The Boston Celtics had only one roster position for the 2023-24 season. While they may wait until the middle of the season to fill it, they could also shift some components around to strengthen their rotation. Delon Wright of the Washington Wizards is one such option.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report detailed why he believes Wright might benefit the Celtics’ depth.
“He is most useful on defense, where he has good length at the lead guard position (6’5″) as well as the instincts to make the most of his physical skills.” His offensive potential is limited by a weak outside shooting (35.3 percent lifetime on low volume), but he can make plays in the open court and create for others at any time.
“He’s currently out with an MCL sprain, but assuming he can recover, he’s someone the Celtics could consider as a plug-and-play option.” He shouldn’t cost much in a trade either, considering he’s a 31-year-old non-star with an expiring deal,” Buckley said in a November 21 piece.
Wright has played for seven different clubs in nine NBA seasons, establishing himself as a more experienced player than some of the Celtics’ other bench possibilities. Given his approximately $8.2 million contract for the season, acquiring him would necessitate creative maneuvers to avoid disturbing their present rotation.
Because the Wizards are one of the poorest teams in the league, acquiring him may not be too expensive.
Jayson Tatum Gives Dalano Banton High Praise
Jayson Tatum commended Dalano Banton for his performance with the starters after the Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks on November 26. He also lauded Banton for being ready when the Celtics called his name.
“DB’s been in this league for a little while,” Tatum told reporters, according to Brian Robb of MassLive. “He knows how to play at a high level.” And he’s among those who are always prepared. They come in every day, get additional reps, stay conditioned, and work on their reads so that when guys come in and out of the lineup, we can just plug certain individuals in and keep the ball moving. He played good tonight, competed well, made some big plays for us, and I was glad to see him have an opportunity.”
Delon Wright and Banton are not the same size, but they both play the position of large point guard. Wright has more experience than Banton, therefore if Banton can perform well as an emergency starter, Wright can as well.