The Boston Celtics have agreed to a deal with free agent Torrey Craig, who was waived by the Bulls this week. Before the game against the Dallas Mavericks, Brad Stevens addressed the media, saying “I think the first thing that we'll look to do is bring in a wing.”
That wing is Craig, a 34-year-old who shot 43% from 3 in limited time with Chicago this season. He’s only played in nine games this season, partially because of a sprained ankle he suffered last month. The expectation is that he will take a physical soon and join the Celtics on their upcoming road trip.
Stevens didn’t tip his hand during his media session, but he hinted at something happening quickly.
“We have 13 guys right now. We’ll probably do something with the 14th relatively soon and then we’ll take our time with the 15th,” he said. “He didn't rule out upgrading a two-way guy, but it didn’t sound like that was the direction he was going, adding, “I think all of our guys have done a great job. It will be more based on the needs of the Celtics.”
Shooting with size has been a consistent search for the Celtics. So has a certain level of professionalism to accept that they're joining a championship team whose work is already in progress.
If we bring somebody in, it's because we believe that they will add to the group,” Stevens said. “And that doesn't mean they'll play every day, but that they, when called upon, can be ready to go in big moments.”
Despite how things have gone, including the first half of this game against Dallas, Stevens and the Celtics are comfortable with where the team was heading into the trade deadline. That's why their only move was to free up money and a roster spot by moving Jaden Springer.
“We just weren't going to do anything major, because at the end of the day, even through our ups and downs over the last six weeks, like, what gives us our best chance of having a chance to win?” he said. “And that is this group playing a little bit more like itself more of the time. So I'm encouraged by kind of where we're headed with that, and never really wavered in our belief in that.”
Proven talent is generally going to be easier to accept on a championship team. This is a team that has said over and over that they know how to win. Stevens says choosing someone like Craig on the buyout market involves some risk to that.
“I think there’s potential benefit to that (but) there’s always potential harm, right?” he said. “You take some risks in that too. But I think anybody that’s in that locker room just has to understand – that’s on our team now or that joins our team – that this is about winning as a team, this is about doing everything that we can to represent Boston and the Celtics and each other well and be a great teammate and do all the things necessary to try to give yourself a chance.”
