The Boston Celtics made an important decision on Wednesday that many fans may not have realized was even being made. It will keep Jordan Walsh in a Boston Celtics uniform and contributing to their surprisingly strong season.
The Celtics clearly believed in Jordan Walsh enough to draft him 38th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, but that doesn't mean they didn't exert their leverage in working out a contract with the former Arkansas forward. As is the case with most second-round picks who sign full contracts, the Celtics ensured the third and fourth years of his four-year deal were not fully guaranteed.
That includes this season, 2025-26, Walsh's third in the NBA. His deal was just $200,000 guaranteed when he signed, and when he was on the Opening Night roster that move up to 50 percent guaranteed, about $1.1 million. That still meant that the Celtics could save an equal amount if they waived him during the season.
For a team that entered the season fighting for every bit of savings they could find, it was at least a possibility that Walsh could be waived -- not a large one, but it was on the table. Walsh himself then promptly took it off of the table with his strong play this seaosn, exploding into a frequent starter and consistent rotation player on a team that is in position for homecourt advantage in the Eastern Conference.
Walsh has started 20 games thus far this season, shooting an incendiery 47.4 percent from 3-point range after shooting no higher than 27.3 percent from deep in his first two seasons, playing just spot minutes and mop up duty. Now he is playing 20 minutes per game and shooting the leather right off of the basketball.
When you factor in his perimeter defense and rebounding ability you get a 3-and-D forward who is right at home on any team, but especially the 3-point happy offense that Joa Mazulla runs in Boston. Walsh is not merely a player to keep around, he looks like a core piece of future Celtics championship contenders.
Jordan Walsh is sticking around
That made Wednesday a bit anticlimactic. January 7th was the functional deadline for a team to waive a player and have some or all of his salary cleared off of their books. On January 10th all contracts will fully guarantee for the season, including Walsh's. Boston didn't waive him by Wednesday, so he is locked in.
Boston could certainly still cut Walsh -- they won't, but it's legally allowed, they just wouldn't get any financial savings. They also can trade him; this isn't a guarantee he will be a Celtics for life or the rest of the season. Right now, however, it would be shocking for them to do anything but continue to start him the rest of the year, keeping the seat warm for Jayson Tatum.
The Celtics found themselves a hidden gem in Jordan Walsh, and this week they made the no-brainer decision to keep him around. The benefits of such a decision should continue to pour in.