Report: Gallinari signing with Celtics upon clearing waivers

[Roy H.]

One thing I really like about Gallinari:  his TOV% last season would have been lowest on the Celtics for every player other than Sam Hauser.

[td450]

There was a post somewhere yesterday but I can't find it today to quote it here. I think it was DefenseWinsChampionships talking about Gallo and Trae Young. It was a good post and something that does give me some positive questions / optimism about Gallo.

Essentially that it is difficult playing off the ball in a heliocentric offense, being less involved in the offense, getting more spot up opportunities but less touches and shots overall. That Gallo could improve outside of that heliocentric offense. That his numbers could go up outside of ATL. That may get to the FT line more, to the basket more, more playmaking. Less static offense that we saw from Gallo in ATL.

Maybe ...

And if so, great.

But if not, I'm not wild about what Gallo brings to the table. He was really disappointing in ATL.

Our offense revolves around Tatum. Atlanta's revolves around Young.

Young averaged 9.7 assists per game. He's a better offensive player and gets his teammates easier shots than Tatum does.

Gallo is a glacier at this point. He's still clever and gigantic, and he can still shoot. He won't be playing 25 minutes here, and he won't make plays. The best we can hope for is he episodically gives Al or Gwill some rest and can have some quarters where he gets some buckets against certain lineups that won't torch him on the other end.

[Vermont Green]

Is Gallinari  any better than TJ Warren at this stage in their careers? Galinari is 33 years old and showing signs of slowing down. TJ Warren is younger and in my opinion a better scorer overall, similar size to Gallinari. Why all the fuss on Gallinari and not many reports on Warren?

Warren might be looking for more than the Taxpayer MLE.  He's definitely got more upside than Gallinari, but he's probably got more downside, too.

Keep in mind, all we have to offer is the Taxpayer MLE, the same money that the injured, significantly less productive, soon-to-be 35 year old Joe Ingles got.

Hollinger is reporting that the Drummond signing had to use part of their MLE, because they used their biannual on Thompson last year. That really means the Gallo offer is not more money than what the Cs are offering.

Gallo gives us a legit 6'10 floor spacer with career 38% 3pt shooting.  And if we're keeping Horford, we can just swap him in for Gallo when we need more defensive presence.  This move makes sense for the Celtics especially just for our MLE.  I mean who else out there today would be a better use of the MLE?

Jalen Smith?

We don't know yet if Jalen Smith is an NBA player, much less a guy that contribute to a contending rotation.

His most recent showing was promising in Indiana, but he's still incredibly young. Would rather we look to veteran help

Don't get me wrong, Gallinari on the MLE ($6.4M) is good value at a position of need (PF).  He is a fringe starter at this point at best (only started 22 games in 2 seasons for ATL).  And his ceiling is several years in the past.

The question though was if not him, then who?  I think Jalen Smith is an interesting option.  Smith's basic numbers (9 pts / 6 rebs) are already not that far behind Gallinari (12 pts / 5 rebs), and in a lot less minutes (18 min vs. 25 min).  Even 3p%, Smith was 37% for 22 games in Indy (Gallinari 38% for last season). 

There is more risk with Jalen Smith or perhaps a better way to say it is less certainly.  I suspect that the Celtics (and most fans) will prefer Gallinari and I understand why.  He is what he is, pretty low risk or low uncertainty player.  We need to take a chance on a young big also though.  Smith could be the next Christian Wood.  I think he is a player to watch.

And this is why we likely won't sign him. He's a developing player that can't be counted on from game to game. We need someone we can go to who we know can produce, the finals proved that. We need a veteran.

Again, I understand there is a lot of uncertainty with Jalen Smith and any other young player like him.  But Gallinari will not really be much of an upgrade over our current Horford-RWilliams-GWilliams-Theis big rotation.  It would be nice to upgrade that rotation for next season but it is also not the end of the world if we don't.  Gallinari adds some depth on a value contract which is great but does not move the needle all that much.  We just end up with a little bit better/deeper big bench 

It is after Horford retires (and Grant becomes a RFA) that we have the bigger issue and that is where Smith or someone like him is going to be needed.  We are on borrowed time with Horford already.  Gallinari is not the solution to that problem.  That is why I see players like Jalen Smith and even Thomas Bryant being of interest to the Celtics also.

[Neurotic Guy]

Not sure how anyone could look at this as anything other than a small bench upgrade. Depth helps and Galinari can contribute. Of course he isn’t on his own THE guy…. but he adds something.  If the DG report is accurate then it’s about who else CBS gets .

[celticinorlando]

Woj confirms it’s Boston

[Roy H.]

Woj confirms it’s Boston

Once the San Antonio Spurs finalize the expected release on forward Danilo Gallinari, his preference is to join the Boston Celtics upon clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN.

Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
1 minute ago
Can confirm that Danilo Gallinari plans to sign with the Celtics after clearing waivers, as @Adrian Wojnarowski said.

Sounds fine.  It's a good move for scoring, shooting and depth.

[mobilija]

Not sure how anyone could look at this as anything other than a small bench upgrade. Depth helps and Galinari can contribute. Of course he isn’t on his own THE guy…. but he adds something.  If the DG report is accurate then it’s about who else CBS gets .

A more dependable version of what we hoped Jabari Parker to be.

[hpantazo]

Brad got his top target with the MLE. Now let’s see what we do with the 17 million dollar TPE.

[nebist]

Woj confirms it’s Boston

Once the San Antonio Spurs finalize the expected release on forward Danilo Gallinari, his preference is to join the Boston Celtics upon clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN.

Sounds fine.  It's a good move for scoring, shooting and depth.

Agreed. Shooting specialist with good size at modest $. I do think signing Gallo, means we should probably avoid targeting a shooting specialist with the TPE (Kennard, Robinson, etc). Hopefully, we can get more of a 2-way option with the TPE.

[celticinorlando]

Add Bryant on the vet minimum and use the TPE

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Woj confirms it’s Boston

Once the San Antonio Spurs finalize the expected release on forward Danilo Gallinari, his preference is to join the Boston Celtics upon clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN.

Sounds fine.  It's a good move for scoring, shooting and depth.

I know Celtic fans will find a way to criticize this, but this is a solid get. Depending on matchup, he can slide up to the 5 and stretch the floor. He can provide similar (or better) offense to what Horford provides and his shooting should help open the floor a lot.

As a 8-9th man on your team, Gallo is a solid option. He's also a great regular season guy that can help your bench offense be more respectable, which puts less pressure on the Js.

[Roy H.]

Add Bryant on the vet minimum and use the TPE

Yep.  That's the big play. 

[Kuberski33]

I've always liked him. And he won't be closing games - he'll be counted on to stop those mid-game runs when the offense stagnates and they can't buy a hoop - and he'll be a situational guy at the end when Tatum or Brown attack the basket and kick the ball out.

On the other hand, I wonder whether this means that Hauser won't be returning?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Add Bryant on the vet minimum and use the TPE

Yep.  That's the big play.

If they can add Bryant, then they should move on from Theis also, unless you plan to have him as your 6th big man.

[Kernewek]

Not expecting very much from him, but it'll be cool to see him off the bench.