Torrey Craig details “no-brainer” decision to join the Celtics

NEW YORK CITY — Torrey Craig sat within the bleachers of Madison Sq. Backyard, surrounded by a crowd of reporters at Celtics’ shootaround. Only a few ft away, Al Horford acquired up three-pointers alongside a handful of Celtics assistants, whereas Jaylen Brown went by his full-speed taking pictures routine on the opposite finish of the courtroom.

It hadn’t even been a full hour for the reason that crew formally introduced the 34-year-old veteran’s signing — however Craig was nonetheless completely satisfied to be across the crew after a whirlwind 24 hours that noticed him fly from Chicago to Boston, obtain a tour of the services, full his bodily, and finally be part of his new crew in New York Metropolis late Friday.

Craig, who was waived by the Chicago Bulls final week after spending simply over a 12 months with the crew, mentioned that deciding to affix the Celtics as a free agent was a simple alternative. Becoming a member of a championship contender was crucial to him, he mentioned.

“You at all times wish to play for one thing and compete for one thing,” Craig mentioned. “I’m an excellent competitor — and I wish to play basketball the appropriate manner on the highest degree. Simply to get a chance to return play with these guys was a no brainer.”

What Torrey Craig thinks he can convey to Boston

Craig, an eight-year NBA veteran who started his skilled profession in Australia and New Zealand, has loved stints with the Nuggets, Bucks, Suns, Pacers, and Bulls. He’s been to the NBA Finals as a member of the Suns in 2021.

As such, when requested what he can convey to the defending champions as their latest signee, Craig mentioned “expertise and management” with out hesitation, whereas acknowledging the crew is contemporary off a title.

All through his NBA profession, Craig averaged 6 factors per recreation on 45.4% FG, and shot 35.5% from three. His taking pictures has trended upwards of late — he shot no less than 39% from three in every of his final two seasons. As such, he expects to shoot open seems to be when he’s on the ground for Boston, becoming proper into the Celtics’ three-point heavy offense.

“All of the groups that I’ve been on have been preaching to me to shoot your shot and play with confidence,” Craig mentioned. “It’s no completely different right here. You’ll be able to inform the best way they play, the pictures they shoot — they take the pictures which can be accessible to them. Clearly, they acquired robust shotmakers in JB and Jayson. However, all these different guys, they’ll shoot the pictures which can be accessible to them. I’ll do the identical.”

When he was deciding between groups upon coming into the buyout market, Craig mentioned that the crew’s connectivity and self-discipline stood out.

“They’re a deep crew, tremendous gifted,” he mentioned. “Effectively-coached, well-disciplined. They play the appropriate manner. They know what it takes to win: taking part in protection, taking part in collectively and having one another’s backs. You’ll be able to simply see it. The crew chemistry and so they enable one another to feed off one another and play collectively and I believe that’s why they’ve been so dominant these previous couple years.”

Jayson Tatum agreed that Craig can convey versatility and expertise to the roster.

“Veteran presence. A man that may adapt to the group, play off of fellows, area the ground, set a toughness, be capable to guard,” Tatum mentioned. “Simply one other man that may add to our group and be versatile on each ends of the ground.

Only a few hours earlier than Craig’s signing was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Brad Stevens famous that their 14th participant won’t be somebody who’ll often be within the rotation.

“We consider on this group, and if we convey anyone in, that signifies that we consider they’ll add to this group,” Stevens mentioned. “That doesn’t imply they’ll play, however when known as upon, they are often able to go in massive moments.”

It feels like Craig is on the identical web page on that entrance: “Simply coming in and being an additional man at any time when the crew wants it,” he mentioned of his mindset. “Add to the wing depth of this crew. Simply being one other defender, one other bodily physique you can throw on the market and produce.”

Craig is rapidly acclimating to a brand-new Celtics group

Craig has beforehand shared the ground with one present Celtic — Jrue Vacation in Milwaukee in 2021 — and described his impression of this present group as overwhelmingly optimistic.

“The toughest half is studying everybody’s names,” he added, moments after shaking arms with quite a few participant improvement coaches and crew personnel at shootaround.

So far as Joe Mazzulla, the 2 spoke on the telephone on Friday evening and chatted additional on Saturday morning. Craig smiled when requested about what he’d heard concerning the head coach in his first day as a Celtic.

“You don’t actually need to listen to a lot about Joe — you’ll be able to simply see it,” he mentioned. “I believe he’s a novel coach, undoubtedly one-of-a-kind. Positively a man I look ahead to taking part in for.”

Craig’s transient dialog with Mazzulla left him feeling like the 2 have been on the identical web page.

“I just about perceive him, he just about understands me,” Craig mentioned. “We have already got that understanding of one another and being communicative.”

On Saturday evening, when the Celtics face the Knicks, Craig received’t be energetic, as he’s nonetheless recovering from a proper ankle harm.

He mentioned he’s day-to-day and that he’s feeling fairly good: “I don’t anticipate to play tonight. However hopefully quickly.”