Zeller finds happy place in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — Tyler Zeller is on his fourth team in a six-year career. The Bucks are his third team since this time last season.

He’d like to think he’s finally found a place to settle in, but his $1,933,941 for next season is non-guaranteed, so the lanky 7-footer is prepared for another summer of uncertainty.

After three seasons with the Celtics, he was among the casualties as the club was clearing salary cap space and most of its roster last year. He finally signed a one-and-one (one year guaranteed, one not) with the Nets in September, but by February, he was on the move again, traded here as the Bucks sought inside help.

And here he’d like to stay.

“I hope so,” Zeller said before taking on the Celtics in Game 3 last night. “I’ve only been here two months, so it hasn’t been a long time, but I think I’ve been able to fit what they want.

“But the offseasons are obviously always interesting. A lot of things can happen, so we’ll see.”

Zeller did all he was asked for the Celts and earned the respect of his teammates and Brad Stevens.

“He was a great teammate. He did a great job. He worked hard no matter the case,” Stevens said. “If he played a lot the day before or if he played just a little, he was in the gym the next day. He was always reliable. You could always call on him.

“And it was hard, because he went from starting in the playoffs to not playing as much. But he always maintained that professionalism.

“We brought him back in that year after his restricted free agent year, and a big reason why was that he was in the gym every day and you knew he was going to work hard to be the best that he could be. I really enjoyed having him with us.”

Zeller eventually became the regular man in the middle for the C’s in 201415, starting 59 games in the regular season and all four in the first-round sweep by Cleveland, from whence he’d come in a three-team trade the previous July.

He shot well and played good positional defense in the Celtic scheme, but Amir Johnson cut into his playing time the next year, and once Al Horford was signed in the summer of 2016, the big-man minutes became even tighter.

Zeller liked the Celts, and the Celts liked Zeller, but he was a casualty of the other moves that needed to be made.

“I think that’s just part of the NBA,” he said. “It’s tough. I mean, Isaiah (Thomas) thought he had a home, too, in Boston last year. All of a sudden it can change. You’ve just got to find a place you can call home and compete and fit.”

But Zeller certainly appreciates Stevens’ praise.

“I think that’s part of being a professional,” he said. “You’ve got to be ready at all times. In the NBA, you’re going to have times when you play a lot and times when you struggle to play, and you’ve just got to be ready when the opportunity comes.”

He’d like that opportunity to be with the Bucks. He believes he fits here.

“I think so,” Zeller said. “Obviously we’re in the playoffs. We’re competing. It’s a very talented team. It’s a fun team to be a part of, so hopefully I can help them and continue to be a part of it.”