The Celtics on Friday agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with center Greg Monroe, a league source confirmed.
Monroe, 27, reached a buyout agreement with the Suns this week and is expected to officially sign with the Celtics when he clears waivers Saturday. The 6-foot-11-inch, 265-pound center averaged 11.3 points and 8 rebounds over 20 games with Phoenix this season. He was acquired by the Suns in November as part of the trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to Milwaukee.
The Celtics will sign Monroe using the $8.4 million disabled player exception they were granted after Gordon Hayward suffered an ankle injury Oct. 17. Even though the Celtics will not use the entire exception on the Monroe deal, the rest of it will now expire. Hayward’s playing status this year will not affect the deal.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens was not authorized to comment on Monroe’s agreement because the deal had not been finalized, but players are not bound by such rules, and forward Marcus Morris was excited about the addition.
“I think that’s a great pickup for us,’’ Morris said. “Veteran player. Knows how to play the game. He’s been around the league a while, so I think he’ll add to our size down low, scoring ability. I think it’s a great pickup.’’
Morris said that Monroe’s large frame will be an asset.
“He’s a big body,’’ Morris said. “Even if he’s not scoring, he’s carving space for other guys to be able to drive. He’s well-respected around the league, so that goes a long way.’’
Monroe averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds over eight seasons and is a skilled offensive player. Centers Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis are better defensively, but Monroe is the best passer and scorer of the three.
Stevens could eventually turn to Monroe to start alongside the All-Star power forward Al Horford, but it is unlikely that would happen immediately.
The Pelicans, who lost big man DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending Achilles’ injury last month, were viewed as a likely landing spot for Monroe. The Pelicans could offer the most playing time and New Orleans is his hometown. But the Celtics could offer more money thanks to the disabled player exception, and, most likely, a better opportunity to chase an NBA title.
So long, Utah
The Celtics will not take part in this year’s Utah Jazz summer league, according to a league source. The four-team league was revived in 2015 after a seven-year break, and the Celtics had participated in the round-robin-style event the last three summers.
Each year, the Celtics played in Utah before departing for the lengthier and bigger Las Vegas summer league. But the source said that the team found the nearly three-week stretch to be a bit too long for players and coaches.
Boston will still take part in the Las Vegas summer league, which this summer will feature all 30 NBA teams for the first time.
The Celtics’ summer roster had an almost overwhelming number of rookie draft picks in recent years. They had four in 2015, four in 2016, and six last year. This summer, though, the number could be more manageable.
Boston is currently slated to have its own first-round pick. If the Lakers’ first-round pick falls between 2-5, the Celtics will receive it — but Los Angeles entered Friday’s games with the NBA’s ninth-worst record.
Also, if the Celtics’ second-round pick falls between 56-60 —a possibility that seems quite likely — the Oklahoma City Thunder will receive it.
Walking wounded
Morris missed Friday’s 119-110 victory over the Hawks because of a hip injury he sustained when he took a hard fall Wednesday after a dunk in the third quarter of Boston’s win over the Knicks.
Also, guard Kyrie Irving missed his second consecutive game with a quad contusion, guard Shane Larkin missed his third consecutive game with a sore knee, and Marcus Smart missed his fourth game in a row because of a lacerated hand.
Stevens said Irving and Morris are questionable to play against the Blazers on Sunday. Smart, meanwhile, will likely be sidelined for about two more weeks to allow his hand to heal. The guard was injured when he struck a picture frame in his hotel room Jan. 24.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach @globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.
