The Celtics didn’t participate in any of the major trades over the past weekend, but they might still benefit from the moves that took place. On Sunday night, the Chicago Bulls traded Zach LaVine in a three-team deal with the Spurs and Kings. In exchange, the Bulls acquired three new players—Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones—but only sent out one, forcing them to release a couple of players to make the deal official.
To clear roster space, the Bulls waived wings Torrey Craig and Chris Duarte. Last week, MassLive mentioned Craig as a potential target for the Celtics in a trade or buyout. Although the 34-year-old hasn’t played since December 30th due to an ankle injury, he was close to returning before being released.
Craig, standing 6-foot-5, has shot above 39% from the field over the past three seasons and could be an upgrade for the Celtics’ bench. The team is exploring options to trade reserve wing Jaden Springer, whose $4 million salary contributes to Boston’s hefty tax bill. This could make the Celtics more inclined to seek a wing replacement in the near future.
This season, Craig has only appeared in nine games for the Bulls, who have focused on developing younger wings. However, his playoff experience—75 games, including 19 starts with the Suns and Nuggets—could make him an appealing target on the buyout market. Craig signed a two-year contract with the Bulls in 2023, but he hasn’t been a key player for them this season.
For Boston, adding another perimeter shooter could become a priority. Outside of Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics’ bench players haven’t been strong in this area, with Jaden Springer, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman underperforming in their limited opportunities.
The Celtics are likely to explore other options, but Craig could be a player worth watching if the team opts not to make a trade before the deadline, aside from possibly clearing a roster spot or two.
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