The Boston Celtics could be getting back a rotational piece they have yet to assess in their lineup for the 2023 postseason — the 2022 offseason’s marquee signing for the Cs, 34-year-old Italian sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari.
Around The Game’s Gianluca Bortolomai recently spoke with Gallinari while the Celtics were in Toronto to face the Raptors on Saturday, January 21. In answering Bortolomai’s question about a timetable for his return, Gallinari gave hope that he will be back by the C’s Banner 18 bid.
Here’s the translated answer Gallinari provided to Around The Game:
"“…we’re respecting what was the roadmap we set ourselves at the beginning, the stakes and goals we set ourselves weekly, monthly so I’d say everything is going well.”“…it’s very difficult because we’re also calculating the protocols that have been in place in the NBA in recent years in recovery times, but that’s definitely the goal.”"
Danilo Gallinari given a ‘slim chance’ to return to the Boston Celtics in 2022-23
This Danilo Gallinari revelation goes against the grim projection of the forward having a ‘slim chance’ to return to the Boston Celtics according to MassLive’s Brian Robb. Though Gallinari has had an injury on the same leg he just tore an ACL on, modern science seems to be doing wonders on the Italian.
Previously, filling a need on the wing behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was seen as one of the biggest needs for the front office — particularly because of Sam Hauser’s struggles. If Gallinari is going to return, though, perhaps that needs shifts elsewhere.
Pursuing a third big man as frontcourt insurance is the latest Celtics plan being reported, though Brad Stevens tends to move in silence so we may end up with a deadline deal no one saw coming come February 9.
Then again, the buyout market, or existing free agent market, could fill the hole in the frontcourt too. Perhaps Gallinari’s return will convince Stevens that a change to the league’s top team’s makeup isn’t worth it.