The Celtics haven’t been concerned in any of the NBA blockbuster commerce fireworks over the previous weekend but it surely’s attainable they may nonetheless profit from it. The Chicago Bulls traded away Zach LaVine on Sunday night time as a part of a three-team commerce with the Spurs and Kings. The workforce acquired three new gamers in that deal (Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones) however solely despatched out one, which pressured them to chop a pair gamers to make the deal official.
The workforce elected to launch wings Torrey Craig and Chris Duarte in an effort to finalize that transaction. MassLive wrote about Craig final week as a possible commerce or buyout goal for the Celtics. The 34-year-old has not performed since December thirtieth on account of an ankle harm however was approaching a return previous to his launch.
The 6-foot-5 wing has shot above 39 % from the sphere for the previous three seasons now and is a possible improve possibility for the tip of Boston’s bench. The Celtics entrance workplace continues to discover choices buying and selling reserve wing Jaden Springer per sources because of the workforce’s hefty tax invoice and Springer’s $4 million wage, which makes them a candidate to search for a wing substitute within the coming days and weeks.
Craig has solely appeared in 9 video games this yr for the Bulls, a workforce that was extra targeted on creating youthful wings. Nevertheless, his playoff monitor report may make him a preferred goal on the buyout market. He’s performed in 75 playoff video games since 2018 together with 19 begins in stints with the Suns and Nuggets. Craig signed a two-year cope with the Bulls again in 2023 however he has not been a giant a part of the workforce’s plans this yr.
For Boston, including further perimeter taking pictures choices may very well be a precedence within the coming days. Outdoors of Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard, Boston’s guards and wings off the bench haven’t supplied a lot in that division on the 15-man roster with Springer, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman underwhelming of their stints.
The workforce will undoubtedly discover different choices within the days to return and Craig will definitely have a number of suitors on the open market. Nonetheless, Craig is a participant to keep watch over if the workforce elects to face pat on the commerce deadline exterior of opening a roster spot or two.
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