Celtics make two more signings via the hardship exemption
With eight players in the NBA’s health & safety protocol, the Boston Celtics have been forced to sign even more players through the league’s hardship exemption. On Friday, they’re making two: according to The Boston Celtics are planning to sign 11-year NBA veteran Al-Farouq Aminu and G League center Norvel Pelle to 10-day hardship deals, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. With eight players in COVID-19 protocols, two big men en route to join the Celtics.
Aminu and Pelle join Joe Johnson and C.J. Miles as the latest to join the Celtics via the hardship exemption, which protects teams from being too shorthanded amid extreme circumstances. Missing over half your regular roster due to COVID-19 would certainly qualify.
Most recently, the 30-year-old Aminu played for the Chicago Bulls in the 2020-21 season. The Celtics are his seventh NBA team. He has averaged 7.5 points, six rebounds, and one steal in 711 career games.
Pelle most recently played on Wednesday night for the Cleveland Charge, the Cavs’ G League affiliate. The 27-year-old played for a whopping four teams over two seasons from 2019-21. The Celts would be No. 5.
The Celtics certainly needed frontcourt help, with a Christmas Day tilt against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on deck. Al Horford and Grant Williams remain in the COVID-19 protocol, and Enes Freedom became the eighth Celtic on the list on Wednesday.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
