The Boston Celtics are finalizing a deal with shooting guard Bradley Wanamaker, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Celtics are looking for a two-year deal, while Wanamaker is more inclined to pen a one-year contract, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe added. The deal could be already done by tomorrow. Wanamaker spent this season playing overseas with Fenerbahce in Turkey, where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in Euroleague while shooting 33 percent from 3-point.
A former Pittsburgh alum, Bradley Wanamaker has become a star in the European basketball, making a name for himself in Italy during his rookie years and then moving to Germany, where he really shined with Brose Bamberg under coach Andrea Trinchieri. In 2016-2017 season Wanamaker moved to Darussafaka where he was coached by David Blatt, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach. Last summer he signed with Euroleague champions Fenerbahce and won the Turkish League. But the dream of winning the Euroleague title was stopped in the semifinals against Real Madrid.
Wanamaker has been in the radar of NBA teams for a few years now and last summer he had some talks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to a report from Sportando. Wanamaker had a lot of market also in Europe, where Barcelona was ready to offer him a two-year deal, worth around £3 mln euros.
With uncertainty around the situation of Marcus Smart, who’ll be a restricted free-agent this summer, it’s smart for the Celtics to lock up a player like Wanamaker, who can play both as a playmaker and as a shooting guard.
