Chicago Bulls waive potential Boston Celtics buyout target

The Celtics haven’t been concerned in any of the NBA blockbuster commerce fireworks over the previous weekend but it surely’s attainable they may nonetheless profit from it. The Chicago Bulls traded away Zach LaVine on Sunday evening as a part of a three-team commerce with the Spurs and Kings. The group acquired three new gamers in that deal (Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones) however solely despatched out one, which compelled them to chop a pair gamers to make the deal official.

The group elected to launch wings Torrey Craig and Chris Duarte as a way to finalize that transaction. MassLive wrote about Craig final week as a possible commerce or buyout goal for the Celtics. The 34-year-old has not performed since December thirtieth because of an ankle harm however was approaching a return previous to his launch.

The 6-foot-5 wing has shot above 39 p.c from the sphere for the previous three seasons now and is a possible improve possibility for the tip of Boston’s bench. The Celtics entrance workplace continues to discover choices buying and selling reserve wing Jaden Springer per sources as a result of group’s hefty tax invoice and Springer’s $4 million wage, which makes them a candidate to search for a wing substitute within the coming days and weeks.

Craig has solely appeared in 9 video games this yr for the Bulls, a group that was extra targeted on creating youthful wings. Nonetheless, his playoff monitor file might make him a preferred goal on the buyout market. He’s performed in 75 playoff video games since 2018 together with 19 begins in stints with the Suns and Nuggets. Craig signed a two-year take care of the Bulls again in 2023 however he has not been an enormous a part of the group’s plans this yr.

For Boston, including extra perimeter capturing choices may very well be a precedence within the coming days. Exterior of Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard, Boston’s guards and wings off the bench haven’t offered a lot in that division on the 15-man roster with Springer, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman underwhelming of their stints.

The group will undoubtedly discover different choices within the days to return and Craig will definitely have a number of suitors on the open market. Nonetheless, Craig is a participant to keep watch over if the group elects to face pat on the commerce deadline exterior of opening a roster spot or two.

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