Charles Bassey's free-agent market seemingly didn't play out as he hoped. The four-year veteran responded by joining the Boston Celtics for Summer League. His performance there has generated interest in his services.
The six-foot-10 center showcased his talent in three games in Las Vegas. He averaged 15.3 points. As he did his damage around the rim, he shot 70.4 percent from the field. Bassey also pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked two shots per tilt.
According to international outlet Sportando, this has led to interest from the Italian club Virtus Bologna. However, as unlikely as it appeared, the Lagos, Nigeria, native's time with the Celtics may not be over.
A front office executive with the franchise shared the following with Keith Smith of Spotrac on that front.
"Considering he got added to our team so late, this was an awesome run for him. No idea if we'll have roster space for him or not. But we'd love to keep working with Charles and see if we can make something work."
Should the Celtics sign Charles Bassey?
Boston is currently carrying 15 players. That places them at the regular-season roster limit. However, the organization can waive JD Davison's non-guaranteed contract to create a vacancy.
Bassey is someone worth doing that for. It would force the Celtics to find other avenues to get under the second apron, but this move won't stand in their way of accomplishing that.
If having a 15th player on the team is the difference between dodging the luxury tax and the chance to start the process of resetting the repeater tax, that's a different story. Boston can do so by staying below that threshold in consecutive campaigns.
However, if Bassey sticks around in the NBA, rather than taking his talent overseas, it will presumably be on a veteran minimum contract. There could be a place for him on the Celtics' roster while the franchise also regains flexibility.
One shouldn't dismiss the idea of Xavier Tillman Sr. maximizing this offseason to become a part of Boston's solution at center. Luka Garza has impressed in the G League and during minimal NBA opportunities. He arrives hungry to capitalize on the chance in front of him. Above them on the team's projected depth chart is Neemias Queta, who figures to enter training camp as the favorite to join the starting unit.
There is no harm in bringing in Bassey to see if he outperforms anyone from that trio. That could, for example, lead to Tillman getting waived in favor of the former, making Davison's fate with the team a separate matter.
Bassey began his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers before spending the last three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He produced 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in 10.4 minutes of playing time across 36 games last season.
Even while he was suiting up for the Celtics at Summer League, it seemed unlikely that his next stop would be in Boston.
"I don't want to speak for him, what his goals might be, but obviously, he's a guy that's probably playing for what's next, right?" said Brad Stevens while with the team in Las Vegas.
The Celtics' president of basketball operations also conveyed, "He's a guy that we've paid attention to from afar for a long time."
After his cameo with the club at Summer League, perhaps they'll get to continue working with him after all.