The Boston Celtics continued to reshape their roster after Sunday’s major move.
Shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks traded Jrue Holiday, Boston acquired the All-Star point guard from the Portland Trail Blazers. The Celtics moved Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two first-round first picks.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics added size to their roster later in the day. They signed center Wenyen Gabriel to a training camp deal.
Free agent 7 footer Wenyen Gabriel has agreed to a training camp deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2023
Gabriel has played for six different teams in four seasons. He found a home with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 68 games.
The 7-foot-1 big man from South Sudan will look to earn a bench role for Boston, which lacked size before trading defensive stalwart Marcus Smart for 7-foot-3 big man Kristaps Porzingis earlier this offseason, The Celtics replaced Smart with Holiday at the expense of Williams, a 2021-22 All-Defensive selection.
A year after making the NBA Finals, Boston earned its most wins (57) in a regular season since 2008-09. Yet the Miami Heat thwarted its title pursuit in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics have repackaged their roster around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but they currently don’t roster any big men guaranteed minutes behind Porzingis and Al Horford. They also lost a key depth piece when trading Grant Williams.
The new-look Celtics begin the season on Wednesday, Oct. 25 against the New York Knicks.