Delon Wright was one of the more well-known players to be let go by the Washington Wizards. Then the Miami Heat joined him, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski's X account.
However, Bill Simmons revealed that the Boston Celticswere also interested in Wright, but he chose the Heat over the Celtics because the Heat could offer something the Celtics could not.
“The Celtics wanted [Wright], by the way. And Miami promised him playing time, so you know,” he said on the March 8 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”
The Celtics have heavily relied on Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard for most of their backcourt minutes. They also added Jaden Springer at the NBA Trade Deadline, meaning that playing time would have been limited in Boston.
Since joining Miami, Wright has played a total of three games. He’s averaged five points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field and 50% from three. With Josh Richardson out for the season, Wright’s role in Miami could potentially expand come playoffs.
Celtics Targeted Delon Wright Before Trade Deadline: Report
Before the NBA Trade Deadline, Wright was one of the Celtics' targets. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Wright among the players they were interested in in a February 5 story.
“Boston has shown interest in various trade targets, including Kelly Olynyk, Delon Wright, Andre Drummond, and others, as sources told HoopsHype.
“Drummond would fit within Boston’s current compensation package, while Olynyk and Wright would likely cost more.”
At the time, the Celtics had the $6.25 million Grant Williams trade exception. Wright was owed $8 million, so the Celtics would have had to combine contracts to match to acquire Wright.
He ultimately stayed put until the Wizards bought him out. The Celtics apparently remained interested in Wright since, according to Simmons, they tried to add him to the roster again. Boston may still have its eye on Wright and could acquire him during the 2024 NBA Free Agency period.
Danny Green Considered as Celtics Buyout Target
Even though Wright didn't work out, the Celtics might consider other players to aid them in their pursuit of the title. One of these players is Danny Green, who MassLive’s Brian Robb suggested as a potential target.
Robb explained why Green could be attractive despite not having played much lately in a March 2 story.
“The 36-year-old was let go by the 76ers back in November after only playing two games that season. He has been involved in media activities in recent weeks but has more playoff experience than anyone on this list. While he may not provide much on the court anymore, he might be able to offer some insight from the bench,” Robb wrote.
Green has won three championships with three different teams: San Antonio, Toronto, and the Lakers. Since he has been there before, he could potentially support the Celtics in the locker room during challenging times.
The Celtics don’t need to add anyone right away, but if they want experienced leadership, Green may be their best choice.
