Celtics training camp roster reports could lead to 1 necessary cut

Training camp contracts aren’t super important for a team like the Boston Celtics. After winning the Finals last season, they’ll be heading into next year with a nearly identical roster, meaning there isn’t much room on the fringes for new players to get on board. That said, Boston is still taking a look at a few guys.

According to Bobby Manning of CLNS, the Celtics recently signed Jordan Schakel to a training camp deal, bringing their total to 21. That is the maximum number of players a team can have on the roster in the offseason. Boston also has Lonnie Walker IV, Tristan Enaruna, and Ron Harper Jr. on Exhibit 10 contracts.

However, there is another name bring thrown around: Jay Scrubb. That means the Celtics could have to make a tough decision before training camp even starts.

If Celtics want to sign Jay Scrubb, they will have to cut another training camp player

Earlier in the summer, Manning reported that the Celtics planned to sign Jay Scrubb to a training camp deal. But now that Schakel is under contract, there are no more open spots for Scrubb on the Celtics. That means if they want to add Scrubb, they would have to waive one of their other training camp guys.

Scrubb played for the Celtics’ Summer League team in 2023, and Boston rewarded him with a two-way contract. Unfortunately, prior to the season, Scrubb tore his ACL in practice, and the Celtics waived him as a result.

Now, one year after the initial injury, Scrubb is finally getting ready to get back on the court, and it would make a ton of sense for him to do so with the Celtics. But that could prove to be a bit more difficult this time around.

If the Celtics are still interested in bringing Scrubb in for training camp, they will have to get rid of someone, but that could be an easy choice.

Schakel spent this past season with the Maine Celtics, and by signing an Exhibit 10 deal with Boston, he’ll get a bonus if he chooses to play for Maine again next year. This could simply be a way for the organization to incentivize him to play for their G League affiliate again.

Should they decide to go that route with Schakel (or Enaruna or Harper Jr.), then it would be easy to have Scrubb back in town.

It seems unlikely that Walker would be the guy they cut, considering his success in the league thus far, but perhaps he could find a contract with another NBA team.