The Celtics made a change to the again finish of their bench Thursday, waiving fourth-year level guard JD Davison.
Davison starred on the NBA’s farm circuit final season, incomes G League MVP honors after averaging 25.1 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation for the Maine Celtics. That success by no means translated to the large membership, nonetheless.
Drafted within the second spherical out of Alabama in 2022, the 6-foot-1 Davison appeared in simply 36 NBA video games over his three seasons with Boston, with the overwhelming majority of his minutes coming in rubbish time.
The 22-year-old made 16 NBA appearances in 2024-25, averaging 2.1 factors, 0.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 5.8 minutes per recreation. His most efficient outing got here within the regular-season finale towards Charlotte, with Davison tallying 9 factors, 4 assists and two steals in 17 minutes whereas most of Boston’s regulars sat out.
When the Celtics transformed Davison’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal this previous April, head coach Joe Mazzulla stated it was “the proper factor to do due to what he’s finished for our program and what he’s finished as a participant and what he’s finished as an individual off the court docket.”
Davison’s contract was not assured for this season, and he was not projected to issue into Boston’s new-look rotation, even after the offseason departure of beginning guard Jrue Vacation. He’s now not eligible to signal a two-way – which permits gamers to separate time between the NBA and G League – with the Celtics however can with one other crew.
Releasing Davison pushed the Celtics again beneath the second apron of the NBA’s luxurious tax, which they’d surpassed by signing heart Luka Garza, wing Josh Minott and first-round draft choose Hugo Gonzalez after buying and selling away Vacation and heart Kristaps Porzingis.
The transfer additionally created an open spot on Boston’s 15-man roster, however it’s unclear whether or not president of basketball operations Brad Stevens plans to fill it earlier than the season begins in October. The Celtics selected to hold simply 14 rostered gamers into every of the final two seasons, and filling the ultimate spot with even a veteran-minimum signing would push them again above the second apron, severely limiting their flexibility.
Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and veteran newcomer Anfernee Simons, acquired within the Vacation commerce, headline the Celtics’ backcourt depth chart. Second-round draft choose Max Shulga and up to date Exhibit 10 signee Hayden Grey, who each performed for Boston’s Summer time League squad, will compete for spots in coaching camp.
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