Though they’ve reportedly signed guard-forward Javonte Green to a partially guaranteed contract, the Boston Celtics still have plans to bring 7-foot-6 rookie center Tacko Fall “in the fold” (h/t Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports).
Fall originally signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics shortly after failing to hear his name called during the 2019 NBA Draft, a deal that provides financial incentive for Fall to sign with you the Maine Red Claws — Boston’s official NBA G League affiliate — should be be waived by the Celtics prior to the regular season.
Making an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich” morning show, Celtics president Danny Ainge discussed Fall’s chances of making the roster after saying that the aspiring engineer’s skill development was a “high priority” for Boston, not words you often hear about players that teams aren’t planning on offering a contract.
Fall has a ready-made NBA comparison in 7-foot-3 center Boban Marjanovic, who the Dallas Mavericks recently signed to a two-year, $7 million deal. Marjanovic is a more accomplished free-throw shooter than Fall, though the latter’s deliberate shooting form at the charity stripe appears to show some promise, but both are gargantuan big men who can protect the rim and finish inside the paint with ease.
A walking mismatch because of his height and weight (310 pounds), Fall is also surprisingly nimble and runs the court well for a player his size. He would be unlikely to play rotation minutes for the Celtics and developing within the team system with the Red Claws could be particularly beneficial for both he and the team. Yet, with 15 players now projected to be on the roster sans Fall, there’s also a question of who the Celtics would waive to create room for Fall.
Perhaps it would be Green, whose contract is only partially guaranteed after all. Nonetheless, the Celtics can carry up to 20 players on the roster through training camp and should they believe Fall is deserving of the opportunity to prove he belongs on the roster, he’ll likely get every chance to do so.
Even if it results in the team waiving an unexpected player, like Green or French center Vincent Poirier.
