The Celtics made their first move in free agency by agreeing to terms with Mike Conley, and the signing does a little more than add a veteran guard. It also quietly trims down Boston’s list of backcourt options.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Conley is headed to Boston on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. The move puts the 20-season milestone within reach for the longtime guard, who will become only the 14th player in NBA history to get there.
Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Conley becomes only the 14th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons. pic.twitter.com/RjZT8jhTzm
- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Conley arrives after a down year in Minnesota, where he averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes over 54 games. That was a noticeable drop from the season before, when he played in 71 games and averaged 24.7 minutes.
Even with that decline, the fit makes sense for Boston in a specific role. Conley is best viewed as a third-layer guard now, not someone the Celtics need to lean on every night. He brings a respected voice in the locker room, a steady hand for younger players, and the kind of in-game know-how teams value when the pressure rises.
But the signing also points in another direction: it may take an Anfernee Simons reunion off the board. Collin Sexton is no longer an option either, after agreeing to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Free agent Collin Sexton has agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/S2MBPxTSH4
- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Boston’s next steps still hinge on what happens with Payton Pritchard and the rest of the backcourt picture. If Pritchard stays in a sixth-man role, then the Celtics have built out a strong layer of guard depth behind him. That setup would also keep the door open for Simons, especially since Boston could use another primary ball-handler after the postseason exposed that gap following the February trade that sent Simons away.
If the Celtics wind up with a new starter in the backcourt because of a Jaylen Brown trade, or if Brown simply stays in Boston, that could change the equation and stop the team’s pursuit of Simons altogether.
The real concern comes if Pritchard opens next season in the starting lineup. In that case, Boston would be asking a lot from a player who will turn 39 in October. Conley helps, but he doesn’t change that central issue by himself.
That’s why Simons still matters if Pritchard is moved up. During his time in Boston, Simons drew strong reviews across the organization.
He defended with commitment, adjusted to a bench role, and posted 14.2 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 49 games. He also shot 39.5 percent on 6.7 three-point attempts per game.
Conley is a smart addition. But if Pritchard is moving into the starting five, Boston still looks like a team that needs Simons back.
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