Former Lakers Draft Pick Signs Deal With Rival Boston Celtics

Maybe the Celtics can help him maximize his skillset.

Rivalries are what make sports so much fun. It can bring out passion from both the players and fans, giving the game an extra edge to it.

Over the course of basketball history, the biggest rivalry in the NBA has been between the Boston Celtics and your Los Angeles Lakers, who have faced off a league-record 12 times in the NBA Finals. It has spanned decades and is still alive to this day.

There have been multiple players who have played for both organizations throughout the history of the league, and we can now add another name to that list. Former Laker guard Svi Mykhailiuk agreed to a one-year contract to join Boston for the upcoming season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the news:

Free agent Svi Mykhailiuk has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 31, 2023

Mykhailiuk was taken in the 2018 NBA Draft by Los Angeles in the second round. He never performed well enough for the Lakers to keep him around, and he has bounced around the league ever since.

The guard spent last season with the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in 19 games for them. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. But he did shoot 40.4 percent from deep. 

He is known for being a sharp-shooter in the game, and this should help the Celtics bench in the upcoming season. He is a career 36 percent shooter from beyond the three-point line.

Boston probably believes that he can help the shooting woes that plagued them in the postseason. He likely won't get a ton of playing time at first, but if he showcases a strong ability when he gets time, it could grow.

Mykhailiuk spent one season with the Lakers before he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward Reggie Bullock. Fans loved him during his stint with the team, so it'll be strange to see him wearing the Celtics jersey next season.

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