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Celtics Sign Former UMass Standout Tony Gaffney and D-Leaguer Oliver Lafayette

First reported by ABC40 in Springfield

From Chris Forsberg:

A 6-foot-8 forward, Gaffney went undrafted out of UMass, but played for the Los Angeles Lakers' summer league team last year and earned an invite to training camp, where he was a final cut. Gaffney latched on with Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon in Israel before suffering a broken foot that forced him to return stateside to rehab.

Gaffney, a Somerset native, spent his freshman season at Boston University before transferring to UMass, where he earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Can't see this meaning a whole lot, obviously. Tony Gaffney may get some garbage minutes to end the season, but can't see him playing at all in the playoffs. Might make for a good body during practices.

There are also reports that the Celtics will sign guard Oliver Lafayette from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League. Lafayette averaged 17 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.83 steals per game in 42 games this season. He is 6-2 190lbs and played college ball at Houston.

Ridiculous Upside has more on the signings- worth a quick read. They also report that both players were offered non-guaranteed contracts for next season. 

They quote Mad Ants President Jeff Potter's blog post on Lafayette's improved play towards the end of the season:

Oliver Lafayette is not a name that jumps out at people, but he has been unbelievable the past few weeks and is a real stat stuffer. Here are his numbers for the month of March: 22 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 5 rpg.

During our last seven games, where we have won six of those games, Oliver has been at his best. During that stretch, he is averaging 24.15 ppg, 8.58 apg, and 5 rpg. And, impressively, he has been doing that against excellent competition in Keith Mcleod, Cedric Jackson, Jackie Manuel (one of the best defenders in the league) and Russell Robinson.

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