Celtics' wing just got the validation he needed in battle for 2-way deal

Las Vegas -- Patience is a virtue. It's one that teams employ when filling out the end of their roster. That includes deciding the best way to utilize their three two-way spots.

While a choice made in July isn't permanent, organizations wisely prefer to wait until training camp and the preseason before taking action on these fronts.

Understanding that rationale only does so much for those fighting for their NBA dreams.

For John Tonje, it meant seeing his two-way pact with the Boston Celtics expire. When it did, he received an invitation to join them at Summer League, nothing more.

"I know that's kind of in the back of my mind," voiced Tonje while discussing his contract status after a win over the Charlotte Hornets in Sin City. "But I'm really just focused on getting better each day. I love to improve, and I'm blessed to be here, honestly."

Don't misinterpret the Celtics' actions as a lack of appreciation. The business of basketball -- the same culprit for why Jaylen Brown is now with the Philadelphia 76ers -- dictates that the current arrangement with Tonje is the most prudent course of action.

While that side of the NBA can be cold and unforgiving, the franchise is fond of the 25-year-old wing who spent the final two months of his rookie season developing within its infrastructure.

John Tonje in pole position to earn two-way roster spot with Celtics

After arriving in Boston in the trade deadline deal that sent Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, the rookie from Omaha, Nebraska, appeared in six games with the parent club and 12 with their G League affiliate.

At Summer League, he is averaging 15.0 points and 1.3 steals. His six thefts are the second-most on the team behind second-round pick Dillon Mitchell. Tonje is also knocking down 46.2 percent of the 6.5 threes he's hoisting.

The former Wisconsin star is the only player to start all four matchups for the Sin City C's. His output includes generating 20 points and three steals in an overtime win against the Toronto Raptors. For an encore, he produced 17 points and five rebounds in that victory vs. the Hornets.

A day later, with Amile Jefferson's squad playing in their third game in four days and in the second half of a back-to-back, fatigue undermined a group that tried to push through it but didn't execute at the level necessary to keep pace with the Atlanta Hawks.

Tonje finished with just five points on 2/8 shooting. However, he quickly atoned for that. In Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings, he put 18 points on the board, knocking down six of his 10 field goal attempts. That includes three of the seven tries he launched from behind the arc. That's a 42.9 percent conversion rate.

"He's become a leader. We can lean on him," Amile Jefferson expressed after his team improved to 3-1 in Las Vegas. "The thing you want as a coach is dependability. You want guys that you know what you're going to get from them, and for me, that's exactly what he's been. And then the one thing that I just want to praise him on is how hard he's playing.

"This dude, you know, we're trying to make people's dreams come true and help them in their journey, and he's one of the guys I'm most proud of, because he wants to make it. And when a guy wants to make it, and when a guy wants to be in the NBA, that's how you look. Like, if somebody wants to know how hard it is to be in the NBA, you go see how good he is. And he's given himself a really good chance. I think he is definitely an NBA player, and when he plays that hard, it just makes everybody on the team better."

John Tonje's competition for a Celtics' two-way roster spot

One could view Boston's two-way roster spots as a blank canvas. Amari Williams is the only player the team has signed to such an agreement. However, even his position is written in pencil, not pen. One would anticipate that he holds on to it, but even if it's small, there is a chance that the franchise goes in a different direction. To reiterate, that seems unlikely; it just can't be ruled out.

Then, there's Dillon Mitchell. The former St. John's standout has impressed at Summer League.

Along with elite athleticism and high-level perimeter defense, his shot is already much improved from his time in college. One of the keys to that is his work with the organization's player development staff to release the ball on the way up. It is quickly paying dividends.

Mitchell could seize the Celtics' final full-time roster spot. However, from this vantage point, it is more likely that they keep that 15th slot vacant. There are financial benefits to doing so. It also gives them flexibility that could prove valuable. It may be best to preserve that space.

If the rookie wing joins Boston on a two-way deal, with Williams occupying another of those, that leaves one opening.

As far as internal candidates go, Milos Uzan has had a nice showing at Summer League. Tucker DeVries is accompanying him to training camp at the Auerbach Center on an Exhibit 10 deal.

However, the leader in the clubhouse is Tonje. He is the most likely individual to claim that final two-way deal. One just has to account for the possibility that, like Ron Harper Jr. last year, the person who claims that spot isn't with the team right now.

As he fights to remain with the Celtics, Tonje must continue to focus on what he can control. It has taken him this far. And it's why he is more likely than anyone else to win this battle.

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