Joe Mazzulla watches EuroLeague star in Turkey ahead of Celtics free agency
The Celtics are going to have some tough limitations in building a roster this summer. Boston is expected to have to trade away multiple rotation players in order to reduce a massive luxury tax bill. Brad Stevens also has to find a way to replace Jayson Tatum's massive production at forward for potentially the entire season after he suffered a torn Achilles last month.
With Boston only expected to have veteran's minimum contracts available in free agency to fill that void, the team may look overseas to find some low-cost options at forward. Joe Mazzulla got a potential look at one of those options on Monday according to EuroHoops.
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The Celtics coach was spotted courtside in Istanbul for a Turkish League playoff game between Fenerbahce and Bahcesehir, watching among others Nigel Hayes-Davis.
The former Wisconsin standout has thrived overseas since spending the first two years of his pro career in the NBA. The 30-year-old was selected to the All-Euroleague First Team in the past two years while playing for Fenerbahce and he was also the Euroleague Final Four MVP this season.
At 6-foot-8, he's an intriguing forward option who has improved his shooting in Europe. The Celtics have been linked to Hayes-Davis in the past as well with a source telling MassLive that Hayes-Davis worked out for Boston back in 2021 during Brad Stevens first year as president of basketball operations. Fenerbahce GM Derya Yannier said last month that there was serious NBA interest in multiple Fenerbahce players including Hayes-Davis according to Sportando.
'There is very serious interest from the NBA for Nigel Hayes-Davis and Tarik Biberovic,' Yannier told reporters in May. 'I hope they continue with us, but if they say, 'I want to try in the NBA,' we won't stand in their way.'
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Biberovic was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 so they still have his NBA rights but Hayes would be able to sign with any NBA team if he is allowed out of his contract.
The Celtics have had plenty of success plucking useful players from overseas in the past decade. Daniel Theis and Brad Wanamaker both turned into rotation players for Boston after successful careers abroad. With the Celtics limited in their spending power, it makes sense for them to be looking at intriguing options abroad as they attempt to stay competitive in the East next season with a diminished supporting cast and budget.
Hayes-Davis finished with 10 points and seven rebounds on Monday in front of Mazzulla, helping Fenerbahce advance to the Turkish League Finals.
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