Tag: Justin Champagnie

Former Celtics wing Justin Champagnie signs with Miami Heat

If the Boston Celtics find themselves getting burned by a wing they let go that was snapped up by an Eastern Conference rival, it won’t be the first time.

If the Boston Celtics find themselves getting burned by a wing they let go that was snapped up by an Eastern Conference rival, it won’t be the first time that has happened (cough, cough, Max Strus). Per an announcement from the team, the Miami Heat have added former Celtics wing Justin Champagnie to their training camp roster in their seemingly never-ending quest for cheap, competent depth.

The Pitt alum played in two games for the Celtics last season, averaging 2.5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, and shot just 16.7%. from the field overall. That, coupled with a nearly as rough of a performance in the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League with the Sin City Celtics, led Boston to cut the former Panther before his first contract guarantee kicked in earlier this summer.

This left the Celtics with two open full-time roster spots along with their open third two way roster spot while saving Boston some cash in a season they will edge very close to the new collective bargaining agreement’s dreaded second apron.

Whether it will be yet another move that comes back to haunt them in the future as the choice to move on from Strus did, however, can only be determined with time.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On the Boston Celtics cutting Justin Champagnie

The Celtics signed Champagnie late last season before the playoffs began.

The Boston Celtics waived deep reserve forward Justin Champagnie before his $50,000 guarantee date this past Tuesday. The move takes his $2 million contract off the books for the Celtics before training camp, during which the former Pitt Panther would have competed for Boston’s one open regular roster spot.

The Celtics signed Champagnie last season before the playoffs. The former Toronto Raptor played in late-season games in which Boston regulars were rested. He was on the Sin City Celtics’ roster for the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League. He shot a rough 39% from the field overall and 30% from beyond the arc.

CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning reacts to the news and why the Celtics might’ve decided not to let Champagnie compete in camp in a recent clip put together for the “Garden Report” podcast.

Check it out in the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston Celtics waive guard Justin Champagnie

The Celtics have parted ways with former Pitt Panther Justin Champagnie.

According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics have waived guard Justin Champagnie.

Keeping the former Pitt Panther past Aug. 1 would have triggered a payment of $50,000 as part of Champagnie’s non-guaranteed contract. A further $350,000 would have been owed if he remained a member of the team on opening night. As a luxury tax team, Boston would be on the hook for more financial obligations had it kept Champagnie on the books.

This isn’t a particularly surprising move, however. Champagnie joined the club in April and failed to make much of an impression, even as a deep bench guy. His lukewarm performance at Las Vegas Summer League in July was another nail in the coffin. Boston’s tight salary sheet means even modest spending has to go to a player the club truly trusts.

Parting ways with Champagnie is the first of a few difficult decisions the Celtics will need to make as summer turns to autumn. Luke Kornet’s contract is non-guaranteed; Dalano Banton’s deal is only partially guaranteed.

Likewise, there are still a number of free agents available for the team to take a chance on. The offseason isn’t over yet.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 99

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 99 jersey for at least one game as of August 2023.

The Boston Celtics have more retired jerseys than any other team in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their jerseys have little history tied to them. In fact, with 17 titles to their name and decades of competitive basketball played in them, the unretired jersey numbers pack in some of the most history not hanging from the rafters of any team in the league.

To that end, we have launched our accounting of that history, with every player in every jersey worn by more than one Celtics player in the storied franchise’s history accounted for.

Today’s installment focuses on No. 99 over the years as of August 2023.

Breaking down the Boston Celtics’ roster for Las Vegas Summer League

Few if any of these players will make the Celtics’ regular roster, but there is a chance for several to make one of the team’s three two way slots for the 2023-24 season.

While there might be a few more additions to the Boston Celtics roster for the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League, for all intents and purposes we have a pretty good idea of who will be the Sin City Celtics this offseason.

The Summer Celtics includes Alexander Balcerowski, Kamar Baldwin, Justin Bean, Justin Champagnie, JD Davison, Eugene German, Sam Griesel, Reggie Kissoonlal, Mychael Mulder, Jay Scrubb, Vincent Valerio-Bodon, and Jordan Walsh. As is the case with the league’s annual summer exhibition series, few if any of these players will make the Celtics’ regular roster, but there is a chance for several to make one of the team’s three two way slots for the 2023-24 season.

To learn more about each and their odds of donning green and white next season, check out the clip embedded below from the folks at the “How ‘Bout Them Celtics?” podcast.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Justin Champagnie on joining the Boston Celtics, facing the Toronto Raptors

The newest Celtic’c first game with Boston could be tonight against his former team, Toronto.

Newest Boston Celtics signee Justin Champagnie spoke to the media for the first time since joining the club, sharing thoughts about joining the team after a stint in the NBA’s G League with the Sioux Falls Sky Force.

“I was on the plane going back to South Dakota, and my agent called me and told me there was a possibility (the Celtics) would sign me,” said Champagnie via CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning.

