Devin Carter has recently emerged as the Boston Celtics latest free agency target. After Sacramento dumped him to Atlanta, who has since waived him, it's clear Carter's value is at its lowest. It sounds very familiar to what happened with Ron Harper Jr. before he rose to becoming a fixture for the Boston Celtics.
Harper was an NBA journeyman before he joined the Celtics last year. He signed a training camp deal and impressed them enough to earn a two-way deal. He then played well enough on his two-way deal that they converted it to a standard contract. Then, to top it all off, they got him on a long-term, team-friendly extension this summer.
Harper did this because he broke out for the Celtics when he had the chance. He had skills they recognized as a fit under Joe Mazzulla's style, and look where it both sides when it was all said and done.
If and when Boston signs Carter, he could suddenly go down a similar path. Because it's in Boston's best interest to stay under the NBA's luxury tax line, odds are they will try to have Carter sign a two-way deal, with the belief that he'll play well enough for him to convert his deal to a standard one, which would pay him just enough for them to stay under that line.
Carter is a former lottery pick with only two years of NBA experience under his belt. They always say, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," and well, Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have made a nasty habit of doing just that with quite a few players.
Carter's not a foolproof option, but he is definitely talented enough to warrant a two-way contract. Especially if he proves to be another steal for the Celtics.
This has happened quite a few times
The only reason why Harper is listed is because he's the most recent one to go through this entire process. Among the more high profile current Celtics to follow this path have been Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta.
Hauser was an undrafted free agent who, thanks in part to Danilo Gallinari's tragic ACL tear, was given a shot to prove himself, which is something he has taken and run with. Going from undrafted to NBA Champion in three years is quite the feat.
Queta, another Sacramento castoff, arrived in Boston with no expectations, but in a three-year span, he went from the "Stay Ready" group to the Celtics' starting center. Oh, and also an NBA Champion.
Boston's interest in Carter came out almost immediately following the news that he was waived, which would strongly insinuate that he could follow a similar path. It wouldn't be an easy one for him, but it could be one that saves his career.
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