BOSTON — On Saturday afternoon, the Boston Celtics made what will likely be their final roster move of the season, converting JD Davison’s two-way contract to a standard two-year deal. Davison was the MVP of the G League this past year and led the Maine Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals.
In 45 G League games, Davison averaged 25.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field and 33.2% from beyond the three-point arc. This season marked his third on a two-way with the Celtics after being drafted in 2022, as well as the final year he will have been eligible to sign a two-way contract.
Now, he’ll have a chance to further prove himself in Boston.
Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics wanted to validate JD Davison
For the past three years, Davison has been one of the marquee players in Maine, and he’s quickly become a staple of that community. This season, he broke the all-time record for most points scored in a Maine jersey.
Before the Celtics’ game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon, Joe Mazzulla spoke about how Davison earned this opportunity with the big club.
“I think just validation in the work and the patience and the time from the years that he's been with us,” Mazzulla said. “Obviously it's easier to see the on-court development and how he's gotten better, but I think he's gotten better off the floor, as far as his leadership, his communication, his growth, his maturity, which, coming to the league at a young age, that's something that's going to be tested.
“So, I just felt it was the right thing to do because of what he's done for our program and what he's done as a player and what he's done as a person off the court. So, I'm really happy for him.”
The second year in Davison’s contract is a team option, per Noa Dalzell of SB Nation, as is the case with many two-way contract conversions, but it will allow him the opportunity to compete for a roster spot next season.
With question marks surrounding the future of the Celtics’ roster swirling due to tax issues and CBA restrictions, having the option to keep Davison around as a cheap depth option could be useful for Boston.
But for the time being, Davison will finally get to suit up for the Celtics in the playoffs, and Mazzulla and the organization were eager to reward him for his hard work.
