Report: Celtics, Nuggets discussed trade for Danilo Gallinari
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Danilo Gallinari's name is being bandied about in trade rumors again, this time in connection with the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics and Denver Nuggets recently discussed a deal involving Gallinari, the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett reports.
Boston's front office, headed by general manager Danny Ainge, has been aggressive this summer, bringing back fan favorite Jae Crowder, trading for recently crowned NBA champion David Lee, and securing the services of seasoned vet Amir Johnson.
Details surrounding a potential Gallinari trade are scarce, however, if he was to wind up wearing green next season, the Celtics' depth chart could look like this:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Lead Guard | Marcus Smart - Avery Bradley - Isaiah Thomas - Terry Rozier |
| Wing/Perimeter | Evan Turner - Danilo Gallinari - Jae Crowder - James Young - R.J. Hunter |
| Frontcourt | David Lee - Amir Johnson - Jared Sullinger - Kelly Olynyk - Tyler Zeller - Jonas Jerebko |
Many questioned Ainge's draft day strategy in June, however, adding Lee and Johnson to the fold were wise moves considering the Celtics were in the bottom half of the league in short-range field goal percentage (0-10 feet) and hovered around the league average for team offensive and defensive rebounding - areas in which both aforementioned players can help.
Gallinari could provide some much-needed outside shooting for a team that ranked fourth from last in 3-point percentage in 2014-15 (32.7 percent). Gallinari has cashed in on 36.7 percent of his treys over the course of his six-year career.
The Celtics would likely need to consider the 26-year-old's injury history before making a deal. Gallinari has played more than 65 games in a single season only twice since being drafted by the New York Knicks in 2008. He missed the entire 2013-14 campaign after tearing his left ACL and missed more time last season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee.