Danilo Gallinari finally breaks the silence on Why he decided not to join Celtics on buyout market…

Danilo Gallinari recently shed light on his decision not to join the Boston Celtics during the buyout market. Despite being considered an ideal candidate after being waived by the Detroit Pistons following a trade from the Washington Wizards, Gallinari’s return to the Celtics didn’t materialize.

Although reports indicated that the Celtics had shown interest in the 6-foot-10 sharpshooter, Gallinari explained to CLNS Media that Boston wasn’t an option among the several teams pursuing him due to rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Gallinari mentioned evaluating six or seven teams and ultimately choosing to join the Milwaukee Bucks. Reflecting on the unusual circumstances of changing teams three times in a single season, Gallinari expressed contentment with his current situation in Milwaukee.

Regarding the specific CBA rule he referenced, it remains unclear. Despite speculation, Gallinari’s initial salary when traded from the Wizards didn’t surpass the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, suggesting he could have been eligible to rejoin the Celtics.

Despite the missed opportunity with the Celtics, Gallinari acknowledged the appeal of playing under Doc Rivers, his former coach during his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, and joining a team with championship aspirations.

“It’s been great,” Gallinari said. “I played already with some of the guys and I played against a lot of guys for many years. It’s a very nice group of guys. Of course, everybody knows what we are playing for. That’s very important to me.”

Since joining the Bucks, Gallinari has seen limited playing time, averaging 8.5 minutes in 11 games and contributing 2.2 points per game. Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with the camaraderie among his teammates and emphasized the team’s shared goal of contending for an NBA title.

While focused on his current team, Gallinari acknowledged keeping an eye on the Celtics, recognizing them as formidable competition in the Eastern Conference and anticipating potential matchups against them.