The Celtics have had a relativity quite offseason so far. Fresh off winning the NBA Championship and a dominant playoff run Boston has opted to run it back with virtually the same roster. Notably, the Celtics currently have 14 players on their roster leaving room for another signing. During media availability at the Las Vegas Summer League, Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens commented on the Celtics open roster spot and some possible options.
Brad Stevens Discusses Possibilities for Celtics Final Roster Spot
Open Roster Spot
The Celtics lone new additions this offseason have been draft picks Baylor Scheierman (30th overall) and Anton Watson (54th overall). Scheierman signed a multi-year deal with the Celtics and will be a member of the Celtics’ full-time roster while Watson is expected to sign a two-way contract. The Celtics also re-signed free agents Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta. Furthermore, they agreed to extensions with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White and picked up Sam Hauser‘s team option. Retaining this championship-winning core is a wise decision for Boston. However, with 14 players on their official roster, the Celtics still have an open spot. Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk are two free agents the Celtics haven’t made decisions on yet. Stevens said the following regarding the Celtics’ current 14-man roster and specifically the possibility of Brissett returning.
Brad Stevens on a potential Oshae Brissett return:
“We have to be mindful of, with the last roster spot, what our needs might be. Oshae had a terrific year with us… in his shoes, there might be the desire to play more, too. I always want to be respectful of that.” pic.twitter.com/LU5Dn5k1Zq
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) July 17, 2024
“We loved having Oshae, and as far as how we fill out the rest of the roster, we kept 14 most of the year last year, and then we added two at the end of the year. We’ll see how the next few months play themselves with regard to people’s availability. Obviously, Kristaps [Porzingis] is going to have a long rehab process ahead of him, and we have to determine what the best need is for our team in that 15th spot. Both Oshae and Svi, to me, are good NBA players that, whether here or elsewhere, are good fits for any team. They’re just terrific people.”
Should The Celtics Re-Sign Brissett or Mykhailiuk?
Brissett, 26 is a high-energy and defensive-minded six-foot-six forward. In 11 minutes per game last season, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds. Bringing him back for some extra bench defense and wing play would be a solid move. However, the Celtics have a loaded wing rotation, especially with first-round pick Baylor Scheierman in the mix. This makes it even harder for Brissett to find a consistent role nevertheless since he remains unsigned he would likely happily return to the Celtics regardless of his role.
Svi Mykhailiuk is in a similar position to Brissett. He is a 27-year-old wing with a knack for shooting. In 10.1 minutes per game, Mykhailiuk averaged four points on 38.9 percent three-point shooting. If Mykhailiuk is brought back he would round out the roster nicely as an additional floor spacer. However, Brissett’s defensive abilities and positional versatility make him the better option between the two players.
Other Possibilities
If the Celtics want to fill their roster spot with a player from another team Justin Holiday, JT Thor, and Gordon Hayward are all names to keep an eye on. However, this feels unlikely considering the Celtics have had weeks to sign any of these players and their commitment to team continuity. Ultimately, given the Celtics track record, their cap situation, and Stevens’ comments it’s a strong possibility that the Celtics start the season with a 14-man roster. This allows for roster flexibility to start the season and helps the team save some money in the process.
