinari’s shooting ability would create ample space for those players and he would get plenty of open looks in an offense with those players.


Gallinari Played in NBA Bubble Despite Impending Free Agency

Gallinari won some respect around the league when he agreed to go to Orlando and play for the Thunder during the NBA restart. As one of the most prominent free-agents on the market, he had plenty of reason to sit out and not risk putting himself in harm’s way.

Instead, he went to the NBA bubble and helped the Thunder push the Rockets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. He struggled with his shot, only making 32.4% of his 3s, but his presence was valuable.

He said there was no doubt he would go to Orlando to finish off Oklahoma City’s season.

“Not in my mind or my agent’s mind,” Gallinari said on a conference call. “The main reason is because we are fighting for something, and I think that what we are fighting for and what we play for is more important than the free agency that I’m going to approach.”

In addition to the Celtics, Gallinari is expected to get interest from the Heat and Lakers, the two NBA finalists.


Gallinari’s Injury History a Concern for Celtics, Others

Gallinari is 32 years old, which gives some around the league pause about how whether he is worthy of a sizable long-term contract. There is also a question about durability. Gallinari suffered an ACL injury in 2013 that kept him out for a full year and has had a litany of injuries even before—and since—he hurt his knee.

Even if you remove the season in which his knee was hurt, Gallinari missed 183 games in 11 years, an average of 16.6 games per season. He missed 10 this season in OKC, 14 two years ago with the Clippers and 61 three years ago when he suffered injuries to his hand and rear end. Any team that brings in Gallinari then, will do so at its own peril—it is unlikely he will be healthy for the duration.

But when he is on the floor, Gallinari is very useful, a model European stretch-4. He is a career 38.0% shooter from the 3-point arc and has shot 41.8% on 3s in the last two seasons. He averaged 18.7 points with the Thunder last season.


Bob
MY NOTE:  6'10", 233#, 32 years old.  He's a career 38% 3pt shooter.  A Jeff Green-level poor rebounder for his size.  That alone makes me ill.  He is, to be fair, a more consistent scorer than Green ever was.  We know Gallinari has been coveted by Danny for a long time.  I, personally, never got it.  Sure, he's gone off on us a few times, but when has he ever been "the man" on a good team?  I looked up his playoff numbers.  He's shot 30-32% from 3 in the playoffs the last 2 years.  I've never really liked him, so I'm already biased against him.  Where's he going to play?  Back up behind Tatum?  Sure, that'd be an upgrade on the depth chart at the 4 spot, I suppose, but it doesn't fix our BIG problem, especially if Kanter leaves.  Gallo just isn't that strong a player.

I'm done with the kindergarten, but I don't want to replace them with a veteran who underperforms in the playoffs neither.  Get me an old fire house horse who powers up when they hear the alarm and who knows how to pull efficiently and get the fireman to the fire as fast as possible.  Keep the freaking dalmations, I'm done with cute.  


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I'm with you Bob, I've never understood the Danny love for the guy. Seems like a poor mans Kevin Love (which is another guy Danny used to have man love for ).

Lets hope someone offers him more than the MLE and he is off the radar.

but IF the article is true, then we can say for sure than Ainge is NOT looking for another "power type" big man .

he's always seemed to have a blind spot there.

Gal is coming off of a $22 million deal.  He had a very solid year. His injury history however cannot be ignored.

I would prefer to see the Celtics use their MLE for Bjelica.  He has shot over 40% from deep in 3 consecutive years and last year the 6' 10"  PF also had 6.8 boards and rarely turns the ball over.  He is also 32 but unlike Gallo he is coming off a $7.1 million contract.  The Celtics could maybe get him at the MLE with step raises.  He would solve our shooter off the bench issue.

Bjelica would seem to be an option for that MLE.

his only downside is he's never been in the playoffs, except his rookie year I think.

I also don't know how good a defender he is.

kdp59 wrote:Bjelica would seem to be an option for that MLE.

his only downside is he's never been in the playoffs, except his rookie year I think.

I also don't know how good a defender he is.

I doubt he is a lockdown defender but neither is Gallo. He is a 32 year old vet so I would not be too concerned about his lack of playoff experience. He is a pure shooter