Two Former Celtics Emerge as Potential Trade Options for Boston
A recent trade elsewhere unlocks more external options for the Celtics to consider as they evaluate what’s best for their roster.
On Saturday night at TD Garden, the Celtics, who already boasted the best record in the NBA, improved to 30-9.
They did so with a 145-113 win over the Houston Rockets in Ime Udoka’s return to Boston. Before the game, the franchise’s former bench boss shared his perspective on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s growth since he coached them in the 2021-22 campaign.
“They’ve taken those steps in confidence, been there, done that,” expressed Udoka, adding, “It’s a natural progression for those guys to become the All-NBA guys they are.”
The star tandem is the driving force fueling the Celtics’ push for Banner 18. Boston also has what’s widely considered the most talented top six in the league. But the organization’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, and the rest of its front office continue performing their due diligence as they find and evaluate potential moves to strengthen its roster.
While acknowledging their trade restrictions as a team over the second apron, not about to shake up their top six, and unlikely to part with Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard, Stevens recently conveyed the Celtics would like to add a big wing who can handle the sacrifice that comes with the role they have available.
With their president of basketball operations voicing, “I think that could be from within,” Oshae Brissett is making a compelling case for the job.
Two external options the organization is familiar with that are now potential targets are Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala. The duo got traded from the Washington Wizards to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and second-round draft picks in 2025 and 2026, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
That means Boston can bring back Gallinari or Muscala if it wants and is able to. The former is in the second and final year of the $13.3 million deal the Celtics signed him to last summer utilizing the taxpayer mid-level exception. His contract is worth $6.8 million this season. The latter is on an expiring $3.5 million deal.
Neither is a traditional big wing, but both are floor spacers who can play the four and the five. It’s a safe bet that a reunion with Gallinari would require a buyout from the Pistons since he would not fit into the $6.2 million Grant Williams traded player exception.
Still, it seems unlikely the 35-year-old, who averaged seven points and 2.9 rebounds in 26 appearances with the Wizards before being jettisoned to Detroit, will fill Boston’s vacant roster spot and rejoin his favorite childhood team.
Muscala spent most of his time with the Celtics on the bench after coming over from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline. He also had minimal opportunities with Washington, producing four points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes and 24 games.
The ten-year veteran only took 3.8 shots per tilt in the nation’s capital. He converted on just 27.5 percent of his 2.1 three-point attempts. However, he is a career 37.5 shooter on 2.6 tries from beyond the arc.
Perhaps there’s some level of interest in bringing back the six-foot-ten Muscala, especially if he reaches the buyout market. But from this vantage point, promoting Neemias Queta from his two-way deal or acquiring a different external candidate, including potentially adding a young, upside player the franchise wants to work with, seems more likely.
