Celtics have an obvious motive for their latest roster move

Here's why the Celtics are bringing in Jalen Bridges
Phoenix Suns forward Jalen Bridges (15).
Phoenix Suns forward Jalen Bridges (15). | Kelsey Grant/GettyImages

The Boston Celtics will depart for Las Vegas next week. As they continue filling out their roster for Summer League, they've reportedly added Jalen Bridges. That's according to Jay King of The Athletic, who adds that Bridges will join the 18-time NBA champions for training camp in the fall. He will have a chance to earn a roster spot with the organization.

After starring at West Virginia and Baylor collegiately, Bridges went undrafted in 2024. He then signed a two-way deal with the Phoenix Suns. In eight games with them, the six-foot-eight forward averaged 1.1 points in 3.8 minutes.

The reason that Boston is taking a chance on him isn't his statistical NBA production in minimal opportunities. It's what he showcased at the collegiate level.

Bridges was a career 37 percent three-point shooter in his four years in the NCAA. That includes shooting over 40 percent during campaigns in Morgantown and Waco. In his senior season, playing for the Bears, he knocked down 41.2 percent of the 5.1 threes he hoisted.

The West Virginia native also swiped nearly a steal per contest while in college. In his final year at Baylor, he registered 1.1 thefts per game.

If Bridges can showcase that two-way prowess at Summer League and carry it into a productive training camp in Boston, he could stick around as a worthwhile investment.

The state of the Celtics' Summer League roster

According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Celtics assistant coach Matt Reynolds will be their bench boss at Summer League.

The roster will likely consist of 12 to 13 players. After rookies Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga helped conduct a youth basketball clinic at a renovated court unveiling at a YMCA in the greater Boston Area this week, the team's first-round pick addressed the possibility of playing in Sin City.

"I hope, yes," said Gonzalez. "I'm pretty excited about it; I just want to get to work already, and I look forward to the next steps."

Even if the 19-year-old wing from Real Madrid is at Summer League, it would not be surprising if his time on the court is limited.

As for the rest of the Celtics' roster, that looks as follows:

Guards: Baylor Scheierman, Max Shulga, Hayden Gray

Wings: Jordan Walsh, Miles Norris, Jalen Bridges, Zach Hicks,
Aaron Scott

Centers: Kenneth Lofton Jr., Amari Williams, Ben Gregg

Gonzalez would make 12. Perhaps at least one of Drew Peterson or JD Davison will join them. However, there's also a chance that the latter two, veterans in Boston's system, have shown enough that it isn't necessary.

The Celtics' Summer League slate begins Jul. 11 at 4 p.m. EST against the Memphis Grizzlies.