The dead zone of the NBA offseason hasn’t kept Brad Stevens and the Celtics from looking at every possible way to maximize their financial flexibility ahead of the 2023-24 season.
And on Tuesday, that pursuit came with bottom-of-the-roster depth wing Justin Champagnie waived by the club, as first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Boston Celtics have waived G/F Justin Champagnie, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Champagnie was signed to a multiyear deal out of the NBA G League late last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2023
Signed by the Celtics late last season, the 22-year-old Champagnie made two appearances for Boston to close out the regular season, and scored five points on 2-for-12 shooting in the team’s regular-season finale against the Hawks. In addition to his five points, Champagnie also collected four rebounds and dished out three assists in over 23 minutes of work for the Celtics.
Most recently, Champagnie had suited up for the Celtics in their Summer League run, and averaged 13.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and shot just over 39 percent, for the Summer C’s.
Apr 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Justin Champagnie (99) drives to the basket while Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
But what the Celtics do with their open roster spot(s) remains worth watching.
As of right now, the Green’s rotation appears set. Now, that can always change should a capable veteran find themselves looking for work and looking to land with a contender (like Blake Griffin, for example), but it’s hard to see many veterans who would disrupt the proverbial apple cart all that much for Boston’s current plans.
The list of notable veteran free agents still without a club for 2023-24 includes Kelly Oubre Jr., Will Barton, Terrence Ross, TJ Warren, and JaMychal Green among countless others.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 23: T-shirts are seen draped on seats prior to Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 23, 2018. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
As it stands now, and with the Celtics about two months away from the start of training camp, the Celtics’ roster is headlined by the projected starting five of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Robert William III. Behind them, and players who could very well become starters based on what that night may throw at them, the Celtics have strong and versatile options in Al Horford, Malcolm Brogdon, and Sam Hauser.
The bottom of the roster, however, remains a complete guessing game, with free-agent additions such as Dalano Banton, Oshae Brissett, and Jay Scrubb already brought in to help round out a group featuring Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, and 2023 second-round pick Jordan Walsh.
