Already boasting the best record in the NBA, the Celtics improved to 30-9 on Saturday night at TD Garden.
They accomplished this by defeating the Houston Rockets 145-113 on Ime Udoka’s return to Boston. His thoughts on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s development since he coached them in the 2021-22 season were given by the franchise’s former bench boss before the game.
“They’ve taken those steps in confidence, been there, done that,” Udoka said. “It’s a natural progression for those guys to become the All-NBA guys they are.”
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Sportswriter Jim Rassol of USA Today
With these two superstars at the helm, the Celtics have everything they need to contend for Banner 18. Furthermore, the Bruins’ top six players are generally thought to be the league’s most gifted. However, the front office and the team’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, are still looking at possible trades to bolster the lineup.
Stevens recently conveyed that the Celtics would like to add a big wing who can handle the sacrifice that comes with their current role. The team is aware of their trade restrictions over the second apron, is not planning to shake up their top six, and is unlikely to part with Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard.
The president of basketball operations has said, “I think that could be from within,” which strengthens Oshae Brissett’s case for the position.
The company is currently considering Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala, two outside candidates with whom it is familiar. The Washingtоn Wizards and the Detroit Pistons reportedly swapped the two players for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and two 2025 and 2026 second-round draft choices, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
So, if Boston so desires, it may re-sign Gallinari or Muscala. The former is now serving his final year of a two-year, $13.3 million contract that he signed with the Celtics last summer using the taxpayer mid-level exception. This season, his contract is valued at $6.8 million. A $3.5 million arrangement with the latter is about to expire.
Although neither is built like a conventional large wing, they are versatile floor spacers who can play both the four and five positions. Due to his ineligibility for the $6.2 million Grant Williams moved player exception, a buyout from the Pistons would likely be necessary for a reunion with Gallinari.
The 35-year-old, who was traded to the Detroit Pistons after averaging 2.9 rebounds and seven points in 26 games for the Washingtоn Wizards, is not likely to fill Boston’s open roster position and return to the team he loved as a kid.
USA TODAY Sports’ Winston Townson (USATSI_20419340)
After being traded to the Celtics by the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline, Muscala primarily played on the bench. With the Wizards, he played 14.1 minutes and appeared in 24 games, although he only got 3.1 rebounds and four points.
In the nation’s capital, the ten-year veteran took a mere 3.8 shots each tilt. Out of 2.1 three-point shots, he managed a dismal 27.5% conversion rate. But in his career, he has shot 37.5 percent on 2.6 attempts from beyond the arc.
If the six-foot-ten Muscala hits the buyout market, there may be some interest in re-signing him. From where I sit, though, the odds of the team promoting Neemias Queta from his two-way deal or signing an outside candidate—possibly even a young, promising player—appear to be higher.