During the opening period of an NBA basketball contest against the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens slams the ball.
Prior to the start of training camp next month, the Celtics have added some more depth at the wing position. The team signed Lamar Stevens to a contract on Friday, as first reported by Shams Charania of Stadium, a source confirmed to MassLive.
Four teams were said to be interested in the former Cavaliers forward, with Boston being one of them. A source claims that the deal has a partial guarantee, and Stevens is anticipated to contend for a roster position during training camp.
Stevens joins Luke Kornet, Dalano Banton, and Svi Mykhailiuk as Celtics with non-guaranteed contracts heading into training camp. Boston now has 15 players on its 15-man roster, has filled all of its two-way spots, but there are still two spots available for camp. Here is an overview of Boston’s current depth following the acquisition.
Guards: Jaylen Brown and Derrick White Jay Scrubb (two-way), JD Davidson (two-way), Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, Payton Pritchard, Malcolm Brogdon, and
Forwards: Jordan Walsh, Sam Hauser, Oshae Brissett, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis
Centers: Neemias Queta (two-way), Robert Williams, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford
TJ Warren and Stevens recently participated in a workout in Boston as the Celtics continued to assemble their roster. For further depth, they have since added Stevens and guard Svi Mykhailiuk. Given that the C’s have been able to bolster their roster with competent players, that ought to be a good indicator.
Even though Stevens won’t be particularly impressive on offense, the Celtics should be happy to have him on the court. Even though Stevens isn’t a reliable rotation player, the players have publicly discussed the need to restore their defensive identities, and he should be a player that can fit into that mold.
At 6-foot-6, Stevens should be a reliable wing option, particularly if youngster Jordan Walsh isn’t prepared to contribute right away. In 165 games throughout the course of his career (38 of which he started), he averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds. Despite the fact that he is by no means a showy acquisition, he should be able to give the Celtics some reliable rotation minutes throughout the regular season.
