Celtics Beat “Gap Year” Expectations; Nets Eye Lottery Position; Magic Sign Alex Morales
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Celtics
Boston guard Jaylen Brown said the club has surpassed external projections after many analysts labeled 2023-24 a transitional season. “Everybody was calling it a gap year,” Brown told CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell. “How do you go from a gap year to top five in the East?”
The Celtics return from the All-Star break holding the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed and one of the NBA’s five best records, despite offseason and in-season moves aimed at trimming payroll.
Nets
Brooklyn remains positioned to focus on lottery odds, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. The Nets sat one game from the No. 2 lottery slot at the break and feature less proven talent than several fellow lottery contenders.
Rookie guard Egor Demin has connected on at least one three-pointer in 34 straight games, the longest streak by a first-year player in league history. Fellow rookie Nolan Traore is averaging 13.1 points and 5.6 assists since Jan. 23.
Magic
Orlando has signed guard Alex Morales to a two-way contract and waived center Orlando Robinson. Morales, 28, earns his first NBA two-way deal after averaging 16.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Magic’s G League affiliate this season. Robinson appeared in four NBA games for Orlando in 2023-24.
Morales’ contract covers the remainder of this year and next season, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
Source: Hoops Wire
