Josh Minott signed a two-year, $5 million contract to join the Boston Celtics on July 1. Since then, there’s been next to no buzz or excitement about his potential in the upcoming season. Now, it’d be silly to sit here and pretend like this is some earth-shattering signing.
Minott only made 93 appearances for the Minnesota Timberwolves in his three seasons as a pro. He struggled to find any consistent minutes and has yet to find his footing in the NBA.
The former Memphis standout was drafted 45th overall in the 2022 Draft after playing just one season for the Tigers. From the moment he was drafted, the Timberwolves rose back to relevancy for the first time in nearly 20 years. The team’s deep rotation didn’t make for much opportunity, making it difficult for Minott to make an impression.
For example, Minott’s player page on NBA.com includes instances where he actually got minutes as part of his “Player News” section.
The "Player News" section of Josh Minott's https://t.co/xfm9Fj4yUH page is so mean pic.twitter.com/39WhiKTJRr
— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) September 2, 2025
That’s the intriguing part, no?
Opportunity will be plentiful for Josh Minott in Boston
The 22-year-old joins a Celtics team with no real expectations. Sure, if you ask the players, they’ll tell you the mission remains the same as it’s been for the past few seasons: compete to the fullest. Realistically, there isn’t much certainty with this team, which should open the door for Minott to see the most significant playing time of his career.
Think about it. With Jayson Tatum recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and Georges Niang’s tenure in Boston not even lasting two months, there should be plenty of rotational opportunities at the forward spot.
Sam Hauser will probably start at the three or four, but as far as bench minutes go, it feels like open season.
Minott’s lack of exposure in Minnesota should put a chip on his shoulder as he heads into what could be a make-or-break season for him. From Boston’s point of view, there’s some intrigue in the young wing’s upside.
For starters, he’s two years younger than Baylor Scheirman, who many fans are excited about after a strong close to his rookie season. Age alone doesn’t determine potential, but it does leave the door open for development.
Minott’s lanky frame and athleticism, combined with some good defensive instincts, make him an interesting prospect to say the very least. He’s not perfect and has room to grow there, too, but it’s a good starting point. Not to mention that his shot has come a long way since entering the league.
In Minott’s lone season with Memphis, he shot just 14.3% from beyond the arc. He’s over doubled that clip as a pro, logging a career efficiency of 33.9% from deep. Of course, that doesn’t make him an established shooter, especially considering the low volume of attempts he’s seen in his three seasons, but it does show a nice trend in the right direction.
With Boston’s immediate quest for Banner 19 on hold this season, the number one goal should be finding pieces to round out the roster when it’s ready to push for glory again. Giving players like Minott or Luka Garza the opportunity to prove themselves could go a long way in that.
In today’s NBA, part of the team-building game is finding contributors on value contracts. The Celtics did a great job of building a championship roster, but it couldn’t last long due to the league’s harsh financial penalties. It’s not the end-all, be-all, but, again, finding cheap contributors is key.
Hopefully, Minott can be one for Boston.