Boston Celtics could package Danilo Gallinari and minimum contracts for $10 million big man mid-season

The Boston Celtics were devastated by Danilo Gallinari’s ACL tear during FIBA competition in preparation for EuroBasket 2022 after using their one primary free agent chip (the TPMLE) to acquire him.

In Gallinari’s absence, Carmelo Anthony has been discussed as a potential replacement. Anthony has resurrected his career over the past three seasons, proving to still be deserving of a starting spot in Portland during the 2019-20 season–before and after the season was suspended due to the pandemic–before serving a more complementary bench role with the Trail Blazers two seasons ago and Los Angeles Lakers this past season.

Whether Melo is signed to a minimum deal or not, Gallinari’s contract is still on the 2022-23 books and owns a player option for the 2023-24 season he’s likely to opt into considering the ACL he tore last month was the same one he tore in 2013 while a member of the Denver Nuggets.

According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, it’s possible that Gallinari’s recently-signed deal could be packaged with minimum contracts to acquire a $10 million big man once his pact is tradeable mid-season:

"“(Gallinari’s) salary ($6.5 million) opens up the door for some bigger deals since Boston could take back 125 percent of that salary. Throw in a couple players making minimum money with Gallinari in a deal and Boston could land a big man making $10 million or more. Using Gallinari in a trade also allows the team more flexibility to pursue other upgrades while keeping their core intact.”"

Who the Boston Celtics could target with the Danilo Gallinari contract

Knowing the parameters of what a Danilo Gallinari trade could look like (a big man making $10 million+) there are a few candidates that make sense for the Boston Celtics to target once Gallo’s agreement is tradeable.

One who has had experience playing under Cs President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens is Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk was always a curious signing for a Detroit Pistons squad that has been rebuilding since the 2018-19 season. As a floor-spacer who isn’t afraid to get physical on the block, he’d be the perfect player to spell Al Horford.

Richaun Holmes is another option with the Sacramento Kings with Keegan Murray’s recent selection potentially pushing the 28-year-old out of the starting lineup alongside Domantas Sabonis. Bobby Portis would be an ideal option if he wasn’t on perhaps Boston’s biggest roadblock in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks.