As Celtics Fill Out Roster, Lakers Make Intriguing Option Available

As the Celtics apply the finishing touches to their offseason roster reconstruction, they have one full-time and one two-way spot open.
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The Celtics have one full-time and one two-way roster spot open. They're $3.4 million under the second apron, per Spotrac.

Boston could create more space by waiving a player on a non-guaranteed contract. Justin Champagnie, Luke Kornet, and Dalano Banton's deals won't convert to fully guaranteed until Jan 10.

If Kornet's on the team on opening night, as expected, he's secured slightly north of $1 million of his $2.4 million pact with the Celtics. Banton locks in a little over $1 million of a partially guaranteed deal for a bit over $2 million.

Intriguing options remain available in free agency, including Austin Rivers, who, according to the Globe's Gary Washburn, Boston's expressed interest in bringing on board.

Another name now on the market is Cole Swider. The Lakers waived the six-foot-nine sharpshooter to open a two-way roster spot for forward Alex Fudge.

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Swider, a Providence, Rhode Island native, played his first three collegiate campaigns for Villanova, then transferred to Syracuse for his senior season. He drilled an average of 38.1 percent of his four attempts from beyond the arc in his NCAA career. He hoisted six threes per game with the Orange and knocked them down at a 41.1 percent clip.

Swider appeared in seven tilts with the purple and gold as a rookie last season, averaging 5.9 minutes per contest and making 37.5 percent of his 1.1 shots from three-point range.

In five Summer League matchups, he generated 15.2 points per game, buried 42.5 percent of his eight long-range attempts, and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per contest.

If the New England native's open to returning to the region to play, at least part-time, for a fellow Rhode Islander in Joe Mazzulla, he's one of the better options for the Celtics to fill their last two-way roster spot.

Further Reading

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After Jaylen Brown's Extension, Could Celtics Complete Blockbuster Deal for Damian Lillard?

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Want Celtics' Defensive Identity to 'Go Out the Door' With Marcus Smart

Jaylen Brown Wants Record-Setting Contract with Celtics to Spark Revolutionary Goals

Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement

Amid Negotiations with Celtics, Jaylen Brown Continues Giving Back to Community He Stars In: 'Nothing Fills My Heart More'

Sam Cassell Discusses What Brought Him Back to Boston and What He'll Bring to the Celtics

Oshae Brissett on Joining Celtics: 'I Just Want to Go Win'

Marcus Smart Reflects on His Time with Celtics: 'I Left Everything I Had'

Evaluating Celtics' Options in Free Agency


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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.