Celtics reportedly comply with take care of G/F Lamar Stevens forward of coaching camp

Celtics

Stevens performed the primary three seasons of his profession with the Cavaliers, the place he earned a defensive-oriented status.

Lamar Stevens has signed a deal to affix the Celtics, doubtless battling for a roster spot in coaching camp. (AP Photograph/Ron Schwane)

The Celtics are including one other depth piece to the roster within the lead-up to coaching camp.

Veteran Lamar Stevens has agreed to a take care of Boston, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Friday. The guard/ahead performed the primary three seasons of his NBA profession with the Cavaliers earlier than getting traded to the Spurs, who waived him shortly after a commerce in July.

The 26-year-old earned a strong quantity of taking part in time with an upstart Cavaliers crew throughout his three seasons in Cleveland regardless of going undrafted in 2020. He performed in 125 video games during the last two seasons, beginning in 38 of them, recording 25 begins final season.

Stevens was a low-volume shooter throughout his time in Cleveland. The 6-foot-6 wing scored 5.3 factors per recreation, averaging 4.5 pictures in 16 minutes per recreation. He shot 46.7 % from the sphere, 28.1 % from deep, and 71 % from the stripe throughout these three seasons as nicely.

Whereas Stevens actually didn’t have a lot scoring prowess, he carved out a task for himself defensively. The Cavaliers’ rise to have the league’s high defensive ranking final season was credited to Stevens’s insertion into the beginning lineup in November.

“Simply bringing that physicality,” Cavaliers star level guard Darius Garland mentioned of Stevens’s position within the beginning lineup final December, by way of The Athletic. “His toughness on the ground, and simply bringing his power, that canine power, that canine influence. And we actually want it from that three-man. I imply, he’s switching one via 5 principally, guarding the very best participant on the opposite crew and simply bringing a variety of power that we actually want.”

Nevertheless, Stevens fell again to the bench and, finally, out of the rotation through the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff loss to the Knicks. Cleveland moved him in a three-team sign-and-trade to amass Max Strus because the crew regarded for extra scoring and capturing on the wing this offseason.

Stevens’s deal is partially assured, that means he’ll doubtless battle for a roster spot throughout coaching camp, MassLive’s Brian Robb reported. With Stevens’s signing, the Celtics’ roster is at full capability, with 15 plus three two-way gamers. Nevertheless, they’ll signal two extra gamers to coaching camp offers.

If Stevens makes the roster, he’ll doubtless battle Sam Hauser, Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, and Jordan Walsh for minutes.

The Celtics will open up coaching camp on Oct. 3.