“I was just really excited, getting an opportunity to get back on the NBA floor and help any way I can,” he added. “Finding my niche, whether it be learning how to get around bigger guys for rebounds or learning how to get my shot off faster … my playmaking, stuff like that. I’m trying to become more of an all-around player rather than limit myself to one thing.”

The former Pitt standout may get on the floor for the Celtics as soon as this Friday night’s tilt with Champagnie’s former team, the Toronto Raptors.

“I’m always excited for an opportunity to step on the court … my experience in Toronto was pretty good,” he explained.

“I’m really close with some of those guys. Pascal (Siakam) is like an older brother to me. I learned a lot. Looking forward to playing against them.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Report: Celtics signing G League Forward Justin Champagnie

The Boston Celtics are reportedly signing former Toronto Raptor and G League star Justin Champagnie

The Boston Celtics are signing Justin Champagnie of the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania. Champagnie has averaged 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game since joining Sioux Falls in January of this year.

Champagnie played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh. During his sophomore season in ’20-’21, he averaged 18 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest. The 6-foot-6 Staten Island native joined the Association by way of a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, where he received some burn at the NBA level. More recently he’s been showcasing his aptitude in the G League.

The Celtics have had an open roster spot for some time now, and there has been much buzz about adding another player ahead of the postseason.

Champagnie is a high-energy forward with good defensive instincts. Even if his playing time is limited, he provides Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla an athletic piece on the wing as the playoffs come into focus.

The Celtics have a few games left on the schedule but increasingly look poised to land as the No. 2 seed in the East. If positioning is solidified early, perhaps Champagnie will get a little bit of extra burn as Boston’s primary players rest.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Live tracker: Here is where the top undrafted free agents have signed

The 2021 NBA draft has come and gone but the draft cycle still continues for a bit longer as the undrafted free agents find their new homes.

The 2021 NBA draft has come and gone but the draft cycle still continues for a bit longer as the undrafted free agents find their new homes.

While the following prospects didn’t get to hear their name called by the commissioner or deputy commissioner on Thursday night, they can find solace in the fact that their path to the pros is far from over. It’s not unheard of for an undrafted free agent to carve out a role for themselves in the NBA.

Some notable names, including Gonzaga’s Joel Ayayi and G League Ignite’s Daishen Nix, will join the fraternity of undrafted basketball players who hope to still make a name for themselves in the NBA.

Here is where the best remaining prospects have landed so far, according to reports:

A roundup of NBA sleepers draft analysts are higher on than others

Who owns the most real estate on Davion Mitchell Island? Who is buying stock in Sharife Cooper?

Everyone loves Cade Cunningham. It’s not a hot take for an analyst to say that Cunningham is their favorite player in the class. That’s not particularly interesting to read, either.

But what is fascinating, however, is when an analyst deviates from the norm and ranks someone significantly higher than where the prospect falls in other rankings. What does that tell us about their individual scouting process and what they value? Further, what does that tell us about the potential draftee?

Some folks call it “buying stock” in a player. Others, like ESPN’s Zach Lowe or The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, call it owning real estate on a player’s island. I like to refer to it as a “draft crush” when I wind up higher than consensus in my evaluation of a player.

My process is ridiculously tedious but the results can be fairly useful. I’ve tracked the evolution of more than sixty unique mock drafts, big boards and draft models from trusted analysts and popular accounts on Twitter.

Each placement is assigned a value based on Kevin Pelton’s draft pick trade value chart. I do this because, as Pelton notes, the difference in relative value between the No. 5 overall pick and the No. 7 overall is much more stark than, say, that of the No. 45 pick and the No. 47 pick.

After composing an aggregate score based on each ranking, I can see where each analyst strays from the pack.

I’ll leave the conclusions drawn from these results up to the reader. But if nothing else, this can eventually be used as a bragging point if one writer was higher than consensus on a draftee who eventually ends up outperforming his draft position.

Final 2021 NBA Mock Draft: Latest intel, trade rumors and predicting all 60 picks

Wasn’t it just the 2020 NBA draft? How is the 2021 NBA draft already here? Crazy, maybe, but the league is about to have a ton of new faces.

Wasn’t it just the 2020 NBA draft? How is the 2021 NBA draft already here? Crazy, maybe, but the league is about to have a ton of new faces.

The names that you’re most likely to hear at the top are Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley. But the draft will start heating up once guys like Jalen Suggs, Scottie Barnes and Jonathan Kuminga start to find their new homes.

This draft will also be unique in that there will be fewer players in attendance than usual. According to one prospect who recently spoke to For The Win, due to COVID-19 restrictions, those not invited to the green room are not allowed to come to the stage and shake the hand of the commissioner as they have been in years past.

Regardless of who is actually in the building, however, it is certain to be an exciting and life-changing night for the next generation of NBA talent.

Based on conversations I’ve had with scouts around the league, and from reports and tea leaves left in other mock drafts from trusted draftniks, below is how I project the events will unfold at Barclays Center and on ESPN and ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET on July 29.