The Celtics are amid an offseason of uncertainty; with injured franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum anticipated to overlook most, if not all, of subsequent season, ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that the group is anticipated to “retool” this summer time.
Almost everybody on the roster — from Derrick White to Kristaps Porzingis to Jaylen Brown — has seen their identify in commerce rumors.
As well as, the Celtics have a number of free brokers this offseason; Luke Kornet, Al Horford, and Torrey Craig are all unrestricted, two-way participant Drew Peterson is restricted, and JD Davison has a group choice.
Craig and Peterson, each showing on CLNS Media’s Backyard Report this week, stated that they’d like to be again in Boston if the chance have been there.
“Boston, generally, is simply a tremendous expertise,” Craig stated. “I believe it begins with the folks and the followers right here. From my first day right here, I felt welcome with open arms, simply going to completely different occasions, autograph signings, and seeing the love and the quantity of assist that these followers carry to the Celtics. It’s actually diehard Boston, ‘bleed inexperienced’ followers, so simply to expertise that was superb.”
Craig, who signed with the Celtics in February after being waived by the Chicago Bulls, stated he wasn’t stunned by his optimistic expertise in Boston.
“Anybody from afar, wanting from the skin in, is aware of what sort of group that is and what it stands for and what it means, and you may see that distant,” Craig stated.
Craig appeared in 17 video games with the Celtics, averaging 2.7 factors in 11.8 minutes per sport. He shared that he regrets he was no more assertive in these minutes.
“I nonetheless don’t really feel like I actually received that likelihood to make my presence felt the best way I wished it to,” he stated.
Drew Peterson has equally cherished the final 12 months and a half with the Celtics
Peterson, who has been on a two-way contract with the Celtics for the previous two season, doesn’t but know what his offseason holds, and whether or not he’ll play in NBA Summer time League subsequent month in Las Vegas.
Peterson shuttled backwards and forwards between Maine and Boston this previous season, showing in 25 video games with the guardian membership and 15 video games with Maine. He averaged 20 factors, 6.9 rebounds, and 6 assists within the G-League, and performed 7.4 minutes per sport when referred to as as much as Boston.
“I find it irresistible right here,” Peterson stated. “It’s been an incredible couple of years, and I hope to be right here for a very long time.”
For now, each Peterson and Craig are on the Auerbach Middle understanding and staying energetic. The Celtics should give Peterson a qualifying supply by June twenty ninth or he’ll turn out to be an unrestricted free agent.
Peterson hopes it’ll all work out, however he understands that there are bigger elements at play.
“The group — high to backside — is unimaginable,” he stated. “So, it’s been nice, I’m comfortable to be again right here, understanding with the fellows and stuff like that. I do find it irresistible right here.”
Craig stated he’ll meet together with his agent this summer time and determine one of the best plan of action for his profession. Free company formally begins on July sixth.
But when the chance is there with the Celtics, it will likely be troublesome to disclaim.
“It’s laborious to say you wouldn’t keep in Boston with town and the followers and the group, and the historical past of all the things that comes with Boston,” Craig stated. “I believe anybody would like to be right here in Boston.”
