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Getty Noah Vonleh, now of the Boston Celtics.
After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Boston Celtics haven’t slowed down this summer. Brad Stevens got on the phone right away, signed forward Danillo Gallinari and made a massive trade for combination shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon.
And while the idea of a potential Kevin Durant trade is important, they’ve still prioritized improving the roster around their core players. In addition to Gallinari and Brogdon, they also signed Summer League standouts Mfiondu Kabengele and JD Davison to two-way deals.
However, they are not finished yet. Since they traded five players for Brogdon, they have a few open spots left on the roster. After signing new contracts with Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet, Boston had at least two spots to fill, and according to a recent report, they just filled one.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that they signed forward Noah Vonleh to a one-year deal that will allow him to compete for a roster spot in training camp.
“Free agent F Noah Vonleh has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, a source tells ESPN. Vonleh will go to training camp hoping to make the roster,” Wojnarowski tweeted on August 1.
Free agent F Noah Vonleh has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, a source told ESPN. Vonleh will go to training camp hoping to make the roster.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2022
Vonleh has moved throughout his NBA career and will be heading to Boston in hopes of finding a home.
Vonleh career statistics
The 6’10 forward/centre came into the league with high hopes. He was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. However, he only spent a year in Charlotte before he began his career as an officer.
In seven NBA seasons from 2014 to 2021, Vonleh made appearances for seven different franchises. After being traded by the Hornets after his rookie season, he spent three years with the Portland Trail Blazers. While he played in 185 games with Portland, he never played in more than 68 with any other team he dressed for.
I’m really enjoying the Noah Vonleh experience this season. It’s taken a long time to get here, but Vonleh is beginning to look like the two-way all-around big man many expected him to be as the third-youngest player in the 2014 NBA Draft class. pic.twitter.com/u9t0gtJ19Z
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 25, 2018
For a top 10 pick, Vonleh’s career stats leave something to be desired. In his 339 NBA games, he has averaged 4.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists on 45.9% shooting from the field and 30.8% shooting from behind the three-point line. (with 0.9 3-point attempts per game).
That said, Vonleh is a local talent, having been born in Salem, Massachusetts and raised in Haverhill. He attended high school in New Hampshire, and when he was working out before the draft, there was a serious rumor that he might end up in Boston.
Vonleh connected to the Celtics before the draft
Before the draft, Vonleh had the opportunity to work out with the Celtics. He said that he was excited to have that opportunity with his hometown team.
“All the workouts were pretty good, but this one had a little more meaning because it’s my hometown… Not everyone gets a chance to work out for their hometown team. This is a great opportunity,” Vonleh said, as noted in an article by Chris Forsberg.
Boston had the sixth pick in the draft that year and took Marcus Smart, which ended up being the right choice.
But now, seven years later, Vonleh gets another chance to play for the team he grew up watching.
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