The Boston Celtics are reportedly interested in bringing in a 10-time all star, after forward Danilo Gallinari went down with a torn meniscus over the weekend. Gallinari hurt himself while playing for Italy in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game.
The Celtics signed the Italian wing this summer in an effort to reinforce their bench with added shooting. Gallinari shot 38% from deep for the Atlanta Hawks last season. Without their new sharpshooter, the Cs are going to have to find depth from somewhere else. One candidate has to be Sam Hauser. Hauser shot 43% from deep in 26 NBA appearances last season, and 40% in 13 G-League games.
Another candidate has now emerged.
On Monday, Brandon Robinson, of Bally Sports, reported that the Celtics have considered bringing in Carmelo Anthony in recent days:
Carmelo Anthony has been considered a potential signee by the Boston Celtics in recent days following Danilo Gallinari's suffered torn meniscus in his left knee on Saturday, I'm told.
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) August 31, 2022
Knicks are still believed to have interest in the former Laker, Thunder, Blazer, Rocket. pic.twitter.com/nGePtMj7YI
Those numbers are very similar to Gallo’s with Atlanta last season. The Italian averaged 12 points in 66 games for the Hawks, knocking down 43% percent of his shots from the field. In theory, the former Rookie of the Year could slide into Gallinari’s role quite easily with the similarity in numbers between the two.
The one difference is the style of play between the two. Gallinari has thrived as a catch-and-shoot type player in recent years, while Anthony plays more out of isolation and from the post. Of course, he hasn’t been as isolation-heavy in recent years, but it’s still a major strength of his.
Anthony has been named to six All-NBA teams, the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and won a scoring title in 2012-13 with the New York Knicks. Boston would need him to be a super-sub, which is a role he has been more comfortable in the past two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers.