Ron Harper Jr. is getting another opportunity to stick in the NBA.
The Boston Celtics are bringing Harper Jr., whose father, Ron Harper, was a long-time NBA player, to training camp on a non-guaranteed deal, per Keith Smith of Sportrac.
Harper Jr. had been a free agent after being released by the Toronto Raptors on December 8. Beforehat, the 24-year-old forward had spent the previous two years on a o-way contracts with the Raptors after going undrafted out of Rutgers.
Harper spent most of the time with the G-League Raptors 905. Harper played an entire season with the Raptors 905 and had a pretty season, producing four double-doubles and one triple-double in 43 appearances during the 2022-23 season. He also appeared in nine games for the Raptors that season, totaling 47 minutes of action.
However, Harper played seven games this past season before getting released, and six contests were with the Raptors 905.
Harper’s father, Ron, was a top-10 draft pick in 1986. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the eighth overall pick and played 15 years in the league. He spent the first three-plus seasons with the Cavaliers and played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Former Top 10 Draft Pick’s Son Gets Another NBA Shot
Harper is an undersized power forward. He is known most for his strength, toughness, and defense but is not quick enough defensively to guard wings. He is a solid scorer who doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well from the 3-point line, though he can handle the ball and is also a solid passer.
Harper is currently a player for Boston’s Las Vegas Summer League team. In a little over 10 minutes of action in the Celtics’ first game in Vegas, Harper scored three points on 1 of 2 shooting from the field, missing his lone 3-point attempt. He also blocked one shot and committed two fouls.
Celtics Roster Situation
Harper is the 18th player on the Celtics’ 2024-25 training camp roster. Therefore, the C’s can add three more players.
The Celtics have 14 players on standard contracts, 14 of whom have fully guaranteed deals, and they are above the second tax line. Because of their salary cap situation, they will likely have 15 players on their opening-day roster.
So, Harper will have a legitimate chance of making the squad. However, he will have competition during training camp. Harper may end up on a two-way contract, as the Celtics have an open spot.
J.D. Davison and Drew Peterson are the players currently on a two-way deal.
Davison, the Celtics’ 2022 second-round pick, is still just 21 and has played in 20 contests over the last two years. He showed massive improvement in year two with Maine, earning third-team All-G-League honors and participating in Up-Next during All-Star Weekend.
Davison scored 19 points on 6 of 7 shooting, including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, in the Celtics first Las Vegas Summer League contest. The 6-3 point guard added seven assists, three rebounds, and four turnovers.
Peterson went undrafted out of USC in 2023 but quickly hooked up with the Miami Heat. However, the 24-year-old forward was waived before the start of the season and signed a two-way deal with the Celtics in December. He appeared in three games for the C’s this past season.
Peterson, who had a solid G-League 2023-24 season, struggled in his first summer league game this year. In the Las Vegas opener, Peterson totaled four points on 2 of 6 field goals, including 0 of 4 from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds, two steals, and one block in over 17 minutes.
Other Candidates For A 2-Way or Training Camp
Undrafted 2024 rookie Tristan Enaruna, out of Cleveland State, has signed an Exhibit 10 contract. While the 23-year-old forward likely won’t make the 15-man roster, he is in play to earn a two-way deal or become an associate player with the Red Claws. He didn’t play in the Celtics first Las Vegas Summer League opener.
Jah’mius Ramsey, Anton Watson, Killian Tillie, and Tyler Cook are the most likely players to earn a training camp invite.
Watson, selected by the Celtics with the No. 54 pick in this year’s draft, is the favorite to earn the final two-way deal. The 6-8 forward tallied eight points on 4 of 7 from the field with two rebounds, one steal, and one block in the Celtics’ Summer League opener.
Ramsey was a second round pick of Sacramento in 2020. The 6-3 guard, who has 39 games of NBA experience, showed off his scoring prowess in the Celtics Las Vegas SL opener with 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting in nearly 15 minutes.
Tillie went undradted in 2020 out of Gonzaga. The 26-year-old, 6-8 center appeared in 54 games for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2020-22. However, he appears to have been out of basketball since then due to injuries.
Cook has appeared in 65 NBA games. The 6-8 forward played in Spain this past season for Joventut Badalona
