Devin Carter’s name has started to circle around the Boston Celtics, and if he ends up there, the path ahead looks a lot like the one Ron Harper Jr. just walked.
That comparison makes sense because Carter’s stock is sitting in a rough spot right now. Sacramento moved him to Atlanta, Atlanta waived him, and that kind of turn leaves a player looking for a clean reset. Boston has made a habit of finding value in exactly that kind of situation.
Harper is the clearest recent example. Before landing with the Celtics, he was the definition of an NBA journeyman.
Boston brought him in on a training camp deal, liked what it saw, turned that into a two-way contract, then upgraded him again when he kept producing. This summer, they rewarded him with a long-term, team-friendly extension.
That climb happened because Harper earned it when Boston gave him a chance. The Celtics saw a fit in his game under Joe Mazzulla, and once he proved it on the floor, the rest followed.
Carter could be next in line for the same sort of setup. If Boston signs him, the expectation is that the team would want him on a two-way deal first, especially with the Celtics trying to stay under the NBA’s luxury tax line. The bet would be simple: Carter plays well enough to force a conversion to a standard contract, while Boston keeps the money right where it needs it.
He’s a former lottery pick with only two NBA seasons behind him, which makes him an intriguing gamble rather than a sure thing. Still, there’s enough talent there to justify a two-way look. Boston has turned that kind of move into a regular part of its roster-building.
Harper isn’t the only name that fits this mold, either. Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta have both followed versions of the same route with the Celtics.
Hauser came in as an undrafted free agent and got a chance partly because Danilo Gallinari’s ACL tear opened the door. He took it and never really looked back, going from undrafted to NBA Champion in three years.
Queta’s story has been just as striking. Another Sacramento castoff, he arrived in Boston with little fanfare, spent time with the “Stay Ready” group, and over three years worked his way all the way up to starting center. He, too, is an NBA Champion.
In Other News...
Celtics New Uniforms Hint At A Bigger Reset Before Camp
Boston has already started putting a fresh look on the court before the real work begins. The Celtics unveiled new uniforms for the 2026-27 season, a visual marker for a roster that is getting a significant makeover with offseason additions Paul George, Mike Conley, and Mitchell Robinson. With training camp set to open Sept. 28, the team is not just changing what it wears, but also the shape of its next chapter.
Joe Mazzulla now has to sort through the practical side of that reset, from starting lineups to individual roles, while the group tries to build chemistry fast enough to matter. New uniforms can signal style, but in Boston they also underscore how much is shifting at once, and how much of this teams identity still has to be sorted out once camp starts. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Could Put A Fan Favorite On The Table Again
The Celtics have another familiar name sitting in the middle of roster talk, as Sam Hauser is again being mentioned as a possible trade candidate because of the clubs luxury tax concerns. Hauser still has three years left on his deal, worth $35 million, and his shooting and spacing have made him a useful piece in Bostons rotation, not to mention a player head coach Joe Mazzulla has clearly valued.
Even so, moving him is not as simple as opening a salary slot and finding a clean replacement. The problem is that Boston may not be able to land a player of equal value back in a deal, which makes the idea feel more theoretical than imminent for now. For a team balancing talent, fit and finances, Hausers name is one to watch, even if the market does not seem likely to deliver an easy path forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Is Already Facing A Familiar Question In Philadelphia
Jaylen Brown is barely settled in Philadelphia and already the conversation has turned to the same sort of star-driven questions that tend to follow him wherever he goes. The 76ers brought in a player who can change the look of a roster in a hurry, but also one whose voice and presence can shape the room just as much as his production on the floor.
Philadelphia is now trying to sort out how multiple stars fit together, from roles to minutes to the general pecking order that comes with a big-market rebuild. Browns fit will matter as much as his performance, because if the arrangement starts to wobble, the same trade chatter that brought him there in the first place could surface again before long. [Read more 🡒]