The Celtics officially locked up Devin Carter on a two-way deal, but man, talk about a gut punch right after. Reports dropped Sunday confirming Carter has mononucleosis, and that explains exactly why we haven’t seen him on the court since the preseason opener. No firm timeline for his return, either, with Gary Washburn reporting he could be out for a few more weeks. Just brutal news for a guy the team is clearly hyped about.
A Flash of Brilliance Before The Sidelines
Before this mono bombshell, Carter gave us one heck of an introduction in that preseason opener against Cleveland. The dude scored 17 points in just 25 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He was putting a ton of pressure on the rim, showcasing that aggressive game. He also chipped in with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. This isn’t some rookie scrub either, he was a lottery pick for Sacramento just two seasons ago! His audition was cut short to that single game, but that lone performance was so strong, and his potential is just too much for Boston to pass up on. Coach Joe Mazzulla totally gets it, pointing to Carter’s ceiling as the reason for the two-way deal. Mazzulla said, “You see the talent, the impact that he could have, and you want to be able to invest in that.” He even added that Carter is “very talented,” “has done some good things in the league,” and is “really impactful on the defensive end of the floor.” Plus, the kid “came in with a great attitude” and “did what we asked him to do.” What a start, just a bummer it’s on pause.
A New Chance, A Rough Start
This is Carter’s third team in four months, which is wild for a former lottery pick. Sacramento drafted him 13th overall in 2024, traded him to Atlanta in June, and then the Hawks waived him in September just to get down to 15 players. So, yeah, this two-way deal is a huge “second draft opportunity” for him to get a fresh start and change of scenery. For Boston, it’s a shot at a player with real NBA skills who has a ton of room for growth, and they’re using their G League affiliate in Maine to invest in that young talent. The two-way deal gives the Celtics more control of Carter’s trajectory, and he’ll fill their third two-way slot alongside Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams, who we saw provide depth last season. The Celtics have hit on guys like Neemias Queta, who also came off the Kings’ scrap heap, and Ron Harper Jr. went from an Exhibit 10, to a two-way, to a three-year extension. That’s the path Boston hopes Carter can follow. He’s a smart, tenacious defender, and Mazzulla is clearly a fan.
There’s no firm timeline for Carter’s return, with reports saying he could miss a few more weeks. It’s a bummer, no doubt, but once he’s back, we’ll be watching to see if this lottery pick can pick up where he left off in that preseason opener and really make an impact for the Celtics. They’re clearly betting big on his future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
Leave a Reply