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Boston Celtics: Veteran combo big could be Danilo Gallinari trade fallback option

By Andrew Hughes

A 34-year-old veteran big could be a backup option for the Boston Celtics if they want to swap Danilo Gallinari's dead weight contract at the deadline Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
A 34-year-old veteran big could be a backup option for the Boston Celtics if they want to swap Danilo Gallinari's dead weight contract at the deadline Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Should the Boston Celtics be dead set on trading away Danilo Gallinari’s dead money — considered dead money only because the chance of a return has been deemed slim despite his own desires to be back by the postseason — Toronto Raptors veteran combo big Thaddeus Young could be a fallback option in a deal according to MassLive’s Brian Robb.

Robb revealed as much while answering a reader’s question about a specific swap involving a second-round pick and Gallinari’s contract, which has a player option for next season, and Young in his latest Celtics Mailbag.

While acknowledging the pitfalls of trading for the struggling shooter, Robb did also point out that the 34-year-old is an expiring, and thus could clear Gallinari’s player option off the books this coming offseason:

"“I don’t hate (a Gallinari + second round pick for Young swap) as a fallback option. Young’s ability to play power forward off the bench would give the Celtics the flexibility to play big without needing to use Al Horford as much at power forward.”"

Boston Celtics should aim higher than Thaddeus Young in a Danilo Gallinari trade

Brian Robb believes the Boston Celtics should aim higher than Thaddeus Young in a trade using Danilo Gallinari’s contract. And he’s right.

In the right arrangement, Gallinari’s deal could bring in a needle-mover capable of providing the scoring missing during last year’s Finals against a red-hot Golden State Warriors offense. Acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic would be a risky gamble, but if it was on the table, it could potentially include Gallinari’s deal and would provide the team a much more reliable forward.

The bar doesn’t have to be that high. It should still be higher than Young, though, who the Cs may be able to sign while giving up no assets in the event the 34-year-old’s salary gets sent by Toronto to a rebuilding squad.

Gallinari’s contract is one of the few assets Stevens can trade without losing a key player on the court and/or a respected figure in the locker room.

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