Celtics add some frontcourt depth with latest signing

Less than a week after filling out the final spot on their training camp roster, the Celtics have tinkered with their roster once again, this time with the signing of center Dmytro Skapintsev.

A 7-foot-1 Ukrainian big, Skapintsev, who spent last season with the Knicks, will come to the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and USA Today.

On the floor for just two games with the Knicks a year ago (and failing to play more than 65 seconds in either outing), Skapintsev spent the majority of his 2023-24 campaign with G-League Westchester.

Playing for New York's G-League affiliate, Skapintsev averaged 12.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game over a 25-game run in 2023-24. 

Certainly a longshot to make the roster given the timing of his signing, as well as the fact that it's an Exhibit 10 contract, Skapintsev could have some early-season value to a Boston club that'll be without Kristaps Porzingis for a couple of months and still looking to manage the minutes of Al Horford.

Skapintsev's signing to the C's training camp roster came with Jordan Schakel waived by the Celtics almost immediately signing an Exhibit 10 contract of his own with the club last week. Schakel, who spent last year with G-League Maine before suffering a season-ending injury, was by all means signed-and-waived to financially incentivize him to continue playing for the Green's G-League affiliate.

The Celtics are scheduled to open training camp on Sept. 27.

After an early preview gave us an update on four of the games on the Celtics' schedule for next season, Thursday came with the rest of the Green's 2024-25 released by the NBA.

Back on top of the NBA world with a five-game NBA Finals series victory over the Mavs' one-two punch of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics' pursuit of Banner 19 will kick off with a banner-raising night against the Knicks on Oct. 22, while the year as a whole will see them look to become the first NBA team to go back-to-back since the Warriors accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018. And the Celtics, for what it's worth, have not repeated as NBA champions since back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.

And for the second year in a row, the NBA will have their in-season tournament (the NBA Cup), with the Celtics slotted in East Group C, which is comprised of the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Wizards. The C's will play four designated Group Play games that will be held on “Cup Nights” every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3, with one game against each opponent, two games at home and two on the road. Boston will host the Hawks on Nov. 12, and the Cavs on Nov. 19, and play the Wizards in Washington on Nov. 22, and the Bulls in Chicago on Nov. 29.

The team with the best standing in Group Play games from each of the six groups will advance to the Knockout Rounds. One wild card team from each conference (the second-place finisher with the best record in Group Play games) will also advance and complete the eight-team Tournament bracket.  

The complete schedule can be found below, with all times listed in EST, and all games available to be heard on the Celtics Radio Network...

Oct. 22 vs. Knicks (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 24 @ Washington (7:00 p.m.)

Oct. 26 @ Detroit (7:00 p.m.)

Oct. 28 vs. Bucks (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 30 @ Indiana (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 1 @ Charlotte (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 2 @ Charlotte (6:00 p.m.)

Nov. 4 @ Atlanta (7:45 p.m.)

Nov. 6 vs. Warriors (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 8 vs. Nets (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 10 @ Milwaukee (3:30 p.m.)

Nov. 12 vs. Hawks (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 13 @ Brooklyn (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 16 vs. Raptors (8:00 p.m.)

Nov. 19 vs. Cavaliers (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 22 @ Washington (7:00 p.m.)

Nov. 24 vs. Timberwolves (3:30 p.m.)

Nov. 25 vs. Clippers (7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 29 @ Chicago (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 1 @ Cleveland (6:00 p.m.)

Dec. 2 vs. Heat (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 4 vs. Pistons (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 6 vs. Bucks (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 7 vs. Grizzlies (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 10-17: NBA Cup tournament playoffs

Dec. 19 vs. Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21 @ Chicago (8:00 p.m.)

Dec. 23 @ Orlando (7:00 p.m.)

Dec. 25 vs. 76ers (5:00 p.m.)

Dec. 27 vs. Pacers (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 29 vs. Pacers (6:00 p.m.)

Dec. 31 vs. Raptors (3:00 p.m.)

Jan. 2 @ Minnesota (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 3 @ Houston (8:00 p.m.)

Jan. 5 @ Oklahoma City (3:30 p.m.)

Jan. 7 @ Denver (10:00 p.m.)

Jan. 10 vs. Kings (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 12 vs. Pelicans (6:00 p.m.)

Jan. 15 @ Toronto (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 17 vs. Magic (7:00 p.m.)

Jan. 18 vs. Hawks (7:00 p.m.)

Jan. 20 @ Golden State (5:00 p.m.)

Jan. 22 @ L.A. Clippers (10:30 p.m.)

Jan. 23 @ L.A. Lakers (10:00 p.m.)

Jan. 25 @ Dallas (5:30 p.m.)

Jan. 27 vs. Rockets (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 29 vs. Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 31 @ New Orleans (8:00 p.m.)

Feb. 2 @ Philadelphia (6:00 p.m.)

Feb. 4 @ Cleveland (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 6 vs. Mavericks (7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 8 @ New York (8:30 p.m.)

Feb. 10 @ Miami (7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 12 vs. Spurs (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 14-19: NBA All-Star Break

Feb. 20 @ Philadelphia (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 23 vs. Knicks (1:00 p.m.)

Feb. 25 @ Toronto (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 26 @ Detroit (7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 28 vs. Cavaliers (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 2 vs. Nuggets (1:00 p.m.)

Mar. 5 vs. Blazers (7:00 p.m.)

Mar. 6 vs. 76ers (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 8 vs. Lakers (8:30 p.m.)

Mar. 10 vs. Jazz (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 12 vs. Thunder (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 14 @ Miami (7:00 p.m.)

Mar. 15 @ Brooklyn (6:00 p.m.)

Mar. 18 vs. Nets (7:30 p.m.)

Mar. 21 @ Utah (9:30 p.m.)

Mar. 23 @ Portland (6:00 p.m.)

Mar. 24 @ Sacramento (10:00 p.m.)

Mar. 26 @ Phoenix (10:00 p.m.)

Mar. 29 @ San Antonio (8:00 p.m.)

Mar. 31 @ Memphis (8:00 p.m.)

Apr. 2 vs. Heat (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 4 vs. Suns (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 6 vs. Wizards (6:00 p.m.)

Apr. 8 @ New York (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 9 @ Orlando (7:00 p.m.)

Apr. 11 vs. Hornets (7:30 p.m.)

Apr. 13 vs. Hornets (1:00 p.m.)