The Celtics finalized a flurry of necessary roster strikes Saturday.
Boston signed first-round draft decide Baylor Scheierman to his rookie contract and introduced beforehand reported extensions for starters Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.
Tatum’s five-year, $314 million supermax deal makes him the highest-paid participant in NBA historical past. The 26-year-old has made 5 straight All-Star groups and three consecutive All-NBA first groups.
“Jayson is a special person and player, and it’s been a thrill for all of us to watch his entire journey in Boston,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens stated in a press release. “He has embraced all that comes with being a great Celtic, and shows consistent and genuine care for every one of his teammates, coaches, and staff across the organization.
“Despite all the team accomplishments and individual awards, Jayson is committed to constantly improving. He works hard and is extremely driven by the challenges of the game – especially the goal of competing with his teammates for championships. We are obviously ecstatic that Jayson chose to extend his contract and add to his amazing career as a Boston Celtic.”
The centerpiece of the league’s deepest and most proficient roster, Tatum led the Celtics in factors, rebounds and assists through the 2024 playoffs, turning into simply the sixth participant ever to take action for an NBA champion. After his extension was introduced, the Celtics posted a video of him holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“I’m happy to be here for another five years, for the long haul, and this is what we do it for,” Tatum stated. “So I’m looking forward to getting a couple more of these.”
White signed a four-year, $125.9 million extension with Boston reasonably than ready for a doubtlessly extra profitable payday in free company subsequent offseason. The 30-year-old is among the NBA’s high defensive guards and likewise was the Celtics’ third-leading scorer throughout their postseason run (16.7 factors per sport), trailing solely Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“Derrick is a great player who has immersed himself in the Boston community since joining us in the Spring of 2021,” Stevens stated. “Derrick brings a joy and selflessness to our building every single day. He’s committed to improving and has shown that in each year of his career. More importantly, he cares most about the things that matter, including building great relationships and competing with integrity. We are very lucky that Derrick is a Celtic and are thrilled he’ll be here for years to come.”
Along with locking up Tatum and White, the Celtics additionally re-signed reserves Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta and picked up Sam Hauser’s crew possibility. 13 members of their title-winning roster are below contract for the upcoming season, and all 5 starters are signed for at the least two extra years.
The lone new addition to the 15-man roster is Scheierman, a sharpshooting 6-foot-6 wing out of Creighton whom Boston chosen thirtieth general within the 2024 NBA Draft. Second-round decide Anton Watson, a 6-foot-7 ahead from Gonzaga, has but to formally signal what is predicted to be a two-way contract. Each are extremely skilled prospects who performed 5 collegiate seasons and will probably be 24-year-old rookies.
Scheierman, who will put on No. 55 for Boston, is predicted to make his Celtics debut on the Las Vegas Summer time League, which suggestions off subsequent weekend. The Celtics’ rookies and younger gamers will face the Miami Warmth on July 13, the Los Angeles Lakers on July 15, the Charlotte Hornets on July 17 and the Dallas Mavericks on July 19.
“Man, it feels great. I’m excited to get to work,” Scheierman stated in a team-released video after signing his first NBA contract. “I can’t wait to meet the guys. I’m excited for Summer League, obviously, and just get to work and try to get that championship banner No. 19.”
Scheierman averaged 18.5 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport final season. He stuffed the stat sheet over his three seasons at South Dakota State and two at Creighton, turning into the primary participant in males’s Division I historical past to surpass 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 3-pointers in his profession.
