Nathan Knight has joined the Boston Celtics on a two-way contract, rounding out their roster in preparation for the upcoming season opener. This move comes as Jay Scrubb, a two-way guard who suffered an ACL tear at the beginning of training camp, was waived.
Expressing his excitement about the opportunity, Knight stated, “Had conversations with Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations, and coach Joe Mazzulla, and they were willing to give me an opportunity to come here, put in work for them, and do what I can to contribute to the organization. I’m just happy to be here.”
Knight, 26, initially signed a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Subsequently, he inked a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the following year. His performance during the 2021-22 season likely caught the attention of the Celtics, particularly a standout game on December 27, 2021, when Knight scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Minnesota’s victory over Boston.
In the previous season, Knight signed a standard contract with the Timberwolves and averaged 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds over 37 games. In July, he signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks but was waived last week.
Discussing the challenges of the business, Knight emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and doing whatever is necessary to help the team win, even if it means taking on a supporting role.
The Celtics’ other two-way slots are occupied by guard JD Davison and big man Neemias Queta, while forward Wenyen Gabriel was waived last week. The team is likely to enter the season with 14 players on guaranteed contracts, and there are no immediate plans to convert Queta’s two-way deal into a standard contract.
Knight’s addition completes the roster in time for the season opener against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Regarding the starting lineup for the opening night, the Celtics have yet to confirm their choices. Coach Mazzulla has hinted at a rotating cast for the starting five, emphasizing the team’s flexibility to switch between big and small groups to exploit matchup advantages and increase their chances of winning.
Former Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has been attending the team’s practices as a guest, providing mentorship to younger players.
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