Devin Carter is not being asked to arrive in Boston and become Alex Caruso overnight. That would be a bad way to set up any young guard, even one with real defensive upside. But the Celtics may have found a player whose path can rhyme with Caruso’s in the most important way: starting from the bottom and earning everything.
Caruso’s rise was anything but instant. He went undrafted in 2016, was cut by Oklahoma City before the 2016-17 season, and didn’t land with the Los Angeles Lakers until 2017. Even then, his first two years barely moved the needle beyond a look that reminded fans of Elmer Fudd in "Space Jam."
The breakthrough came in his third season, when Caruso became an undeniable part of the Lakers’ run to their 17th title in 2020. After that, the rest followed. And yes, letting him walk the next year turned out to be a major mistake for Los Angeles.
That’s the model Carter can chase, even if the details aren’t identical. The comparison isn’t about pretending Carter is already Caruso. It’s about recognizing that Caruso took time to become the player everyone now knows: a two-time NBA Champion and a two-time NBA All-Defense recipient.
Carter, a former lottery pick, is trying to carve out his place in Boston with plenty to prove. He also seems to want it that way. When he had the chance to be traded elsewhere, he believed the Celtics would put him in the best position to succeed.
Boston’s interest in Carter showed up quickly after Atlanta waived him, which says plenty about how the Celtics view him too. They see a buy-low opportunity, and the fit appears to matter as much as the pedigree.
The offensive questions are there, and they’re not small. But Caruso has lived with similar doubts. He has never been a true knockdown three-point shooter, yet that never stopped Oklahoma City from playing him or paying him because his value goes beyond the shot chart.
Carter is on a training camp deal now, but the path is there. If he holds his own in camp and the preseason, he has a strong chance to claim Boston’s final two-way roster spot. From there, the minutes could come in stages, and that could eventually open the door to a full-time deal.
In Other News...
Celtics Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Decision Fans Will Want To Watch
Mitchell Robinsons arrival gives Boston a new wrinkle in the frontcourt after the Celtics added the former Knicks big man fresh off a championship season in New York. For a team that has spent plenty of time sorting out how its centers fit together, the move creates another layer to a rotation already built around size, rim protection and matchup-specific choices.
Neemias Queta seemed to welcome the competition, saying he was positive about Robinson joining the team and leaving the rotation call to Joe Mazzulla. Queta also made the case that he and Robinson bring different strengths, which could matter depending on the opponent and the game plan, and that is exactly why this is worth watching once the season starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics May Have Found The Perfect Veteran For Payton Pritchard
Mike Conleys arrival in Boston looks less like a splashy roster move and more like a targeted effort to steady the Celtics guard room. The veteran point guard signed a one-year contract and has already begun working closely with Payton Pritchard, offering the kind of day-to-day guidance that can matter just as much as minutes in the rotation. With Jaylen Brown traded, the Celtics have every reason to make sure their backcourt keeps developing in the right direction.
Conley has been clear that he may not have a major on-court role, but he can still help in ways that show up over the course of a season. For a team leaning on Pritchard to grow into a bigger piece, that makes Conley a useful addition beyond the box score. His early impression is that of a pro who understands the assignment, and Boston will be hoping the mentorship pays off in the place it matters most, on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Begin Explaining Their Post Jaylen Brown Overhaul
The Celtics spent the start of their offseason makeover laying out the logic behind a roster that looks a lot different after the trade sending Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia brought Paul George and multiple draft picks back to Boston. At a press conference introducing George and Mike Conley Jr., the team also noted Mitchell Robinson was absent because of a personal matter, underscoring just how much change has already swept through a group that has also added Robinson and Conley in free agency.
Beyond the headline moves, Boston has continued to work on the edges of the roster, locking in contract extensions for Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta. The bigger story, though, is how the Celtics intend to sell this new era after moving one of the franchises defining players, and the first public step came with George and Conley front and center while the rest of the plan remains in motion. [Read more 🡒]