Former Boston Celtics sharpshooter Matt Ryan is joining Dubai Basketball, per Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. He was with the New York Knicks during training camp and the preseason. However, he got waived before the start of the current campaign.
Ryan finished the 2021-22 season with the Celtics. His tenure included one regular-season appearance and making a cameo in a playoff game during Boston's run to the NBA Finals that year.
The six-foot-six wing suited up 19 times for the Knicks during the 2024-25 campaign. He averaged 1.5 points in 3.6 minutes of floor time. In 28 games with the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2023-24 season, including one start, Ryan produced 5.4 points per contest. He converted on 45.1 percent of the 3.3 attempts he hoisted from beyond the arc.
The four-year veteran is a 40.2 percent career three-point shooter. That comes while launching 2.4 attempts. He's also averaging 3.7 points per game in 9.4 minutes during his time in the Association.
At 28 years old, it would not be a surprise if there is another NBA opportunity in Ryan's future.
In the meantime, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star joins a Dubai Basketball team featuring a handful of former NBA players. That includes Davis Bertans, Justin Anderson, Dwayne Bacon, and former Celtics two-way center Mfiondu Kabengele.
While age and sharpshooting are on Matt Ryan's side, there is a significant hurdle for him to overcome to earn his next chance with an NBA franchise.
Ryan, who has spent four seasons in the league, is no longer eligible for a two-way deal. That means that he will have to play his way into a standard NBA contract, securing a spot on a 15-man roster, if he is to return to the Association.
Should the Celtics sign Matt Ryan?
While Boston loves to launch threes, taking more than any other team in the NBA, a second stint with the franchise is highly unlikely for the six-foot-six sharpshooter.
At a minimum, don't expect that to happen this season. The Celtics have an open roster spot. However, leaving that vacant helps with maximizing luxury tax savings.
In a year where gaining flexibility is a priority, filling that roster spot by signing Ryan would come as quite a surprise.
That doesn't mean they are unwilling or won't sign someone to fill that vacancy at some point this season. However, one would figure that they will prioritize other opportunities.