Austin Ainge: Several Key Free Agents Took Pay Cuts To Return To Celtics

Austin Ainge: Several Key Free Agents Took Pay Cuts To Return To Celtics

Banner 19 is on. The entire band is essentially coming back. This offseason, the Celtics were able to retain Xavier Tillman (link), Luke Kornet (link), and Neemias Queta (link) on cheap deals. Deals that Austin Ainge hinted that one or all of them took less in order to return to the defending champs.

#Celtics’ assistant GM, Austin Ainge, confirms some players turned down more money elsewhere to stay in Boston pic.twitter.com/4GJPuDYBXc

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) July 8, 2024

“We had some guys turn down more money other places to come back,”

“It feels really good that guys we care about a lot to come back and go for another run.”

Thus far, the only Celtics from the Banner 18 team that aren’t locked into the roster right now are Svi Mykhailiuk, who probably lost his roster spot to first round pick Baylor Scheierman, and Oshae Brissett, who declined his player option. Brissett could be an option to return if he fails to find a bigger role elsewhere. The clock is certainly ticking on that. Boston still has one open roster spot so they could be trying to reel in a ring chaser too.

The only other change on the entire roster will be second round pick Anton Watson taking up one of the two-way contracts.

Neemias Queta: It’s Time For The Celtics To Prioritize Him

Most importantly, the Celtics got key extensions done for Derrick White (link) and Jayson Tatum (link). This group is locked in for the foreseeable future. The repeat is so on and this team looks poised to do it all over again. Who is stopping them?

This offseason was a success for Boston. Time will tell who ultimately grabs that final roster spot.

Click Here for more NBA Content

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out the Vendetta Shop