East Notes: Celtics, Free Agents, Wizards, Nets

Celtics

The recent news that Robert Williams will miss training camp after arthroscopic knee surgery is reason for the Celtics to be concerned, per Brian Robb of MassLive.

The Celtics, of course, will also be without Danilo Gallinari, who suffered a torn ACL during EuroBasket play.

Per Robb, the Celtics “will be relying on a number of unproven players to compete for a roster spot as backup bigs in training camp. That competition just got a lot more interesting with the likes of Luke Kornet, Mfiondu Kabengele, Noah Vonleh and Bruno Caboclo all in the mix for roster spots.”

Grant Williams will also have to take on a larger role in the frontcourt, Robb added.

• The Celtics very well could look into adding another big man, given that they have another roster spot available. Robb cited available free agent big men LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, Greg Monroe and Hassan Whiteside as possibilities.

Wizards

Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said that the competition for the starting small forward spot is wide open, as is the starting point guard job, added Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.

“I think this window of practices as we get into training camp, and then the window of practices when we get back from Japan, it will shake out. We have a lot of options,” Unseld said, via Hughes.

With Bradley Beal starting at shooting guard, and Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis starting as the team’s “bigs,” the likes of newcomer Will Barton, Corey Kispert and Rui Hachimura could all possibly fill the other frontcourt spot.

Meanwhile, Monte Morris and Delon Wright could battle for the starting guard spot next to Beal. The Wizards also have rookie Johnny Davis.

We have more from the Unseld and GM Tommy Sheppard press conference right here.

Nets

• With the additions of Royce O’Neale, T.J. Warren and Markieff Morris, and return of Joe Harris, the Nets could make a case as the deepest team in the East, wrote Joe Vardon of The Athletic. But given the unpredictability of stars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, and the injury history of so many key players, it’s hard to know how the Nets will fare, Vardon suggested.