According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Kendall Brown will arrive at training camp with a chance to earn a two-way spot with the Boston Celtics. That won't be easy with those three slots spoken for. However, another one of Boston's Summer League standouts, Jalen Bridges, is hoping to do the same thing.
Like Bridges, Brown has NBA experience. The Indiana Pacers made the latter the 48th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He appeared in 21 games during his two years in "The Hoosier State."
In February, Brown signed a two-way deal with the Brooklyn Nets. He did not play with the parent club. However, he impressed while with their G League affiliate in Long Island. The six-foot-seven wing averaged 16.1 points and shot 57 percent from the field. That includes knocking down 40 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.
Brown's sharpshooting was on display at Summer League with the Celtics. So was his savvy cutting and smooth finishing around the rim. At 22, he has the size, athleticism, and notable skills mentioned to earn his next NBA contract with Boston.
If Kendall Brown is in, who's out?
The Celtics trio on two-way deals are Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and RJ Luis Jr. As previously outlined, the organization drafted the former two in the second round this year. The latter arrived in the trade with the Utah Jazz that allowed Boston to shed Georges Niang's salary. That signals which of those three is most vulnerbale.
The franchise was quick to move on from last year's second-round selection, Anton Watson. The Celtics waived him during the 2024-25 campaign. That should serve as a message to Williams and Shulga. Their roster spots are not a given. They must earn them.
Still, it would come as quite the surprise if either one of them got waived, even if they wound up with the franchise's G League affiliate in Maine. If Brown -- or Bridges -- plays themselves into a two-way deal with Boston, the individual they're most likely to take it from is Luis.
Maybe that lights a fire under the latter. However, what may matter most is whether the Celtics believe in his shot coming around. Luis was a 31.4 percent three-point shooter while splitting his collegiate career between UMass Amherst and St. John's.
What the former Big East Player of the Year and Second-Team All-American has on his side are the traits to be an impactful defender at the next level. He has a six-foot-10.5-inch wingspan. That length helped Luis swipe 1.4 steals per game in his final year with the Red Storm. He averaged over one per contest in each of his three collegiate seasons.
What Luis showcases on the defensive end could be his ticket to preserving his roster spot. However, Bridges and Brown represent significant threats to change the equation and earn a two-way deal with the Celtics.