Boston Celtics: 2019 lottery pick a TPE target following Danilo Gallinari injury

The Boston Celtics could target the No. 10 pick from the 2019 NBA Draft to replace the injured Danilo Gallinari according to MassLive's Brian Robb (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics could target the No. 10 pick from the 2019 NBA Draft to replace the injured Danilo Gallinari according to MassLive's Brian Robb (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics made the perfect moves this offseason to move the needle forward after coming within two games of Banner 18 this past June, but they suffered a major setback in the form of Danilo Gallinari’s torn ACL.

Once thought to be a torn meniscus that would keep the six-foot-10 stretch forward out of the lineup until November, it has been confirmed by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that the injury is as bad as originally feared.

Where does that leave the Cs now? Well, for one, they are now down a double-digit scorer in the second unit that was expected to give Al Horford extra rest and provide another shot-creator to lessen the burden on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

It also leaves Boston with no other option besides their two TPEs, created by the Juan Hernangomez and Dennis Schroder in-season trades executed this past year, to upgrade the roster. MassLive’s Brian Robb provided several names that could be pursued by Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and co. which mostly included steady, if unspectacular, veterans.

One name, though, stood out because of the potential he may have should he ever land in the right situation for him. That name would be the No. 10 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, former Duke Blue Devil Cam Reddish.

The Boston Celtics could bring out the best in Cam Reddish

It seemed like Cam Reddish was turning a corner in his career last season when he was still with the Atlanta Hawks, shooting a career-high 40/38/90 split with a personal bests in points per game. Then he was traded to the New York Knicks and was buried behind the likes of Evan Fournier, R.J. Barrett, Alec Burks, and Quentin Grimes on the depth chart, making him a popular rumored throw-in during the Donovan Mitchell trade sweepstakes the Cleveland Cavaliers ended up winning.

That he has reached the status before his third season has even begun is a shame considering some thought he had more talent coming out of Duke than his two teammates that were drafted ahead of him, Barrett and Zion Williamson.

While Boston Celtics HC Ime Udoka struggled to find a role for Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith, he did get plenty out of Josh Richardson (who has a similar skillset to Reddish) and also brilliantly integrate Derrick White into the rotation.

Atlanta got themselves together late last year, and New York never did. Both teams were wing-heavy, but Boston is guard-heavy at the moment. Now could be the time for Brad Stevens to strike and elevate Reddish beyond his career underperformance thus far.

Next. Could former Cs MVP candidate elevate team in 2022-23?. dark