Jared Sullinger Inks One-Year, $6 Million Deal With Toronto

Free agent forward Jared Sullinger has come to terms with the Toronto Raptors on a one-year pact reportedly worth $6 million.

The Boston Celtics renounced their qualifiying offer for Sullinger, thereby making him an unrestricted free agent.

The C’s selected Sullinger with the 21st pick in the 2012 draft; the big fella averaged 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds over his four seasons in Beantown.

Per the Boston Globe:

“Jared’s a good kid and I’m grateful for what he gave us and I wish him well,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said by telephone Sunday. “I hope he gets a good opportunity. We just feel this is the best thing for our team.”

 

When the Celtics guaranteed Amir Johnson’s $12 million contract and Jonas Jerebko’s $5 million deal last week, they needed to free up salary cap space to sign Al Horford to his four-year, $113 million deal that will pay him $26.5 million next season.

 

Coach Brad Stevens said that when the Celtics signed Horford, it forced them to make difficult decisions such as this one. […] “The thing that stinks about that is having to move on and move forward, both for him and us,” Stevens said. “But he’ll do great. Jared’s one of the more talented guys being able to get the ball off the glass, and he’s got beautiful touch and he’s a good guy, and so I think he’ll do well. I’m hopeful this move will benefit him as well, and I think it will. We’ll see where he lands, but I know there’s a lot of interest in him based on how my phone’s been ringing.”

Keep up with the latest signings during the July free-agency period by following our 2016 NBA Free Agent Tracker.