EuroLeague guard Brad Wanamaker is finalizing a deal to join the Boston Celtics next season, league sources tell ESPN.
Brad Wanamaker and the wearing of the green
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EuroLeague guard Brad Wanamaker is finalizing a deal to join the Boston Celtics next season, league sources tell ESPN.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/euro/players/brad-wanamaker-1.html
A point guard who has been expanding his range in recent years. Good FT shooter. Interesting.
Marcus Smart insurance?
Smart insurance, opens up more trade options for Rozier, replaces Larkin, and gets Kyrie more regular season rest. I like it. The Celtics won't have to a gun to their head with any of the Smart/Rozier decisions this summer, and that's worth a lot in negotiating flexibility.
I think it's even simpler than that. Boston wants some experienced guys for the bottom of the roster and the front office has taken to scouring the overseas leagues as a good source for those guys. Last year it was Larkin and Theiss, this year it's Wannamaker and Demetrius Conger (although they haven't officially signed the latter yet, they're bringing him over for summer league to get a look at him).
They don't need these guys (normally) as real rotation pieces. They're here to cover for injuries and sit at the end of the bench otherwise. Sometimes you get more out of them than that (as Boston did last year from Larkin and Theiss). But with Irving's knee healed up, the third PG role is going to be pretty small.
It felt like that to begin last season until we had no PGs for a few games. Injuries happen and rest is needed for the regulars. Larkin was needed during the regular season and we could have used him in the Cavs series.
I'm all for signing cheap overseas veteran stars with good attitudes. Hopefully, he has a large chip on his shoulder to prove he belongs in the NBA.
I like Wanamaker's size (6'4") at the point.
Wanamaker was a solid player at Pitt who reminded me of a poor mans E'Twaun Moore many years ago. He was never quick enough, or explosive enough while not having a specific skill to hang his head on. When you have a 15-man roster guys that we sign don't necessarily have to replace anyone but I can't imagine him making any type of impact. Backend roster fodder and a solid guy.
I think it was Lowe who remarked on a recent pod that while pro-scouting had been an area that teams had not invested enough, the imbalance between pro and college scouting was lessening and that international pro scouting was the next area where teams should be investing resources.
Ainge was disappointed that he didn't make a trade on draft day, so he just wanna make a deal with this signing.
If Wanamaker actually knows how to run an offense, and can hit threes, I like the idea of not having any defensive liabilities on the team. I like the gutsy Shane Larkin, but he's just too small.
If Wanamaker actually knows how to run an offense, and can hit threes, I like the idea of not having any defensive liabilities on the team. I like the gutsy Shane Larkin, but he's just too small.
Seconded. And I really loved Larkin being such a pest on defense. Wanamaker is another guy that, based on reports, has a pretty decent BBIQ as well. The play making ability is a fantastic trait for the last guy on your bench.
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/brad-wanamaker
If you are interested in learning more about the Celtics scouting in Europe, read this article. Very interesting.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/01/09/celtics-european-scouting-operation-basically-one-man-job/K7CLG0WvlGfwGInsidOFJM/story.html
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/01/09/celtics-european-scouting-operation-basically-one-man-job/K7CLG0WvlGfwGInsidOFJM/story.html
Watching all of 3 minutes of highlights, he reminds me of a slower, more efficient Marcus Smart on offense. While he doesn't have a quick enough first step to blow by defenders in the NBA, he may still be able to slash a bit with NBA spacing.
He's going against slower player in the Euro video than what he's going to face in the NBA, but it looks like he uses his strong frame and size and smarts to find angles to the rim. If his quickness isn't NBA quality, those layup attempts are going to get quashed, unless this guy is real heady about finding an opening.
If he does get on the floor with the second unit plus one of JT, JB, GH, there aren't going to be a lot of shots for him anyways. Having a backup PG that can stop the opposing's PG from going off is more what this team needs than offense from him. The NBADraft.net report has his as a lousy athlete. That's usually not a trait for good NBA perimeter defenders.
If he does get on the floor with the second unit plus one of JT, JB, GH, there aren't going to be a lot of shots for him anyways. Having a backup PG that can stop the opposing's PG from going off is more what this team needs than offense from him. The NBADraft.net report has his as a lousy athlete. That's usually not a trait for good NBA perimeter defenders.
break down of Wanamaker from 2017 with highlights here: https://defpen.com/brad-wanamaker-nba/.
Author is bullish on him contributing at least a little.
Author is bullish on him contributing at least a little.
This guy says he has NBA speed and athleticism. I guess we'll see.
Thanks for the article. Here's another article on the same subject, this time from the Jazz perspective. The Jazz has also been very good at this, signing Ingles, Udoh, and Royce O'Neal from Europe.
https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2017/12/24/jazz-work-overtime-to-scout-overseas-players-and-it-has-paid-off-handsomely/
I can't find it but I remember reading an article that NBA teams can find better role players coming out of Europe than in the draft due to the maturity of the guys from overseas.
