1stWhistle is reader-supported. This article contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Carter gets a development runway after flatlining with the Kings
The Boston Celtics converted Devin Carter’s Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way deal, giving the 2024 lottery pick a structured path to rebuild his career after a forgettable start in Sacramento. The 13th overall pick in 2024 barely got off the ground as a King—shoulder surgery consumed his rookie year, and when he finally debuted in January 2025, he couldn’t carve out consistent playing time. Over 74 games across two seasons with Sacramento, Carter’s line reads as a cautionary tale: 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes, shooting just .401 from the field and .274 from three.
Sacramento’s front office essentially paid to move on in June, attaching a second-round pick to ship Carter to Atlanta. The Hawks waived him in September, clearing the path to Boston. The Celtics had an open two-way slot and no urgent need to shuffle the roster—they signed Carter to a camp deal, and his preseason audition went well enough to justify the conversion.
One strong night doesn’t erase two years of futility
Carter’s October 8 debut against Cleveland turned heads: 17 points, five rebounds, three assists in 25 minutes, and Boston outscored the Cavaliers by 22 while he was on the floor. That kind of individual performance—efficient scoring with secondary playmaking in limited time—is exactly what a flyer on a young prospect should look like in preseason. It’s not a prediction. It’s a data point. The question is whether he can sustain anything close to that efficiency and aggression once the regular season begins and defensive intensity ramps up.
The two-way contract pays $678,882 and caps him at 50 regular season games. That ceiling is deliberate: Boston wants him available for G League assignment to build continuity and log uninterrupted development time, while maintaining the option to call him up if injury or performance opens a slot in the rotation. Carter will need both avenues. His preseason window is limited—illness kept him out of early action—so the real evaluation happens once the Celtics and their G League affiliate get serious reps in.
Boston’s tax-avoidance puzzle still has pieces missing
The Celtics’ two-way infatuation this offseason reflects a deeper constraint: they’re trying to stay competitive at championship level while managing payroll creep. Two-way players don’t count toward the salary cap, making them a budget-friendly development tool for contenders. Carter is part of that calculus—a reclamation project on a roster deep enough to absorb failure. If he rediscovers even 40% of the upside that made him a lottery pick, Boston bought lottery-ticket optionality on the cheap. If he doesn’t, he’s a G League fixture and a sunk Exhibit 10 cap charge. Either way, the Celtics move on without dead money.
Subscribe to the Daily Sports Digest for more on roster moves, draft fallout, and contender construction across the NBA.
Want to rep the story? Shop Boston Celtics fan gear on Fanatics.