BOSTON — Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics front office love finding high-upside reclamation projects in unique places. The latest example came down on Saturday morning when the Boston Celtics convert Devin Carter from an Exhibit 10 training camp invitation to a formal two-way contract.
Reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the roster decision fills Boston’s final two-way slot alongside rookie forward Dillon Mitchell and center Amari Williams. To earn the spot, Carter beat out training camp competition after flashing real dynamic upside in preseason action, including a 17-point, 5-rebound performance against Cleveland.
For a front office operating under luxury tax “constraints”, signing Carter to a two-way contract is a low-risk move that gives Joe Mazzulla an explosive defensive guard to develop between Boston and Maine.
A High Upside Reclamation Project For Brad Stevens
Carter came into the league as the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings after earning Big East Player of the Year honors at Providence. Known for his point-of-attack defense and verticality, his trajectory with the Sacramento Kings was disrupted by injuries and depth chart logjams.
During his stint in Sacramento, Carter logged 74 games, averaging 6.4 points,2.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes per night. After being traded to Atlanta and subsequently waived earlier this offseason, Boston brought him in on a camp contract to evaluate his fit in Joe Mazzulla’s system.
His defensive motor immediately stood out. Carter brings the exact kind of full-court pressing energy and glass-crashing instincts that Mazzulla prioritizes from his entire rotation.
Fixing The Jumper In Maine While Serving As Insurance
The biggest question mark on Carter remains his jumper. Over two NBA seasons, he has struggled from deep, shooting just 27.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Placing Carter on a two-way contract gives Boston the ideal setup. He can spend extended time with the Maine Celtics refining his jump shot without cluttering the main roster’s cap sheet. At the same time, his presence gives the big club reliable emergency depth behind Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley if injuries hit the guard rotation.
If Boston’s player development staff can nudge his spot-up shooting toward league average, the Celtics may have stumbled into another steal to fortify their bench.
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