Wednesday, before the Boston Celtics' preseason finale, a 110-108 victory vs. the Toronto Raptors, they waived RJ Luis Jr. The former UMass Amherst and St. John's standout joined the organization in the trade that sent Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz and arrived on a two-way deal.
That opened the door for the Celtics to sign Ron Harper Jr. to fill that vacancy a day later, per ESPN's Shams Charania. It was a move signaled by Hardwood Houdini a day earlier.
Harper prevailed in the battle for Boston's final two-way roster spot. He beat out Luis, Kendall Brown, Jalen Bridges, and Wendell Moore Jr., among others.
After suiting up for the Sin City Celtics at Summer League in 2024, the six-foot-four wing was with the franchise's G League affiliate in Maine last season. In January, he left for an opportunity to join the Detroit Pistons on a two-way contract.
His lone appearance with the parent club came in their regular-season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks. Harper registered four points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes.
He averaged 18.2 points and knocked down 39 percent of the 8.9 threes he hoisted in 37 combined games with the Pistons and Celtics' G League affiliates last season. He also contributed 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest.
What Ron Harper Jr. showed in the preseason
The six-foot-four wing shot the ball well from behind the arc during his opportunities in the preseason. He also demonstrated good positioning defensively, timely rotations, and the ability to defend taller players, including stonewalling a drive from Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a six-foot-seven former first-round pick.
What stood out most while watching Harper during exhibition play was his feel for the game and being ready to come in cold off the bench and provide productive minutes.
The former St. John's star had five points, a steal, and a block in 15 minutes during the Celtics' preseason opener, a 121-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Two tilts later, he chipped in five points in seven minutes in a 138-107 victory vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Those performances, demonstrating the traits noted above, helped him play his way onto Boston's roster. That includes a reliable shot from behind the arc, thanks in part to his shoulder being healthier. Having more time between the injury that cost him his two-way opportunity with the Raptors and when he was playing for the Celtics at Summer League has helped his game grow while showing what he's fully capable of.
Now, Harper gets to continue doing so within the infrastructure of an organization that's glad to have him back.