A day after their preseason finale, a 110-108 win victory vs. the Toronto Raptors, the Boston Celtics signed Ron Harper Jr. to a two-way deal. Harper has impressed at both ends of the floor during his exhibition opportunities.
To clear a path to extend the former St. John's star's second stint with the team, Boston waived RJ Luis Jr. However, it would not come as a surprise if he joins the organization's G League affiliate in Maine.
As the Celtics get ready for opening night against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 22 at TD Garden, they also waived several players on Exhibit 10 contracts.
While Jalen Bridges, Kendall Brown, and Wendell Moore Jr. didn't win the battle for Boston's final two-way roster spot, like Luis, they may remain with the franchise in Maine.
Moore is a former Duke Blue Devil who has shown flashes as a defender at the NBA level. He also had a highlight reel dunk during the Celtics' 138-107 preseason win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brown is a reliable three-point shooter, a savvy cutter when he's off the ball, and he finishes well around the rim. Bridges, a six-foot-eight forward, is a glue guy who's determined to make up for letting his previous opportunity slip away.
The trio will help form a competitive group in Maine that is worth keeping an eye on under new head coach Phil Pressey. That roster will often include the Celtics' second-round picks in this year's NBA Draft, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga. The duo is on two-way deals with the organization.
Will Hugo Gonzalez spend time in the G League?
It's entirely possible that Boston's first-round selection is another player fans can watch in person at The Expo. At Summer League, that appeared more likely.
However, Gonzalez has impressed during the preseason. After the Celtics' win against the Raptors to cap exhibition play, Joe Mazzulla raved to Hardwood Houdini about the former Real Madrid wing's defensive instincts.
"I think that's the biggest thing from his game that we've taken, is his defensive instincts, especially when he's off the ball," said Mazzulla. "He does a great job of reading the game: his ability to rotate, deflections, all of that, so, [we've] been very pleased with his defensive instincts, and he just has to continue to get better at those."
Derrick White praised two of Gonzalez's most valuable attributes: his motor and his ability to apply lessons quickly.
"He plays so hard, so that's always like a good first start," White told Hardwood Houdini after the Celtics' preseason finale. "He just knows how to play, knows how to be in the right position, and competes at a high level. I've seen him just constantly working hard, constantly asking questions, constantly learning, and you could tell that he's been a pro for a while, and he's played basketball at a high level for some time now, and I think he's done a lot of good things for us this preseason."
Gonzalez may still require some seasoning in the G League. That could be more valuable than inconsistent minutes and not seeing the court much with the parent club.
Then again, at the rate he's growing, making significant strides since Summer League, as he adapts to a dramatically different approach compared to the ACB, perhaps he'll carve out enough minutes to remain exclusively in the NBA throughout his rookie campaign.