The Boston Celtics are eyeing a deal for Danilo Gallinari, but the Denver Nuggets are uncertain whether they will retain the forward, the Boston Herald reported Monday.
According to the Herald, there were conflicting reports coming from the Nuggets organization regarding the team’s commitment to Gallinari, which at least for the moment ended the chance of a deal being completed.
The 6-foot-10, 26-year-old Italian has one year and $11.56 million remaining on his contract.
Last season, in 59 games (27 starts), Gallinari averaged 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He shot 40.1 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from 3-point range, both below his career norms.
A first-round draft pick (sixth overall) by the Knicks in 2008, Gallinari spent 2 1/2 seasons in New York. He moved to Denver in February 2001 in a three-team deal that sent forward Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks.
Gallinari missed the end of the 2012-13 season and all of the 2013-14 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
In 344 career NBA games (274 starts), Gallinari is averaging 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists.