Jordan Walsh’s new contract extension gives the Celtics control, but it doesn’t lock him into Boston for the long haul.
Walsh agreed to a three-year, $16 million extension last week, a deal that keeps him on a team-friendly salary through the end of the 2030 season. On paper, that’s a clean win for the Celtics. In reality, it may also be the kind of move that sets up a future decision.
Boston spent last season getting a close look at its young wing depth, and the picture that emerged was pretty crowded. Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez all had turns as Joe Mazzulla’s most dependable forward off the bench.
Walsh got the first real run at steady minutes, especially in November and December, and Boston went 15-5 with him in the starting lineup. He also put together a ridiculous three-game stretch in which he shot 18-19 from the field and brought the kind of defensive chaos that can change a game in a hurry.
But the role didn’t hold. As the season moved into the new year, Walsh’s grip loosened while Scheierman and Gonzalez had their own stretches of impact. That’s where the Celtics’ “good problem” comes in: they appear to have three rotation-level wings, and not nearly enough minutes for all three.
Keeping the trio together until one player clearly separates himself makes sense, and Walsh was the first to get paid because he’s the furthest along in NBA experience. Scheierman and Gonzalez are still on rookie deals, with Scheierman becoming extension eligible next summer and Gonzalez the year after. It’s too early to know what those deals would look like, but the expectation is that they’re coming.
Walsh, meanwhile, is only 22 and just finished his first full season with extended minutes. He played in 68 games for the Celtics and showed enough to make another jump feel possible in 2026-27. Even then, a long-term stay in Boston still isn’t guaranteed.
If either Scheierman or Gonzalez takes a real leap, Walsh could become the odd man out. That doesn’t mean Boston would rush to move him, but it does mean his contract could end up looking more attractive to other teams than the deals his fellow wings eventually sign.
His age helps, too. A team could absolutely convince itself that Walsh still has starter-level upside.
That case starts with his physical tools and his defensive potential, but it’s not just about projection. He’s also made progress on offense, and at his best he showed a strong feel for where to be without the ball. That combination is likely a big reason the Celtics chose to extend him in the first place.
For now, Walsh is part of the Celtics’ future. Whether that future stays in Boston is another question entirely.
If he does break out, then one of the other two young wings may be the one to watch on the trade market. It’s hard to imagine all three spending their entire first two NBA contracts with the Celtics.
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