John Tonje didn’t just survive NBA Summer League - he made Boston think twice.
The former Badger put together a strong two-week run that forced the Celtics into a real roster conversation, and by the end of it, the question wasn’t whether Tonje had helped himself. It was where he fits. Boston has only one open spot on its 15-man roster, plus two two-way openings, and Tonje has played his way into the mix.
That’s the read from Celtics analyst Sam LaFrance of Hardwood Houdini, who believes Tonje has done enough to stay in the picture. LaFrance said Tonje "should be back next season."
He also pointed to the crowded battle for Boston’s remaining spots: "Discussions of who should land Boston’s final pair of two-way roster spots have dominated discourse throughout the back half of Summer League. John Tonje, Milos Uzan, and Celtics second-round pick Dillon Mitchell all seem to be in the race for the remaining slots."
The roster math is where things get interesting. LaFrance noted that Boston may have to choose between Tonje and Mitchell for that last standard roster spot, with the luxury tax potentially shaping the call.
"There’s a world where Boston can sign Mitchell to a standard roster spot on a $1.3 million contract to remain below the luxury tax, ever so slightly." In that scenario, Tonje could end up on a two-way deal, while Mitchell takes the final spot on the 15.
What has made Tonje so hard to ignore is the consistency. LaFrance said, "He’s simply been too good and too consistent to let walk away. Leading up to Boston’s meeting with Orlando, Tonje averaged 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 46.2% from deep."
And the support for Tonje isn’t coming from just one corner. Boston assistant and Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson made his stance clear after a game last week, praising Tonje’s impact and his place in the league. "I think he is definitely an NBA player, and when he plays that hard, it just makes everybody on the team better."
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