Celtics’ latest guard move opens door fans didn’t see coming

The Boston Celtics are picking up the team option for the final year of JD Davison’s rookie contract, according to multiple reports.

This upcoming season of Davison’s deal is non-guaranteed, meaning that Boston can waive him as late as October 18, and still avoid any charge to their salary cap. Should the Celtics elect to keep him past that deadline, Davison will earn $2.7 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The 22-year-old guard hasn’t quite stuck in Boston’s rotation since being drafted 53rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The former Alabama standout has appeared in just 36 games for the Celtics in his three seasons as a pro. He’s averaged just 1.9 points, 0.9 assists, and 0.9 rebounds in about 5.5 minutes per outing.

He has, however, found a nice rhythm with the Maine Celtics. Davison was named last season’s G-League Most Valuable Player. He dominated in his 45 appearances for Maine, averaging 25.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 33.5% from beyond the arc.

The year prior, Davison was a huge part of Maine’s G-League success. His inspired play brought the club within one game of its first-ever championship, before they ultimately fell to the Oklahoma City Blue in a decisive Game 3 at the Portland Expo.

JD Davison could see his first real opportunity with the Celtics next season

This upcoming Celtics campaign could be Davison’s best shot at a real role with the big club. Since drafting Davison, the Cs have consistently had one of the strongest guard rotations in the NBA, which hasn’t left him much opportunity to earn minutes in Boston.

Now, less than a week removed from trading a two-time All-Star in Jrue Holiday away for Anfernee Simons and cap flexibility, there are rumblings that Simons may never even suit up for the Cs. According to Jay King of The Athletic, Boston has already explored the idea of re-routing the 26-year-old guard in a secondary move. Unless another guard were to come back in any hypothetical deal, the Celtics’ backcourt rotation would consist of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and then Davison.

Should that scenario become a reality, the door would be wide open for Davison to see consistent minutes off the Celtics’ bench. The real question is how well the G-League superstar would adapt to a lower-usage role in the NBA. When Davison plays in Maine, he runs the show. The offense flows through him, and he’s responsible for creating looks for himself, as well as his teammates. Any role he plays under Joe Mazzulla will likely consist of staying ready to sink threes from the wing or corner on offense, while busting his tail on defense. If he can prove to be dependable on both sides of the floor, then he may just find a niche for himself throughout the upcoming campaign.

While the idea of Davison earning a role in Boston would make a great story, there’s a reality where October 18 rolls around and the Celtics decide to waive him. We’re all just going to have to wait until then to see what the future holds for JD.