The Boston Celtics will stash Ante Zizic for the upcoming season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN:
.@celtics Danny Ainge says Ante Zizic will stay overseas this season. No decision yet on Geurschon Yabusele. #Celticstalk
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) July 8, 2016
The first rounder will play for KK Cibona Zagreb in Croatia:
Ante Zizic will play another season with KK CIbona (draft & stash from the @celtics).
He was linked w/ some other European clubs.
— CroSports (@CroSports_) July 13, 2016
Zizic basically had no leverage in wanting to come play for the Celtics. Boston could pay him much less (80%) than the standard rookie wage. Additionally, Zizic would be stuck behind a full frontcourt rotation. There would be few minutes, if any, for the big man in Boston.
This move allows Boston to fill its roster with more ready-now players in order to compete. Eventually, they will sign Zizic long term to join the team’s young core as they continue building in the in-between phase of winning now and acquiring assets. Zizic figures to be part of that second strategy, either in trade talks or as part of the team in the future.
Boston fans will have to wait at least one season in order to catch their first glimpse of Ante Zizic in Celtics green.
