The Boston Celtics quickly did well by finding a Robert Williams replacement.
After the departure of Robert Williams to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Boston Celtics were in need of reinforcements in the frontcourt. They have quickly got to work in bolstering up that department.
Shortly after the trade for Jrue Holiday was finalized, in which they parted ways with Williams, it was announced that the Celtics had come to an agreement with veteran big man Wenyen Gabriel to a training camp contract.
Free agent F/C Wenyen Gabriel is finalizing a deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Gabriel, who averaged 5.5 PPG and 4.2 RPG for Lakers last season, will compete for a reserve big man spot in Boston.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 1, 2023
What does Wenyen Gabriel bring to Boston?
Wenyen Gabriel is the kind of player any contender would love to have on their team.
Gabriel has bounced around in his short time in the NBA, playing for now his 7th team, going into his 5th year. But for every team he plays for, he always gives 100 percent. Last year was his best year in the NBA. With the Lakers, Wenyen played a career-high 68 games and was someone who got consistent rotational minutes.
At 6-foot-9, Gabriel adds some much-needed height to an increasingly thin Celtics frontline. In LA last year, Gabriel was really an energy rotational piece He played a solid 15 minutes of hard-working basketball every night, typically at the small ball 5 as a backup for Anthony Davis.
Gabriel is a strong offensive and defensive rebounder, always adding extra plays for his team when they need it, and securing those crucial boards on your own glass to close out a stop.
Gabriel is also really athletic. He’s very mobile at 6-foot-9, runs the floor hard, and can switch pretty comfortably 1-5. Offensively, he doesn’t give you much other than average finishing around the bucket, but he’s just someone who can really put in a shift.
Depending on the starting lineup they choose, Boston doesn’t have a real backup 4-5 man with size. Luke Kornet is 7-foot-2, but he’s not someone I would be comfortable with as a full-time backup. And although they just picked up Lamar Stevens, he’s a really small 4 at 6-foot-6. With Gabriel, he can at least play the 4 comfortably, and some 5 if necessary.
Considering Gabriel didn’t sign a standard deal with the team, he’ll have to earn his spot on the roster during training camp. But if his previous hustle and determination is any indication, there’s a good chance Gabriel will be able to earn a spot on the Celtics’ regular-season roster. And if he does, don’t be surprised if he eventually carves out a consistent spot in the rotation.