The Celtics’ choices for filling their final roster spot are decreasing.
Regarding how the Boston Celtics might fill their vacant roster spot, Brad Stevens stated 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 Celtics’ president of basketball operations said Inside The Celtics that when it comes to converting Neemias Queta from a two-way to a full-time deal, “I, 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 battling with a hyperextended right knee, and Joe Mazzulla revealed before Boston blasted the Golden State Warriors 140-88 that he expects him to be out for a week or two.
The seven-foot center consistently makes the most of his minutes. However, for a guy who has 432 career minutes and could miss half of March, with no certainty of playing in a game with the parent club when available, his injury does not eliminate, but does diminish, the probability that the Celtics will handle his contract in-season.
They might also want to figure out the fates of Al Horford, Xavier Tillman, and Luke Kornet this summer before deciding whether to sign Queta to a normal contract or see if he’ll return on a two-way deal.
As the Celtics consider whether and how to fill their available roster space, players on the team have recently campaigned for Blake Griffin to return.
However, the possibilities for active NBA players are becoming increasingly limited. Not that Boston or the following players were very interested in collaborating, but Danilo Gallinari picked the Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Muscala signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Shake Milton chose the New York Knicks.
Patty Mills, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, is another player who could be dropped. The 15-year veteran, who helped the San Antonio Spurs win the 2014 NBA championship, has signed with the Miami Heat.
While anyone the Celtics could sign to fill a roster space isn’t someone they’d want or expect to play significant playoff minutes, Mills has appeared in 95 playoffs games. Like Griffin, his expertise enables him to contribute without playing.
