Report: Celtics bringing Ryan Arcidiacono to training camp

Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics have added free-agent guard Ryan Arcidiacono to their training camp roster. Arcidiacono fills the team’s final spot as they head into preseason workouts; the 19th spot was filled yesterday when the team agreed to terms with former Net Theo Pinson.

The “Arch of Dimes” — got me; talk to Wikipedia — spent his first four seasons in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, where he maintained a career average of 4.8 points per game in 17.6 minutes per contest. His best overall season came as a sophomore in 2018-19, when he started 32 of 81 games for the Bulls, averaging 6.7 points in 24.2 minutes a night. Arcidiacono appeared in just 44 games last season and struggled to work his way into a regular Bulls rotation that was heavy on guards as is.

He reportedly worked out with the Golden State Warriors earlier this week before agreeing to a deal with the Celtics.

Despite scant playing time in the big leagues, Arcidiacono had carved out a roster spot with the Bulls prior to his deal expiring at the end of this season. He spent limited time in the G League with the Austin Spurs (2016-17) and the Windy City Bulls (2017-18), appearing in 84 games over the course of those two seasons and averaging 9.8 points per game.

A former Villanova Wildcat under head coach Jay Wright, Arcidiacono was a key cog in the 2015-16 championship team, the one that culminated its run by winning the NCAA tournament on a buzzer-beating triple from forward Kris Jenkins. Arcidiacono assisted Jenkins on that shot and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. His role with the Wildcats was largely that of a pure guard and leader, and though that has yet to translate to the NBA, perhaps camp with the Celtics can change that.

More likely is that Arcidiacono finds himself returning to the G League, this time suiting up for the Maine Red Claws. And no, not just because he grew up a Sixers fan.