Celtics Summer season League standout middle Charles Bassey isn’t planning on taking part in abroad subsequent season, sources instructed CelticsBlog. A number of retailers beforehand reported that he was severely contemplating signing with the Serbian membership Partizan Belgrade, however he at present plans to play within the NBA subsequent season.
Bassey would particularly like to signal with the Celtics if the chance introduced itself, sources stated. How life like that is likely to be stays to be seen.
After waiving JD Davison, the Celtics have one open roster spot. However, because the roster at present stands, signing a fifteenth participant would put them again over the second apron, one thing the workforce has actively labored to get under this offseason.
Brad Stevens has been express about that, noting that a number of offseason strikes — just like the Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis trades — have been the results of the penalties related to the workforce’s payroll exceeding $207.8 million.
“The second apron is why these trades occurred,” Stevens stated. “I believe that’s fairly apparent. And the basketball penalties related to these are actual.”
The Celtics at present have a reasonably skinny frontcourt, with Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman all within the combine. Queta, who Bobby Manning of CLNS Media reported had offseason knee surgical procedure, appears to be the doubtless beginning middle, whereas Garza and Tillman ought to each play rotation minutes.
Charles Bassey was a standout Summer season League performer
Bassey, a 24-year-old middle, was the Celtics’ most constant participant at Summer season League, averaging 15.3 factors and 11 rebounds per sport (4 offensive). He shot 70.4% from the sphere throughout three video games, two of which have been wins.
After he made his Summer season League debut with the Celtics, Bassey defined why he was drawn to becoming a member of the Celtics, citing his impressions of the gamers and coaches: “It’s simply the tradition.”
Bassey, who has solely performed for one playoff workforce in 4 NBA seasons, is alleged to be very drawn to the workforce’s file of sustained profitable.
“They go to the playoffs yearly,” Bassey stated in Las Vegas. “So, clearly, simply studying from these guys, it’s nice for me. I went to the playoffs one time. Nevertheless it’s been good, man… I’m simply going to study quite a bit from these guys.”
Summer season League head coach Matt Reynolds stated that Bassey joined the workforce proper earlier than the primary day of coaching camp, and that he was in a position to take part within the stay portion of the second day of camp.
“It was simply clear that that man may make an impression within the sport, and also you noticed that all through the course of the sport at the moment,” Reynolds stated after the Nigerian middle recorded 14 factors (7-8 FG), 11 rebounds, and a pair of blocks in 18 minutes. “I believe he was big for us.”
What Charles Bassey’s tenure within the NBA has regarded prefer to date
Since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers 53rd total in 2021, Bassey has performed within the NBA for 4 seasons, showing in 113 video games. He spent his rookie season in Philadelphia and performed for the San Antonio Spurs for the final three seasons.
Final season with the Spurs, he appeared in 36 video games earlier than struggling an damage midseason. However he had a powerful first half of the yr, averaging 4.4 factors and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per sport.
It’s arduous to know what that will appear to be scaled up; Bassey averaged 15.1 factors, 14.6 rebounds, and a pair of.9 blocks per 36 minutes final season. (For reference, Neemias Queta, who’s prone to be the Celtics’ beginning middle subsequent yr, averaged 12.9 factors, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes final yr. It’s not an ideal comparability.)
Charles Bassey is the second participant in NBA historical past to have 14 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists in lower than 20 minutes performed and the primary participant in league historical past to do it off the bench pic.twitter.com/i6qku6YVKX
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 12, 2022
Rebounding and rim safety have lengthy been Bassey’s strengths. When requested what he brings to an NBA workforce, Bassey stated: “Nice effort, my rebounding, blocking photographs, rim safety. I deliver nice protection to the workforce. And I simply play my position. I do know what the workforce wants from me, I do know what they need from me, and I do it each night time.”
League sources stated there’s some concern concerning Bassey’s damage historical past — the 6’10 middle suffered a fracture in his left patella in 2023 and later tore his ACL. He missed the second half of final season with an MCL damage.
However, Bassey performed on each nights of a back-to-back with the Celtics final month and is now totally cleared for NBA motion.
It stays to be seen whether or not the Celtics find yourself having the cap area, or enough curiosity, to signal Bassey. However, opposite to earlier reviews, sources say Bassey is at present not planning on taking part in in Europe subsequent season. And, Boston is a vacation spot he’s significantly keen on.
