The Boston Celtics don’t have the wage cap room for any main midseason pursuits because the Feb. 6 commerce deadline rapidly nears.
Boston dedicated over $900 million in mixed contracts to retain its beginning 5 and reached $500 million in complete spending this previous offseason. Jayson Tatum signed a record-large $315 million supermax and with the looming uncertainty of the franchise’s upcoming sale, the title-defending Celtics aren’t content material.
With lower than two weeks remaining till the commerce market is closed for good, Boston is one in every of a number of groups — together with the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets — linked to Philadelphia 76ers ahead Guerschon Yabusele, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Yabusele signed a one-year, $2.1 million cope with Philadelphia following the 29-year-old’s spectacular displaying on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was Yabusele’s head coach in the course of the France native’s first two NBA seasons. Boston chosen Yabusele with the sixteenth total choose within the 2016 draft, however the sharpshooting wing’s transient two-year run with the Celtics triggered a five-year intermission from NBA basketball.
Yabusele, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound versatile function participant took his skills abroad, enjoying in China and France, and touchdown a cope with Actual Madrid to re-tool and enhance.
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That departure paid its dividends when Yabusele confirmed out at this previous summer time’s Olympics in Paris. Yabusele soared over LeBron James and completed a vicious poster dunk within the France-USA gold medal recreation. Instantly, Yabusele went viral, though the eye spike was nicely deserved past the 2K-like jam.
Yabusele and Group France settled for a formidable silver-medal end however extra importantly, the ex-first-rounder helped himself by catapulting his inventory curiosity. Yabusele averaged 14 factors and three.3 rebounds and shot 51.9% from the sphere within the Olympics, which prompted Philadelphia’s entrance workplace to achieve out with a contract supply.
Though… Yabusele did float curiosity in returning to the Celtics earlier than the “Dancing Bear” went viral and drew eyes in Paris.
“You gotta inform (the Celtics) to convey me again,” Yabusele instructed Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe in August.
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Boston didn’t budge and as an alternative signed guard Lonnie Walker earlier than reducing him to keep away from going any additional above the luxurious tax — Walker’s Exhibit 10 contract would’ve value the Celtics $10 million to retain him.
Yabusele, in the meantime, has constructed a convincing case to stay across the NBA as soon as his contract expires and he hits free company within the offseason. He’s averaged 10.4 factors, 5.5 rebounds and two assists, making 22 begins in 44 appearances for the Sixers this season. Yabusele’s depth, coupled with Payton Pritchard’s ascension, might enhance Boston’s bench and total depth immensely.
The Celtics are due for a breakout amid what’s been a discouraging 9-6 month of January.
Struggles together with fourth-quarter tumbles, 3-point inefficiency and the failure to fight lowly competitors with championship-caliber firepower have plagued the C’s. They’re but to carry out as much as par with the Celtics crew that chased information, set information and bulldozed its manner from a 64-win common season to an 11-3 playoff report en path to a title.
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Subsequent Thursday’s commerce deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
