Getty Svi Mykhailiuk
The Boston Celtics have used one of their last two roster spots. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Celtics have added sharpshooter Svi Mykhailiuk on a one-year deal.
“Free agent Svi Mykhailiuk has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell (The Athletic) (Stadium),” Charania wrote via his personal X account.
Free agent Svi Mykhailiuk has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The Athletic’s Jay King gave his own thoughts following Charania’s report, singling out Mykhailiuk’s three-point shooting abilities.
“Recently turned 26. Shot 40.4 percent on 3-point attempts for Charlotte late last season while averaging 10.6 points per game. Small sample size in mostly meaningless games? A sign he’s turned the corner? Who knows,” King wrote via his X account. “Celtics wanted a wing to bolster the position behind Tatum and Brown. Mykhailiuk is a depth piece at a spot where they needed it.”
Svi Mykhailiuk was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 as the No. 47 pick. In the five years he’s played in the NBA, he’s played for the Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and Charlotte Hornets.
In 252 NBA games, Mykhailiuk has averaged 6.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 36% from three.
Celtics Made Contract Offer to Svi Mykhailiuk: Report
On August 2, the Greek Publication Sports DNA was the first one to report the Celtics’ interest in Mykhailiuk.
“For several days now, he has had an offer in his hands from the Celtics. With the minimum, that means around a million net earnings. But the full roster of Boston and the goal of the championship gives him a minimum playing time. He himself knows that every situation has a risk. You win something, you lose something,” the website said, translated into English.
The publication added that Mykhailiuk was getting another offer, but not from an NBA team.
“During the previous 10-15 days, Panathinaikos entered into discussions with his side through his agent. Showing him that if he decided to cross the Atlantic, he could expect a good offer. A proposal that currently does not exist, nor is it under negotiation for the simple reason that he still does not hear about Europe.
“The player himself has not been contacted, but there is something important. Mykhailiuk informed that if he leaves the NBA, he likes the idea of Panathinaikos very much. They just have to find it in finance.”
Mykhailiuk took the month to weigh his options before ultimately picking the Celtics.
Brad Stevens Shouts Out Blake Griffin
During his August 29 appearance on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens praised Blake Griffin for how well he played his role, knowing how thinned out the Celtics’ frontcourt was during the 2022-23 season.
“Our bigs were pretty thin,” Stevens said. “When (Robert Williams III) was out at the start of the year, those guys that played in his place did an amazing job of keeping us afloat. Blake was as good as it gets both on and off the court.”
With Mykhailiuk on the team, Griffin could potentially take the last spot on the Celtics roster, but it remains to be seen if Griffin wants to return to the Celtics.