Newly-acquired Celtics shooting guard Evan Fournier has been cleared to play for his new team after having his debut delayed by the NBA’s health and safety protocols over the weekend, the club announced today (via Twitter). Fournier will be available on Monday vs. New Orleans.
Players are typically held in the protocols for one week when they’ve been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and at least two weeks when they test positive themselves. The fact that Fournier was cleared so quickly suggests neither of those scenarios apply to him.
Fournier has averaged a career-high 19.7 PPG and 3.7 APG on .461/.388/.797 shooting in 26 games (30.3 MPG) so far this season. The Magic sent him to Boston last Thursday in a trade that netted them a pair of second-round picks and a $17MM+ trade exception.
Fournier will get the opportunity to inject some added scoring and play-making into Boston’s offense and to make a case for a longer-term deal with the club. The 28-year-old is on track to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Monday night will also be the first time that the Celtics host fans in TD Garden this season, having been approved to fill the arena to 12% of its overall capacity.
Jaylen Brown is out tonight — I wonder if he will start right away.
It dont matter celtics will lose no depth only 3 good players
The celtics schedule the rest of the way is ridiculously easy, they could wind up with the 4 seed when all said and done.
I hate the Celtics but you’re not wrong
They still need a rim protector for playoffs. They should of been in on McGee. Fournier should start when Tatum plays the 4, go small. And have Smart as 6th man.
They could, so long as they don’t play down to their competition and Brad can keep them motivated against like a Tuesday night Wizards matchup.
Personally I don’t see it, nor do I see them (like the Lakers) skating in to whatever seed and turning it on come playoff time.
Sixers and Nets are a bad matchup. They could use a big for defense against both. Embiid inside and rim protection against Nets. To compete with Nets you have to have perimeter D. A rim protector helps there. Celtics offense got better but they need more D.
I don’t disagree that they need more depth, but they have a big in Rob Williams and Smart can also guard big guys.
I like Williams but he’s not a rim protector. Taco is not athletic enough to do it. Celtics don’t have one is my point. I mean D, you add McGee to this team they can come out of East. Makes them deeper and better team D. Whiteside can give them that. To me Celtics are a rim protector away from real contention. Like you said even depth helps here. Come playoff time we will see it.
The Celtics are a vastly underachieving team they lack a true big man to be considered a contender as well as some decent depth but with this recent addition they will improve
^This
So you guys tell Stevens that positionless BB is obsolete now.
I like Fournier he’s having a great yr. Not only is he scoring but his ast are up. He’s become more consistent and just a better player. As a shooter he will get a lot of looks with Celtics. He should make life easier for others. I still would like to see Knicks go after him next yr, FA.
Y don’t we pump the brakes a little don’t be surprised if Stevens miss uses the guy don’t be surprised if he gives you far less (stats) then he gave with the magic
Must admit I didn’t expect Fournier to have a historic debut for BOS, sadly not in a good way… 0/10 in 30 for a grand total of 0… not good, right?