Danilo Gallinari Signs With the Boston Celtics

Over his 13-year NBA career, Gallinari has played for the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. He has put up 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for his career. He was originally drafted in the first round, fifth overall out of the 2008 NBA draft by the Knicks. Last season he scored 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks. Gallinari reportedly holds a player option in the second year of the deal.

The San Antonio Spurs bought out Gallinari on Thursday, allowing him to become a free agent. On the Celtics, Gallinari will provide value as a floor-spacer with his capable three-point shooting off the bench.

What This Means For the Future

Gallinari will make the most of his minutes in Boston by rebounding the ball and making three-pointers. Gallinari is a solid rebounder and averaged over 4 defensive rebounds per game with the Hawks last season. He can also shoot the ball efficiently, canning 38 percent of his 4.5 three-point attempts last season. The veteran should be a key role player in Boston, even more so come playoff time.

The Celtics fell short to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals this past season. Boston, however, has been quick to address the concerns they found in their rotation. Gallinari helps both forward positions, as well as providing scoring and shooting off the bench. The Celtics didn’t stop there, however, the team also completed a trade with the Indiana Pacers to shore up their point guard depth. Boston will surely be a force to reckoned with as they look to compete for the championship.