According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Boston Celtics are signing Jalen Bridges to a training camp contract, and he will be competing for a two-way spot. However, that also means that one of the three players currently on two-way contracts (rookies Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and RJ Luis Jr.) could be on the chopping block.
Bridges is already confirmed to be playing in Maine next summer with Boston’s G League affiliate. Now, after playing Summer League with the Celtics, Bridges will be back in green this fall. He will have a chance to bump out one of Boston’s current two-way players.
And he could be a solid fit.
Why should the Celtics want Jalen Bridges?
Bridges spent last season with the Valley Suns, the Phoenix Suns’ G League affiliate, in what was his first season out of college. He played five years of college ball: Three years at West Virginia and two years at Baylor.
He appeared in 41 games for the G League club, playing 33.2 minutes per contest. Bridges averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 42.1% from the floor and 38.9% from beyond the arc on 6.9 three-point attempts per game.
Though Bridges didn’t play many minutes at Summer League with the Celtics, he did manage to show off his impressive three-point shot. His total from beyond the arc over the course of the four games was only 6-of-20, but he had a 4-of-10 shooting performance from deep in his final game.
Williams and Shulga were drafted by the Celtics, while Luis was acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz that sent Georges Niang out West. But while all three are under contract, evidently, none are safe.
Boston signing Bridges to a training camp deal shouldn’t come as a surprise, as it’s a great way to give him an incentive to sign with Maine once the preseason wraps up.
However, the fact that Scotto noted that Bridges will be competing for a two-way spot is very noteworthy. That means, at least to some degree, that the Celtics could be willing to swap someone out in exchange for a new face on a two-way spot.
With Bridges’ size (6-foot-8) and three-point shooting ability, it would make plenty of sense to bring him on board via a two-way spot, especially considering he’s still only 24 years old.
But if he earns a spot, who’s out?