Boston Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger. (Photo : Getty Images)
Jared Sullinger is rumored to be unlikely to return to the Boston Celtics next season as the team is allegedly hesitant to match any impending offers that the fifth-year power forward might receive during this summer's free-agency.
The 24-year-old former Ohio State standout was recently handed a qualifying offer worth $3.3 million by the Celtics which formally made him a restricted free agent this offseason, as per CBS Sports. Interested teams can now submit to him their offers, which Boston has three days to match if they would like to keep Sullinger to their side.
However, ESPN indicated that with Boston's impending signing of All-Star center Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million deal, "it would seem the flexibility-craving Celtics would be hesitant to match any offer sheet that Sullinger receives this summer", which will make him leave the only franchise he has ever played so far in his four-year career.
The moratorium for sending offers to restricted free agents was lifted on July 7 and so far there are still no reported proposals for the 6-foot-9, 260-pound big man.
Sullinger was said to be enthusiastic about the possibility of playing for another squad next season as he posted in his social media account a message saying "Change is coming" with a smiley emoticon a few minutes past midnight on Thursday.
The Celtics' 21st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft averaged 10.3 points, 0.6 shot blocks, and career-highs 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.6 minutes per game last season and was Boston's number one rebounder despite being an undersized four.
His playing time was slightly lowered compared to his recent seasons because of a deep front court and also after head coach Brad Stevens switched to a more small-ball type of system.
Rumors have emerged that those are the same reasons why Stevens and team president Danny Ainge are hesitating to "commit long-term money" on Sullinger as he was never known to be a consistent outside shooter, only shooting 27.6 percent from beyond the arch throughout his career and 43.9 percent from the field.
His major strengths have always been rebounding and defense. Team officials are perhaps expecting that the arrival of Horford will help cover those grounds and so they may think that he is already dispensable.
