The Boston Celtics must decline the team options on Dalano Banton, Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. before the June 29 deadline to free up room for Brad Stevens to remake the roster into a title contender. They currently have 14 players under contract, so sending these four packing costs Boston no money and gives them ample roster space to get creative in building things out.
The Celtics have team options on Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh that should be accepted. Queta is coming off a breakout season and is set to make just $2.6 million next season. Walsh will earn only $2.4 million and gives Joe Mazzulla some needed depth to compete against the NBA’s best.
The four to cut played a combined 37 minutes in the first-round playoff series loss to the 76ers. They are 23 years old or older and not ready to help a contender. Boston needs more talent and depth to compete with the Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs. The first step to getting there is trimming the fat from the bottom of the roster.
Celtics should decline four team options before the retool starts
Ron Harper Jr. is the most questionable decision, but the 26-year-old played 35 of his 46 NBA games this season. Boston was 6.1 points per 100 possessions better with the son of a five-time NBA champion on the bench. He is in his prime and is just not cut out to help a contender.
Shulga, Banton, and Williams rarely saw the floor and gave fans no reason to believe that they would help Boston next season. They played 11 combined playoff minutes, and it all came in blowouts.
The Celtics are saving $9.7 million by letting these four players walk. They would have five open roster spots. Fans know Brad Stevens will shake things up. Nobody is happy with the first-round playoff exit. They know upgrades are needed and significant ones.
Stevens dismantled the title team to save money. He traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. He let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency. The second apron forced Boston to rethink the long-term approach. Everyone expected them to take a step back this season. Credit to Jayson Tatum for returning from Achilles surgery and helping restore the faith. It just wasn’t meant to be in 2026.
Stevens always planned to get back into contention in 2027 and beyond. He knew KP couldn’t be trusted to stay healthy. Horford and Holiday were aging veterans who could fall off at any point. It was a bold strategy that will only be a success if the Celtics can remake the roster this summer.
The Boston Celtics should decline the team options on Dalano Banton, Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. to maximize their flexibility. It would leave Boston with five open roster spots and nearly $31 million in room below the first apron. Brad Stevens needs that to get them back into title contention. That won’t be easy, but he pulled it off before.
Celtics fans should have faith. Stevens is bold and knows how to build a winning roster. Expect him to do it again, and buckle up to see what he can make happen after letting these players go.
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