Danilo Gallinari signed a two-year deal, value $13.3 million with the Celtics in 2022. In early September of that yr, Gallinari tore his left ACL. The ahead by no means noticed court docket time in Boston after he grew to become a footnote within the commerce that despatched Marcus Good to Memphis and Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics.
Gallinari, a fourteen-year veteran, expressed some sense of revenge on his current podcast, A Cresta Alta. When requested concerning the Celtics, he responded, “as quickly because the schedule comes out, I’ll put an X for each time I’ll play towards Boston.”
The previous sixth total choose was drafted by the New York Knicks within the 2008 NBA Draft. Gallinari performed with the Knicks for 3 seasons and was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2011. From then on, the massive man was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers July of 2017, and was later acquired by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Atlanta Hawks.
Since his tenure with the Denver Nuggets, Gallinari was part of a significant trade package, that despatched Spurs guard, Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. He was later waived by San Antonio and in free company, he fulfilled a childhood dream and joined the Celtics.
The deal was fully guaranteed and included a participant possibility that he picked up previous to being unceremoniously dealt to DC. In his introductory press convention with the Celtics, Gallinari made it clear why he selected Boston as his subsequent vacation spot.
“It’s that point for me. It’s at all times been about profitable for me. Even once I was youthful, it was at all times about profitable. Particularly proper now if you get to this stage, 33 about to be 34, it’s what you need, and it’s one thing that you simply work on, work for on daily basis,” mentioned Gallinari.
Gallo additionally confirmed he took much less cash with the intention to win, which was a simple choice for him. Gallinari particularly talked about the seventeen banners, and the historical past surrounding the group.
“Many, many causes, however when you concentrate on the Celtics — I grew up with my dad since I used to be just a little child — being a Celtics fan, being a Larry Hen fan. So when, the Celtics got here on the desk, it was nearly like a no brainer,” mentioned Danilo on why he joined the C’s.
The Celtics had each intention of using Danilo Gallinari in subsequent yr’s rotation. Nonetheless, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens determined the group wanted frontcourt power, each on offense and protection. In an interview with MassLive’s Garrett Cote, the brand new member of the Washington Wizards admitted that he was thrown off guard by the commerce, after not too long ago exercising his participant possibility with the Celtics simply days earlier than. Gallinari advised Cote, “it was fairly fast and surprising.”
Gallinari spoke on his restoration, how he’s nonetheless in rehab, and hopes to be at full power by the beginning of coaching camp. Though he sounds excited for his new journey, Gallinari boldly put Celtics followers on discover. He’s wanting ahead to the matchup and getting again on the court docket.
The ahead joins a rebuilding Wizards group after the departures of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, and Porzingis. He’s anticipated to play behind a projected starting rotation of Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford — not precisely the championship aspirations he had when he signed with the Celtics final summer season.
The 2023-2024 NBA schedule has not come out but, however the closest Gallo may come to elevating a banner is denting Boston’s hopes in elevating one when he faces his former group.
