Torrey Craig didn’t see a lot on-court motion throughout his temporary Celtics tenure. After signing with Boston in February, the 34-year-old veteran appeared in 17 video games, averaging 2.7 factors in 11.7 minutes per evening.
However, if the chance introduced itself, Craig would like to be again in Boston, he advised CelticsBlog after the Celtics’ playoff elimination earlier this month.
“I really like all the things about Boston,” Craig stated. “If it was out there, then I’d see myself coming again.”
Craig stated that the chance to be part of a championship-caliber workforce is one he’ll at all times cherish.
“Simply being across the guys that beforehand gained the championship – simply seeing how they function, how collectively they have been, simply being part of the Celtic tradition,” he stated. “That was a cool expertise for me.”
Craig is likely one of the Celtics’ three unrestricted free brokers this summer time, the others being Al Horford and Luke Kornet. Along with navigating free company and the upcoming NBA Draft, the Celtics will even take into account offseason trades to cut back their payroll forward of subsequent season, and get out of the second apron.
Because it presently stands, the Celtics would wish to shed about $22.7 million in wage to keep away from the punitive restrictions that include being a high-spending second apron workforce.
The Celtics’ offseason scenario is made much more sophisticated by the truth that Jayson Tatum is predicted to overlook most, if not all, of subsequent season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon harm.
Craig stated he has confidence that the Celtics can contend even with out their main scorer, rebounder, and playmaker subsequent season.
“It’s an ideal group of fellows, clearly, the scenario issues, however I really feel like even with out JT, this workforce may nonetheless compete for a championship,” Craig stated. “They’re gifted. You simply should discover a solution to play basketball a little bit in a different way. However this group is far more succesful. I’ve the utmost confidence.”
Torrey Craig offered bench vitality and drew reward from Joe Mazzulla
Although his on-court alternatives have been restricted, Craig grew to become beloved amongst Celtics followers for his raucous sideline celebrations and infectious vitality.
“I get caught up within the recreation,” he defined to CelticsBlog in March. “I be excited for my teammates, for our workforce, and I similar to to have enjoyable.”
Joe Mazzulla famous on a number of events all through the season that getting to educate Craig has been a luxurious, likening his open-minded mindset to former Celtics veteran bench participant Blake Griffin.
“He doesn’t care — he simply desires to play,” Mazzulla stated. “And I appreciated watching a man who, whatever the scoreboard, simply performs on the stage that he performs at, and always works. And he’s been doing it a very long time.”
Craig stated that on high of the Celtics’ championship tradition, he significantly appreciated the truth that the group prioritized household.
He was in a position to convey his 10-year-old son, Braylon, to a number of regular-season video games towards the top of the season, and apprecaited that Braylon acquired to take a seat by the bench and handle the workforce pregame.
“You’ll be able to inform it’s very family-oriented,” Craig stated. “They’re massive on youngsters being round – they’re massive on simply household being collectively, bringing folks collectively, doing issues locally.”
Torrey Craig’s son has been having a blast on the baseline tonight
Craig taking part in a few of his finest minutes as a Celtic with him in attendance pic.twitter.com/25zrNjnmFf
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 12, 2025
Craig stated he’ll meet along with his agent and work out the following steps in his NBA profession. Since 2017, the journeyman has loved stints with the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Pacers, and Chicago Bulls earlier than signing with the Celtics this season.
And, whereas there will probably be heaps to think about, Craig left very impressed along with his Celtics tenure, although it ended sooner than he would have preferred.
“All the things’s simply performed the best means,” he stated.
