The Boston Celtics may be in the market for a veteran forward to complement Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown next NBA season.
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report thinks the Celtics could use Torrey Craig’s defense. The 32-year-old Craig becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
“There’s a good chance the Boston Celtics will be a luxury tax-paying team in 2023-24, which makes potential targets in free agency far less glamorous,” Bailey wrote. “And that’s fine. Boston already made a huge splash when it acquired Kristaps Porziņģis in a trade. Now, it should be looking to fill out the rotation with wings (presumably on minimum contracts) who can fit into a sometimes positionless scheme with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“Torrey Craig is a multipositional defender in that salary range who shot 39.5 percent from deep in 2022-23.”
Craig averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Suns this past season while shooting 45.6% from the field, 39.5% from beyond the arc and 71.1% from the free-throw line. He appeared in 79 games and started 60.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
In the 2023 playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, Craig put up 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He shot 57.8% overall and 44.0% from 3-point range. The Suns, despite having All-Stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul, lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.
Craig has career averages of 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists with the Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Suns and Indiana Pacers. He has made over $15 million in his career.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games after making the NBA Finals last year. Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal with the Washington Wizards, so Boston could use a strong defender like Craig.
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