Celtics take back qualifying offer to forward Sullinger

The Boston Celtics continue to make modifications to their frontcourt as they opted against retaining forward Jared Sullinger, making him a free agent, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Sullinger earned $2.3 million last season.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens echoed comments from GM Danny Ainge about UFA Jared Sullinger’s expected departure. “Obviously when we got Al, that made us make hard decisions”.

Boston has been in need of cap space after signing Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million contract. If they so desired, the Celtics could have afforded that type of money to keep Sullinger while maintaining enough future cap flexibility to chase a maximum-contract guy next summer. “We just feel this is the best thing for our team”.

Now slated to enter his fifth National Basketball Association campaign after spending his entire four-year tenure as a member of the Celtics, Sullinger will make his way to Toronto sporting career averages of 11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game across 258 total outings including 171 starts.

Considering the cost, and with players of Sullinger’s talent and resume getting more than twice as much on the open market last week, it’s a good signing, a smart signing.

Buoyed by last year’s success, Masai Ujiri again went bargain shopping during free agency and came away with talented big man Jared Sullinger on Monday.

If Sullinger’s time is done with the Boston Celtics, we wish him the best! And I know he’ll be fine.

Sullinger will still be hard-pressed to find a multi-year deal even now as an unrestricted free agent. “He’s a great person mostly off the court and on the court”. He’ll be fine wherever he goes. But it’s not necessarily the end, since it depends on the other moves they make.