With Jayson Tatum, whom they signed to the most valuable contract in NBA history—worth an estimated $314 million over five years—and Derrick White, whose contract they extended for four years and $125.9 million, the Celtics moved fast in free agency to take care of extensions.
Luke Kornet was signed by Boston when free agency began on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Shortly afterward, the reigning NBA champions signed multi-year contract with Neemias Queta and on Tuesday, they re-signed Xavier Tillman Sr.
Oh, and the franchise is up for grabs.
Even with that, things have continued as usual for a team that deserves praise for its dedication to maintaining its championship squad. Thirteen of the fifteen players who played a regular, full-time role for the Celtics the previous season have contracts that expire in 2024–25.
Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett are the two remaining unrestricted free agents. Mykhailiuk may decide to play abroad, which he contemplated last summer before signing with Boston.
A week before to the commencement of free agency, the latter turned down his $2.5 million player option. In 55 games during the regular season in 2023–24, the fifth-year wing averaged 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds while playing 11.5 minutes per game.
In the playoffs, he also showed his mettle when needed, helping a small-ball group defeat the Pacers 20-0 in the first half of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Later in the third quarter, he contributed to a 7-0 run that gave the Celtics a 13-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and put them halfway to a Larry O’Brien Trophy match.
As Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reports, while Brissett is seeking a more significant role than the one he had as a member of the reigning champions’ “Stay Ready Group” last season, the former Syracuse standout has not ruled out playing for the Celtics a second time around.
Leave a Reply