Celtics free agents rave about Boston experience: “Anyone would love to be here”

The Celtics are amid an offseason of uncertainty; with injured franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of next season, ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that the team is expected to “retool” this summer.

Nearly everyone on the roster — from Derrick White to Kristaps Porzingis to Jaylen Brown — has seen their name in trade rumors.

In addition, the Celtics have several free agents this offseason; Luke Kornet, Al Horford, and Torrey Craig are all unrestricted, two-way player Drew Peterson is restricted, and JD Davison has a team option.

Craig and Peterson, both appearing on CLNS Media’s Garden Report this week, said that they’d love to be back in Boston if the opportunity were there.

“Boston, in general, is just an amazing experience,” Craig said. “I think it starts with the people and the fans here. From my first day here, I felt welcome with open arms, just going to different events, autograph signings, and seeing the love and the amount of support that these fans bring to the Celtics. It’s literally diehard Boston, ‘bleed green’ fans, so just to experience that was amazing.”

Craig, who signed with the Celtics in February after being waived by the Chicago Bulls, said he wasn’t surprised by his positive experience in Boston.

“Anyone from afar, looking from the outside in, knows what kind of organization this is and what it stands for and what it means, and you can see that far away,” Craig said.

Craig appeared in 17 games with the Celtics, averaging 2.7 points in 11.8 minutes per game. He shared that he regrets he was not more assertive in those minutes.

“I still don’t feel like I really got that chance to make my presence felt the way I wanted it to,” he said.

Drew Peterson has similarly loved the last year and a half with the Celtics

Peterson, who has been on a two-way contract with the Celtics for the past two season, doesn’t yet know what his offseason holds, and whether he will play in NBA Summer League next month in Las Vegas.

Peterson shuttled back and forth between Maine and Boston this past season, appearing in 25 games with the parent club and 15 games with Maine. He averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6 assists in the G-League, and played 7.4 minutes per game when called up to Boston.

“I love it here,” Peterson said. “It’s been a great couple of years, and I hope to be here for a long time.”

For now, both Peterson and Craig are at the Auerbach Center working out and staying active. The Celtics must give Peterson a qualifying offer by June 29th or he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

Peterson hopes it’ll all work out, but he understands that there are larger factors at play.

“The organization — top to bottom — is incredible,” he said. “So, it’s been great, I’m happy to be back here, working out with the guys and stuff like that. I do love it here.”

Craig said he’ll meet with his agent this summer and figure out the best course of action for his career. Free agency officially begins on July 6th.

But if the opportunity is there with the Celtics, it will be difficult to deny.

“It’s hard to say you wouldn’t stay in Boston with the city and the fans and the team, and the history of everything that comes with Boston,” Craig said. “I think anyone would love to be here in Boston.”