The Celtics may have found a small move that opens a much bigger door.
Boston has reportedly signed former lottery pick Devin Carter to a training camp deal, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. On its own, it’s the kind of low-risk swing teams make all the time: Carter gets a shot to prove he belongs, while the Celtics add another body to a backcourt that could use the help. He’s also coming off two seasons as a 27.4% shooter from deep, so the shot is clearly part of the story for him, too.
But the ripple effect matters more here. If Carter earns a spot, Boston may finally have enough guard depth to consider moving Payton Pritchard into the starting five.
That would make plenty of sense after the Jaylen Brown trade. The Celtics are going to need as much shot creation as they can get in the opening lineup, because Jayson Tatum is now set to be the clear focal point of the offense for the first time.
Paul George can help, but at this stage he projects more as a connector than a primary engine, and the source material notes he’s practically guaranteed to miss at least 30 games. Derrick White also needs to stay in a supporting scoring role; the Celtics already saw last season what happened when he had to carry more.
Pritchard, meanwhile, has already shown he can handle a bigger offensive load. In 50 games as a starter last season with Tatum out, he averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 45.6/34.8/86.7%, according to StatMuse.com. He’s always been comfortable with the ball in his hands, and the Celtics know he can give them real production in that role.
The catch is obvious. Moving Pritchard into the starting lineup would thin out a bench that was already a major weakness, and it would leave Conley as the only backup point guard. So this isn’t a clean fix for Boston’s roster issues.
Still, Carter’s arrival at least gives the Celtics a path to try it. It doesn’t solve everything, but it could create the flexibility Boston needs to put Pritchard where he may help most.
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The Celtics have added another guard to the mix for training camp, signing Devin Carter to a deal that gives Boston a closer look at a former lottery pick with NBA experience already on his rsum. Carter was taken No. 13 in the 2024 NBA Draft and has spent time with the Sacramento Kings before being waived by the Atlanta Hawks, leaving him in a familiar spot for this time of year: trying to turn a camp opportunity into something more permanent.
For Boston, the move adds a player who will be fighting for either an NBA roster spot or a two-way opening, which is exactly the kind of low-risk competition teams like to create in September. The Celtics have room to evaluate another backcourt option, and Carter now gets a real chance to make his case when camp opens and the roster battles begin. [Read more 🡒]
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Queta isnt trying to force the issue, instead leaving the call to Joe Mazzulla as the staff weighs fit, familiarity and the practical trade-offs that come with each option. Robinsons free throw shooting is part of the discussion, while Quetas existing comfort in the system gives him a different kind of edge, which is why this battle could linger well beyond the first few days of camp. [Read more 🡒]