Torrey Craig details “no-brainer” decision to join the Celtics

NEW YORK CITY — Torrey Craig sat within the bleachers of Madison Sq. Backyard, surrounded by a crowd of reporters at Celtics’ shootaround. Just some ft away, Al Horford bought up three-pointers alongside a handful of Celtics assistants, whereas Jaylen Brown went by way of his full-speed taking pictures routine on the opposite finish of the courtroom.

It hadn’t even been a full hour for the reason that staff formally introduced the 34-year-old veteran’s signing — however Craig was nonetheless glad to be across the staff after a whirlwind 24 hours that noticed him fly from Chicago to Boston, obtain a tour of the services, full his bodily, and finally be a part of his new staff in New York Metropolis late Friday.

Craig, who was waived by the Chicago Bulls final week after spending simply over a 12 months with the staff, mentioned that deciding to affix the Celtics as a free agent was a simple selection. Becoming a member of a championship contender was crucial to him, he mentioned.

“You at all times need to play for one thing and compete for one thing,” Craig mentioned. “I’m an excellent competitor — and I need to play basketball the fitting method on the highest degree. Simply to get a chance to return play with these guys was a no brainer.”

What Torrey Craig thinks he can deliver to Boston

Craig, an eight-year NBA veteran who started his skilled profession in Australia and New Zealand, has loved stints with the Nuggets, Bucks, Suns, Pacers, and Bulls. He’s been to the NBA Finals as a member of the Suns in 2021.

As such, when requested what he can deliver to the defending champions as their latest signee, Craig mentioned “expertise and management” with out hesitation, whereas acknowledging the staff is contemporary off a title.

All through his NBA profession, Craig averaged 6 factors per sport on 45.4% FG, and shot 35.5% from three. His taking pictures has trended upwards of late — he shot at the least 39% from three in every of his final two seasons. As such, he expects to shoot open appears to be like when he’s on the ground for Boston, becoming proper into the Celtics’ three-point heavy offense.

“All of the groups that I’ve been on have been preaching to me to shoot your shot and play with confidence,” Craig mentioned. “It’s no completely different right here. You possibly can inform the best way they play, the photographs they shoot — they take the photographs which are obtainable to them. Clearly, they bought robust shotmakers in JB and Jayson. However, all these different guys, they’ll shoot the photographs which are obtainable to them. I’ll do the identical.”

When he was deciding between groups upon getting into the buyout market, Craig mentioned that the staff’s connectivity and self-discipline stood out.

“They’re a deep staff, tremendous proficient,” he mentioned. “Nicely-coached, well-disciplined. They play the fitting method. They know what it takes to win: taking part in protection, taking part in collectively and having one another’s backs. You possibly can simply see it. The staff chemistry and so they enable one another to feed off one another and play collectively and I believe that’s why they’ve been so dominant these previous couple years.”

Jayson Tatum agreed that Craig can deliver versatility and expertise to the roster.

“Veteran presence. A man that may adapt to the group, play off of fellows, house the ground, set a toughness, have the ability to guard,” Tatum mentioned. “Simply one other man that may add to our group and be versatile on each ends of the ground.

Just some hours earlier than Craig’s signing was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Brad Stevens famous that their 14th participant may not be somebody who’ll recurrently be within the rotation.

“We consider on this group, and if we deliver any person in, that signifies that we consider they’ll add to this group,” Stevens mentioned. “That doesn’t imply they’ll play, however when known as upon, they are often able to go in large moments.”

It seems like Craig is on the identical web page on that entrance: “Simply coming in and being an additional man each time the staff wants it,” he mentioned of his mindset. “Add to the wing depth of this staff. Simply being one other defender, one other bodily physique that you may throw on the market and produce.”

Craig is shortly acclimating to a brand-new Celtics group

Craig has beforehand shared the ground with one present Celtic — Jrue Vacation in Milwaukee in 2021 — and described his impression of this present group as overwhelmingly constructive.

“The toughest half is studying everybody’s names,” he added, moments after shaking arms with quite a few participant growth coaches and staff personnel at shootaround.

So far as Joe Mazzulla, the 2 spoke on the cellphone on Friday evening and chatted additional on Saturday morning. Craig smiled when requested about what he’d heard concerning the head coach in his first day as a Celtic.

“You don’t really want to listen to a lot about Joe — you’ll be able to simply see it,” he mentioned. “I believe he’s a singular coach, undoubtedly one-of-a-kind. Positively a man I stay up for taking part in for.”

Craig’s transient dialog with Mazzulla left him feeling like the 2 have been on the identical web page.

“I just about perceive him, he just about understands me,” Craig mentioned. “We have already got that understanding of one another and being communicative.”

On Saturday evening, when the Celtics face the Knicks, Craig gained’t be lively, as he’s nonetheless recovering from a proper ankle harm.

He mentioned he’s day-to-day and that he’s feeling fairly good: “I don’t count on to play tonight. However hopefully quickly.”