The Boston Celtics had an extreme makeover this summer, completely transforming the roster, and in the process quietly said goodbye to Torrey Craig.
There is no team announcement when the internal decision is made not to retain a player.
That is done implicitly when a player signs a contract with another team; if you are employed by a new franchise you obviously are not returning to the Celtics. It is less obvious when the team has decided to head in a new direction, but the player is merely a free agent with the ability to return at any moment.
The Celtics had a primary focus this summer, which was to slash salary for this next season. Their precision cuts turned into machete chopping after Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles and 2025-26 turned into a gap year. They moved off of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in cost-cutting deals that pushed them out of the tax aprons.
That also meant not retaining a number of free agents, including their No. 2 and No. 3 centers from last season. Luke Kornet signed a new deal in San Antonio, one the Celtics could have offered to him but declined to given their financial priorities. Similarly, Al Horford is in line to join the Golden State Warriors; if the Celtics were going to pay up and bring him back, they would have done so.
Torrey Craig is not returning to the Celtics
A less obvious decision they appear to have made is not to bring back veteran swingman Torrey Craig. The 8-year NBA veteran will be eligible to run for President after his December birthday and doesn't fit their vision for this next season, when they are instead pivoting to younger options with upside to be contributers two seasons from now. Given Craig's age, bringing him back would be a low-upside move.
Last season was a rough one for the 6'7" forward. After shooting at least 39 percent from deep in three consecutive seasons for the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, Craig joined the Celtics during the season and hit only 29 percent from deep and 35.6 percent from the floor overall. His positional defense remained solid, but he was a low-usage, low-efficiency player who defenses largely ignored. That's not what the Celtics needed.
It was a far cry from his successful career as a 3-and-D role player, active as a shooter and on the glass to make defenses take note of him. Craig has always buttered his bread on defense, taking on a variety of assignments both large and small, but he was dangerous enough on offense to not be played off the floor.
Was his time in Boston something of a cold stretch? If another team thought so, Craig would likely have an NBA deal at this point. It's likely teams expect him to be washed up now, and his NBA chances may have to wait until late-season call-ups onto a playoff roster. If he can prove himself in such a role, the chances of extending his career remain.
That will not be happening in Boston. Whether or not they sneak into the playoffs, they do not appear to be bringing Torrey Craig back.