The Boston Celtics made a flurry of moves on Saturday, as according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, the team is signing Gerald Green to a one-year, $1.4 million deal. Boston also will be re-signing RFA big man Tyler Zeller to a two-year, $16 million extension, and signing two of their draft picks: 45th overall pick Demetrius Jackson to a guaranteed contract and 51st overall pick Ben Bentil to a partially guaranteed contract.
For Green, this represents a homecoming of sorts. Green was the 18th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and spent two years with the club, before being dealt to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett deal. Green has made stops with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and even a couple of stops overseas in his 10 season NBA career. Green is a career 10.0 points per game player and averaged 8.9 points per game off the bench with the Heat last season.
Zeller returns to the Celtics after a down year, that saw his playing time get cut dramatically, and at one point had him out of the rotation. Zeller has largely had more success since coming over to the Celtics from the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged a career high 10.2 points per game two seasons ago, before slipping to 6.1 points per game last season.
His contract now serves as another bargain contract, similar to the Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson deals of last offseason. However, Zeller’s name may come up again in December when he is eligible to be traded.
Jackson, the point guard out of Notre Dame, earns himself a guaranteed contract in Boston, thanks to a need developed by Terry Rozier locking down a rotation spot, but also his strong overall summer league play. The Celtics were expected to guarantee one of their second rounders, and Jackson won the job.
Bentil, the former Providence standout, earns a partial guarantee, and will now take his competition to training camp, where he is reportedly in competition with James Young, RJ Hunter, and John Holland for the final roster spot (assuming no trades).
The Celtics will now look to break down their roster and look for trades that may still upgrade the team. Some candidates include Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Greg Monroe, John Henson, or maybe shooting higher, for the likes of Russell Westbrook.
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