After Kevin Durant’s request to be traded by the Nets despatched shockwaves by the NBA on Thursday, the Celtics had a quiet opening evening of free company. Boston didn’t comply with any offers by the primary three hours of the negotiating interval, which started at 6 p.m. However the muted starting was not a shock.
Not like in some previous years, when the Celtics had been positioned to make pitches to former All-Stars resembling Al Horford, Durant, Gordon Hayward, and Kemba Walker, this summer season isn’t anticipated to yield a franchise-changing expertise.
The Celtics, who got here inside two wins of profitable the NBA championship simply two weeks in the past, are anticipated to return nearly their total core subsequent season and have few avenues to make important modifications.
They’ve a $6.5 million taxpayer’s mid-level exception to make use of on a free agent, and a league supply mentioned Thursday {that a} deal involving it might doubtless be consummated by the weekend. The Celtics even have a group of commerce exceptions, which might permit them to accumulate gamers with out sending again matching salaries. The biggest, value $17.1 million, will expire July 18. A supply mentioned that there was not an excessive amount of urgency to make use of that exception now, with the Celtics doubtless preferring to let the free company mud settle earlier than looking for choices within the coming weeks.
Some potential free agent candidates went off the market Thursday, together with guard Patty Mills, who re-signed with the Nets, and ahead Nic Batum, who re-signed with the Clippers. In line with a league supply, the Celtics have expressed curiosity in veteran ahead Danilo Gallinari.
Gallinari, whose $21.4 million wage with the Hawks was slated to turn into absolutely assured this week, was traded to the Spurs within the deal that introduced All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to Atlanta. San Antonio, which seems to be within the early levels of an intensive rebuild, reportedly plans to waive Gallinari.
The 6-foot-10-inch ahead is a wonderful 3-point shooter and would supply some scoring pop to a Celtics bench that displayed its offensive limitations within the Finals loss to the Warriors. However he’s a below-average defender, and Celtics executives have careworn that they wish to watch out to not disturb the NBA’s high protection.
In line with Bleacher Report, Gallinari is believed to be selecting between the Bulls and Celtics. The Bulls can provide about $1.5 million greater than the Celtics, and Gallinari did play for Bulls coach Billy Donovan throughout a stint with the Thunder, so there may be familiarity there.
Different potential mid-level exception targets who remained unsigned within the early hours of free company Thursday included Kings guard Donte DiVincenzo, Nets guard Bruce Brown, and Pacers guard T.J. Warren.
In any other case, the Celtics will doubtless be working on the fringes this week. The Celtics on Wednesday declined their $1.6 million possibility on second-year ahead Sam Hauser. In line with a league supply, this transfer was accomplished so the staff can signal the sharpshooter to a longer-term deal, and that it’s anticipated to be agreed upon within the coming days.
Adam Himmelsbach will be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Observe him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.