Devin Carter needed only one preseason game to make Boston’s decision feel obvious.
The Celtics officially converted Carter’s deal on Saturday and cleared out the rest of the competition for the final two-way opening, waiving Milos Uzan, Gabe McGlothan, Tucker DeVries, and Hayden Gray. Uzan looked like the front-runner before Carter entered the picture, so he may be the biggest loser in the shuffle. If those four players pass through waivers and no other team claims them, they should wind up with the Maine Celtics.
Boston is still leaving its final roster spot open, which keeps the door cracked for later movement. Carter, or another two-way player, could eventually have a contract turned into a standard deal during the season in a prorated move that would help keep the Celtics below the luxury tax. If that happens, Boston would free up another two-way slot that could go to Uzan or someone else.
For now, though, Carter is the headline. The Celtics landed a 2024 lottery pick who has already shown flashes in the NBA and won’t count against the salary cap. That is a pretty good piece of business for a team looking to squeeze value out of every roster spot.
Carter’s track record still comes with some caution flags. Sacramento and Atlanta moved on quickly, and his shooting has been the biggest issue.
But the talent has never been in doubt. He comes from an NBA family, with a father who spent years in the league, and he was Big East Player of the Year not long ago.
He can play.
He also looks tailor-made for Boston. Carter brings pressure on defense, attacks the rim with force, and plays with a level of aggression that stands out for a guard his size.
He rebounds well, too, and he fits the mold of a player who can stir things up on both ends. In his first preseason game, he came off the bench and posted 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 24 minutes.
He was a team-high +22 in that game, a Celtics win over a nearly full-strength Cavaliers squad while Boston was missing most of its own rotation. Carter looked like he belonged right away, and that performance made it easier to understand why the Celtics moved so quickly to lock him in.
The only real setback has been mononucleosis, which knocked him out of Boston’s final three preseason games. He could miss a few more weeks, but the illness is not expected to change his long-term outlook. The timing wasn’t ideal, but the Celtics had already seen enough.
On paper, this has the feel of a strong fit. If Carter keeps trending the right way, Boston could end up with another young, inexpensive two-way piece developing at the end of Joe Mazzulla’s bench for years.
In Other News...
Jayson Tatum Knows What Celtics Must Chase Again This Season
Jayson Tatum still sounds like someone carrying the memory of last spring with him into this season. After helping the Celtics win the 2024 title, he looked back on the parade in Boston as the high point of his career, a reminder of how rare and satisfying that run felt for everyone involved. Even without the Finals MVP trophy, Tatum was at the center of it all, producing strong numbers in the series and cementing his place as the franchises face.
Now the challenge is less about reliving that moment than getting back to a place where another one is possible. Boston enters the new season with plenty of uncertainty after trades and a deeper field of contenders, while Tatum also comes in after recovering from an Achilles injury. He has said he is optimistic about returning to a normal NBA season, and for the Celtics, that is where the focus has to start before they can think about another downtown celebration. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Problem Luka Garza Cant Ignore
The Celtics have had one of the more encouraging preseason looks in the frontcourt, and a big reason for that has been rookie Chris Cenac Jr. He has played with a confidence that has stood out, showing the kind of skill package Boston likes to see from a young big, with his handle, rim touch and defensive instincts making him look more polished than a typical first-year player.
That matters for Luka Garza and Amari Williams, because the minutes picture can change quickly when a rookie starts looking this comfortable. Garza is already on an expiring deal, and Williams could find himself sliding further down the depth chart if Cenac keeps making this kind of progress, which turns what looked like a straightforward rotation battle into an early frontcourt squeeze. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Defense Is Showing A New Edge Fans Will Notice
The Celtics have spent the preseason showing a sharper defensive edge, one that has stood out even before the real games begin. Boston has looked more connected and disruptive on that end, with ball pressure and team coordination giving the group a noticeably different feel, even if the competition so far has not been top-tier.
There is still plenty to prove once the schedule toughens, but the early signs are hard to ignore for a team that wants its defense to travel when it matters most. The leagues preseason has also brought an unsettling reminder of how quickly things can change, with season-ending Achilles injuries to Otega Oweh and Ariel Hukporti adding to a worrying trend around the NBA. [Read more 🡒]