The Boston Celtics have added nine players to their G League roster, the Maine Celtics, heading into next season, per Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog: Ron Harper Jr., Jalen Bridges, Kendall Brown, Aaron Scott, Hayden Gray, Hason Ward, RJ Luis Jr., Amari Williams, and Max Shulga.
Of those, Gray, Luis, Williams, and Shulga were already known to be joining Maine next season, meaning this report has announced five new players. Bridges, Brown, and Scott will all join after spending Summer League with the Celtics, Ward played in Maine last year (but spent the summer with the Oklahoma City Thunder in Vegas), and Harper signed a training camp deal with Boston earlier this offseason, paving the way for him to play with Maine next year.
Phil Pressey’s first Maine squad is taking shape.
What will Maine Celtics look like?
Boston’s two-way players are likely going to lead the way for Maine next season. Shulga ran the point during Summer League and could have the chance to do so in Maine, with Williams pairing nicely alongside him in the pick-and-roll.
Luis should have a featured role, too. He joined the Celtics in a trade earlier this summer, as Boston sent Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz.
Ward was a staple of Maine’s rotation last season under head coach Tyler Lashbrook. He played big-time center minutes behind Anton Watson early in the season, and later on, after Watson was waived and joined the New York Knicks, he backed up James Banks III.
Despite playing Summer League with the Thunder, Ward is heading back to Portland for the 2025-26 G League campaign and will get the chance to play under Pressey. He’s a high-flying shot-blocker who soars through the air for flashy defensive plays and monster alley-oops.
Harper began last season with Maine before joining the Detroit Pistons on a two-way deal. But now, he’ll be back in the Celtics’ organization.
Brown looked solid during Summer League with the Celtics, utilizing his cutting ability to get to the rim off the ball. Bridges’ three-point shot was impressive in Vegas, and Scott’s offensive rebounding jumped off the page, too.
Lastly, Gray led the NCAA in steals last season by a wide margin. His off-ball awareness on the defensive end is elite, giving Maine a perimeter stopper for Pressey to deploy.
As Maine gets set for the upcoming season, it will be attempting to build on two straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals and beyond.