Meh I wouldn't say "better" as a blanket statement but they are the easiest way to attain talent on cheap fliers along with the leverage to secure cheap team options.
Few playing overseas are able to sniff an NBA rotation of a decent or better team just as most rookie draftees aren't able to either. With expanded rosters to 15 there is a clear trend or really simply a need to fill out the backend of your roster with veteran overseas players since you rarely find better options on the undrafted FA market (which is competitive at the top) or in the G-League.
I like this strategy for elite NBA teams. Trade a little bit of upside you might get with an end of the bench young guy for someone really appreciative of being in the NBA who will also likely fill-in more effectively in a limited role.
Wouldn’t make a ton of sense for a crappy team to potentially squeeze an extra win out this way, but this is exactly the kind of guy the Celtics should be signing right now.
Wouldn’t make a ton of sense for a crappy team to potentially squeeze an extra win out this way, but this is exactly the kind of guy the Celtics should be signing right now.
Absolutely. The other factor in play for these teams is that they are focused on winning NBA games each night and don't have all of the resources available to work on player development unlike the cellar dwellers. I'm sure the veteran players appreciate not having to babysit 20-year olds either so the culture is more professional in nature.
Huh, just looking at his Wiki page and saw that Wanamaker is a 28 year-old Philly native who starred with his twin brother (Brian currently playing in Lithuania) for their high school squad. Gotta figure Marcus Morris is at least familiar with his game.
Also, like Mook, he wore #22 for a number 1 seed in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Wanamaker was held in check in the second round when Pitt was upset by the Butler Bulldogs and their unflappable young genius of a coach.
Also, like Mook, he wore #22 for a number 1 seed in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Wanamaker was held in check in the second round when Pitt was upset by the Butler Bulldogs and their unflappable young genius of a coach.
Wow what a great deal for the Celtics.
Love this (I am assuming to replace Larkin).
I don't know why Wanamaker would leave so much money on the table for the playing time he's likely to get.
He's likely 4th guard right ? What sort of minutes is likely?
Ainge man sheesh
Based solely on the videos linked in this thread, he reminds me a lot of Chris Paul. I'm obviously not saying that he's going to be as good as CP3 (although we can hope). It's just the way that he dribbles with his head always up as well as his moves to get by people and score around the basket. Hopefully he turns into a nice trouble maker for our bench.
Larkin left similar money on the table last year, although as a guy with experience he was entitled to a higher minimum deal in Boston. He was also brought in before the Irving trade so he was looking at pretty steady minutes to fill in for IT.
On some level there must be a degree of thought like “Europe will still be there, but the NBA was the dream.” I have no idea where to find Euro salary info but if he has torn it up for 7 years I’m sure he’s done well enough to feel secure in chasing it stateside, even in a reserve role.
That was my initial thought. BUT giving up $3MM, wow, that's a huge bet to place on himself.
Absolutely love it from the Celtics perspective, this guy is going to be Motivated.
It's probably a 50/50 shot Smart returns.
If Smart comes back then (1)see how healthy Kyrie is and (2) see if Brad works out. Then put Rozier on the trade block during the season. Rozier's cheap salary would make him an attractive target for a contender that loses a PG to injury.
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When Larkin came here he semmed to be 16th man ob the roster and behind IT, Rozier, and Smart. I think there is pretty good odds still that Rozier and Smart don't both return, and I'd imagine the Celtics pitched him on the Larkin role.
Danny has many options, if Smart is back, and we are fully healthy:
1. Rozier could get shopped early/midseason to a contender that has injuries to its backcourt for a first round pick
OR
2. Celtics could keep Rozier all season, providing "2019 free agent Kyrie walks" or "Kyrie get injured again" insurance.
OR
3. If the Kyrie injuries continue to happen or knee worsens the Celtics may not want to max him and sign Rozier
OR
4. Celtics could shop Kyrie for Kawhi
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Larkin has a $6.3 million offer that he turned down to play for the Cs for the vet minimum ($1.5M). https://hoopshype.com/2017/07/20/shane-larkin-leaves-lots-of-money-on-table-to-sign-with-celtics/
This was last years 2/$6.3m he left overseas to get back to the NBA with Boston. It isn't July 1st yet there are no offers on table that will be reported until tomorrow at the earliest.
Yes I know. I was just making the point that guys coming over from Europe do leave a lot of money on the table so Wannamaker leaving $3M on the table isn't that unusual.
The Association is a Thing.
There are probably a lot of life time benefits NBA payers get that Euro league players don't. He's probably not even really leaving money on the table all things considered.
This article is old (2012) but https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/retirement-benefits-of-professional-athletes-2/
Another older article (2016): http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18332488/retired-nba-players-benefit-new-cba
I'd guess having NBA player on your resume doesn't hurt either.
Another older article (2016): http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18332488/retired-nba-players-benefit-new-cba
I'd guess having NBA player on your resume doesn't hurt either.
