Devin Carter is getting closer to a return, and the Celtics may not rush the process.
Before Boston faced the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Joe Mazzulla said the former lottery pick is in the reconditioning phase after missing every game since the Celtics’ exhibition opener because of mononucleosis. Carter is back with the team now, and the focus has shifted to conditioning and rebuilding stamina. Mazzulla said at his pregame media availability on Wednesday that the team plans to re-evaluate him shortly.
Boston also made a roster move Wednesday afternoon that may hint at what comes next. The Celtics assigned Chris Cenac Jr. and transferred Carter, Dillon Mitchell, and Amari Williams to their G League affiliate for practice at the Auerbach Center.
Cenac Jr. and Mitchell returned to the parent club after the session, while there was no announcement about Carter rejoining Boston. That could mean he’s headed for Maine’s season opener against the Westchester Knicks on Friday night at the Portland Expo Building.
That route would make sense. Carter doesn’t need to be thrown straight into the NBA mix before he’s ready. A stint in the G League would give him time to get his legs under him, sharpen his game, and settle back into rhythm.
And once he’s ready, he could become a useful piece for Boston’s backcourt. Two-way players can be active for as many as 50 NBA games, which gives the Celtics flexibility if they want to eventually turn his deal into a standard contract without pushing past the luxury tax.
There’s also a clean basketball fit here. Carter’s arrival would give Boston more guard depth and could make it easier to keep Payton Pritchard in his sixth-man role.
Right now, the Celtics would benefit from another primary ball handler in the starting group. Pritchard and Jayson Tatum already work well together, and Carter’s presence would let Derrick White spend more time off the ball, where he can do more damage as a catch-and-shoot threat.
White has handled the playmaking load well to start the season, but he’s still best suited to operate away from the ball.
Carter’s game brings the kind of energy Boston can use. He creates turnovers, helps generate second-chance chances, and plays with real athletic pop.
He pressures opposing ball handlers and stays active even when he’s not directly on the matchup. If the Celtics’ player development work helps him become more dependable from deep, they may have a rotation-caliber guard on their hands for a long time.
For now, the next step is simply getting him back on the floor. If that happens in Maine, Carter could join Neemias Queta as another former King who found a home in Boston.
In Other News...
Celtics Suddenly Have A Payton Pritchard Problem Before Key Road Trip
The Celtics left Milwaukee with a win, but they may have picked up a fresh concern in the process. Payton Pritchard was already working through a right-shoulder contusion, and his night took another turn when he exited in the second half with a right-eye abrasion. Boston still managed to close out the Bucks without Jayson Tatum, who was resting, leaning on Paul George and Derrick White to get the job done.
Now the bigger question is what Pritchards status looks like heading into a four-game road trip. He has become a useful part of Bostons rotation, and any uncertainty around his availability matters more when the schedule is about to get busier and the margin for error gets thinner. The Celtics got the result they wanted against Milwaukee, but they may have to wait a little longer to find out how much this latest issue lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Sent An Early Message About Their First Round Pick
The Celtics are taking a development-first approach with Chris Cenac Jr., sending the recent first-round pick to the Maine Celtics so he can get more run and more reps than Boston can currently provide. Cenac has been in the mix for only three of the teams first eight games, and with other players ahead of him in the rotation, the organization is choosing the route that should give him a steadier path to growth.
For a rookie still trying to carve out his place, the assignment is less a setback than a reminder of how crowded the Celtics roster can be early in a season. Maine gives Boston a chance to keep Cenac active and learning in real game situations, and his next step is set to come with the G League club as it prepares for a matchup with the Westchester Knicks. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Nearly Let Bucks Ruin A Big Lead Before Late Response
The Celtics spent a night in Milwaukee looking like they might cruise, then suddenly like they were in a fight. Boston carried a 21-point halftime lead into the third quarter, only to watch the Bucks turn the game into something much tighter with a big scoring burst and a renewed edge on both ends before the Celtics steadied themselves late and escaped with a 109-102 win.
Joe Mazzulla had plenty to sort through afterward, and Derrick White and Paul George both offered detailed explanations of how the Celtics adjusted defensively and found enough offense when the game tightened. For Boston, the final score will matter most, but the way that lead nearly vanished is the part worth unpacking as the team keeps working through the little lapses that can turn a comfortable night into a stressful one. [Read more 🡒]