The Boston Celtics are bringing back veteran wing Semi Ojeleye with a guarantee of the final year of his current deal, worth $1.7 million, according to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.
That The Man Made of Granite (as Ojeleye is sometimes called) will be back next season ought not to be taken for granted.
This because while the team desperately needs wing depth in the absence of veteran swingman Gordon Hayward after he decamped to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the day, it is clear they would also like an upgrade in that position.
Per league sources, the Celtics have decided to guarantee Semi Ojeleye's deal for next season. He's back.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 22, 2020
For now (though perhaps not for long) the Southern Methodist University product will remain on the team, a helpful defender who earns a low enough rate that he also makes among the most sense for Boston to include in a trade.
While Ojeleye’s contract cannot be aggregated to one of the team’s two new traded-player exceptions, he could be aggregated with one of the team’s other salaries like Carsen Edwards or Javonte Green’s to take back a player should the right situation arise.
And after a rough start to the team’s free agency period, the Celtics’ front office will be looking extra hard to find such deals.
