The Boston Celtics have already filled their three two-way roster spots. Two of those belong to their second-round draft picks this year, Amari Williams and Max Shulga. They also acquired undrafted free agent RJ Luis Jr. on a contract of this nature.
Boston picked up the former UMass Amherst and St. John's star in the trade that sent Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz. However, that trio will have to fight to preserve their roster spot in training camp.
Jalen Bridges represents perhaps their most notable threat. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported, the six-foot-eight forward will compete for a two-way deal.
The former Baylor and West Virginia standout spent his rookie year on a two-way arrangement with the Phoenix Suns. In eight games with the parent club, he averaged 1.1 points in 3.8 minutes of floor time. The organization then chose to go in a different direction.
"I don't think I was surprised," Bridges said at Summer League of the Suns' decision. "I mean, I'm very self-aware. I don't necessarily feel like I gave them reasons to keep me. I feel like I had a good season, but I know what I'm capable of, and I feel like I didn't play up to that. I didn't live up to that. So, I mean, it is what it is. It's a business, and I'm just happy for this opportunity."
It was a chance he made good on. The 24-year-old forward was already on a deal to join the Celtics for training camp at the Auerbach Center. He validated that decision during his time in Sin City. Bridges produced 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per contest in four appearances in Las Vegas.
He is a legitimate threat to take a two-way roster spot from someone who already has one.
Whose spot is he most likely to take?
If Bridges impresses during training camp and the preseason, the individual who should be most concerned is Luis. Boston invested draft capital into Williams and Shulga. The franchise moved on from Anton Watson during his rookie year. That's a sign that those two will also have to prove their worth.
However, when the Celtics parted with Watson, it was deep into the regular season. They had time to work with him before waiving the former Gonzaga Bulldog.
Shulga and Williams shouldn't assume they're roster spots are safe, regardless of how training camp goes. Even knowing there's a chance the organization could subsequently sign either individual to a deal with Maine, the weeks leading up to final cuts would have to go quite poorly for one of them to get waived.
Luis Jr. arrives with concerns about his shot. The Celtics can help with that. He also has the tools, including a six-foot-10.5-inch wingspan, to become a defensive menace on and off the ball. However, if the team is more impressed by Bridges' two-way capabilities, that spot could change hands. It's a more likely scenario than seeing it happen with Shulga or Williams.