Regarding how the Boston Celtics might fill their vacant roster spot, Brad Stevens conveyed a day after the trade deadline, “I think we just have to see number one is if there’s somebody that can again provide great depth for our group, but I don’t anticipate a person that vaults into our every night rotation.”
The franchise’s president of basketball operations told Inside The Celtics that when it comes to the possibility of converting Neemias Queta from a two-way to a full-time deal, “I have, we have, to continue to evaluate everything for that last roster spot (that) we have, but he’s done a great job.”
The 24-year-old from Portugal is dealing with a hyperextended right knee that Joe Mazzulla said before Boston bludgeoned the Golden State Warriors in a 140-88 shellacking that he expects him sidelined for a week or two.
The seven-foot-center consistently maximizes his minutes. However, for a player who’s logged 432 career minutes to potentially miss half of March, with no guarantee he gets into a game with the parent club when available, his injury doesn’t eliminate but does deflate the possibility the Celtics address his contract in-season.
They also might prefer to sort out the futures of Al Horford, Xavier Tillman, and Luke Kornet this summer before determining if it’s best to sign Queta to a standard contract or see if he’ll return on a two-way deal.
As the C’s contemplate if they want to fill their open roster spot and the best way to go about doing so, players on the team have recently lobbied for Blake Griffin to return.
But regarding active NBA players, the options are drying up. Not that Boston or the following individuals necessarily had an interest in partnering, but Danilo Gallinari joined the Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Muscala signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Shake Milton chose the New York Knicks.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Patty Mills is another potential target to cross off the list. The 15-year veteran, who helped the San Antonio Spurs capture the 2014 NBA title, is signing with the Miami Heat.
While anyone the Celtics could sign to address their roster vacancy isn’t an individual they’d want or anticipate logging meaningful playoff minutes, Mills has been a part of 95 career postseason games. Like Griffin, his experience allows him to contribute without playing.
