The Boston Celtics may face off against old friend Danilo Gallinari in the playoffs soon. After the Pistons waived him, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported via his X account that Gallinari has signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Free agent Danilo Gallinari is finalizing a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Gallinari’s agent, Michael Tellem, has been discussing options with several title contenders this week.
Charania added that Gallinari discussed signing with other teams before choosing the Bucks.
“Gallinari seriously considered several teams – including Clippers, Cavaliers, and Bulls – before choosing the Bucks where he’ll have opportunity for a strong role under his old coach Doc Rivers,” Charania reported via his X account.
Danilo Gallinari signed with the Celtics in 2022 but never got to play for the team after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The Celtics then traded Gallinari to the Wizards in their deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis.
Gallinari joins multiple Celtics alumni in Milwaukee, including Doc Rivers and Jae Crowder. In 32 games combined this season, Gallinari is averaging 7.3 points a game while shooting 45.1% from the field and 35.5% from three. He joins a frontcourt that consists of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis.
The Celtics are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks are the No. 3 seed. Both teams have aspirations to win a championship and may get the chance to face off against each other in the postseason.
Celtics Had Interest in Danilo Gallinari Reunion: Report
After the Pistons waived Danilo Gallinari, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin reported that the Celtics had interest in bringing him back.
“The Lakers and Celtics are reported to have some level of interest,” Helin reported in a February 9 story.
There were no other reports re-affirming the Celtics’ interest in Gallinari. Charania didn’t mention the Celtics as one of the teams interested in his services. That would indicate that Gallinari had little to no interest in coming back to Boston.
If he did, he would have had to compete with Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman for playing time. On the Bucks, Gallinari may not face as much stiff competition for time in their frontcourt.
Why Danilo Gallinari Chose Bucks
After Charania reported that Danilo Gallinari had chosen the Bucks, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski gave more details about why he chose them.
“Gallinari, who had stops with the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons this season, chose the Bucks over a few contenders because of the opportunity to make an impact on the frontline rotation of coach Doc Rivers, Tellem told ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote in a February 15 story.
Both the Pistons and Wizards have been among the worst teams in the NBA over the course of the 2023-24 season. Both have still not eclipsed the 10-win mark as the league approaches the All-Star Break.
In Milwaukee, Gallinari not only joins a team that is leaps and bounds better than his previous two teams, but he also has the chance to contribute. He also has the chance to get back at Boston for getting rid of him before he had the chance to play for them. Gallinari said that he couldn’t wait to face off against the Celtics during the 2023 NBA Offseason.
“I can’t wait to play against Boston,” Gallinari said in his native tongue on his A Cresta Alta podcast. “When the schedule will be unveiled, I’ll put an X on the games we will play at Boston against the Celtics.”
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Danilo Gallinari Joins Celtics’ Eastern Conference Rival: Report