The Boston Celtics have been quite busy this offseason. Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, they unloaded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in a pair of trades, and in free agency, they watched Luke Kornet bolt for the San Antonio Spurs, with Al Horford expected to be following close behind him. Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga were added in the draft, while the team signed Luka Garza and Josh Minott in free agency.
There’s a sense of gloom surrounding the C’s, which is due in large part to the fact that Jayson Tatum is likely to going to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign after he ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the team’s Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks. However, Summer League action always provides fans with a look at what the future could hold, and one player in particular has stood out early on.
Charles Bassey Dominating for Celtics Early in Summer League Action
Boston surprised some folks when they added Bassey to their Summer League roster at the last minute. A second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers back in the 2021 NBA Draft, Bassey spent one year with the Sixers before spending the past three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. In the 2024-25 campaign, Bassey averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 58.1% from the field.
Given their need for center help after trading away Porzingis and letting Kornet and Horford hit the open market, the front office decided to take a flier on Bassey. At 6-foot-10, Bassey is an undersized center, but he doesn’t let that impact his performance on the floor. He’s a solid rebounder who can make an impact in the paint on both sides of the ball, which is precisely what the Celtics need.
In Boston’s first two Summer League games, Bassey has been an absolute force. After scoring 14 points and hauling in 11 rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies, he followed that up with 22 points and 13 boards against the New York Knicks. While it’s only two games, many Celtics fans have liked what they have seen from Bassey, and they are calling for the front office to sign him.
“Sign him immediately,” @PlayoffCeltics said in a post on X immediately after the team’s latest win over the Knicks.
@Dennis_Celtics didn’t even need to see Bassey’s big game against the Knicks to be convinced he’s worth keeping around, saying he “should have been signed after (the) first game.”
@JuicyyPotato already was plotting a potential move in order to keep Bassey around, suggesting the team “waive (Georges) Niang or (Neemias) Queta” to free up a spot on the roster for him.
Should the Celtics Sign Charles Bassey?
If Bassey keeps on playing at this level, the Celtics may have no choice but to sign him to their team. The problem is that their roster is already full, and they are over the second apron of the salary cap. That can be changed pretty quickly, but the front office is likely going to be patient when it comes to making a final decision on Bassey.
If the former Spurs center can continue to dominate in Boston’s remaining Summer League action, he will force Brad Stevens and company into a tough decision. Until then, he will look to continue starring for his new team, as he will be back on the court with the C’s when they take on the Miami Heat on Monday night.
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