The Celtics have exercised JD Davison’s group choice for the upcoming season, Michael Scotto of Hoop Hype first reported. The one-year deal is non-guaranteed, per the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, and shall be value $2.27 million.
Final yr, Davison had the very best G League season of his profession, averaging 25.6 factors, 7.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals en path to being named G League MVP.
Davison, who was drafted with the 53rd general choose by the Celtics in 2022, had spent the final three seasons on a two-way contract with the Celtics, however has gotten restricted on-court alternatives with the guardian membership. He appeared in a career-high 16 NBA video games final yr, however in his three-year profession, he’s solely performed 198 regular-season NBA minutes.
If Davison does stick round subsequent yr, he might be offered with a bigger alternative, as Jrue Vacation, who began at guard for the previous two seasons, was traded to the Portland Path Blazers earlier this week. Davison might additionally nonetheless be utilized in a commerce or waived, given the non-guaranteed nature of his contract.
Final yr, Davison’s teammates sang his praises and expressed their perception he was prepared for the subsequent degree.
“JD is a extremely good passer, and he has a extremely good really feel for the sport, particularly when he’s taking part in pick-and-roll,” Al Horford mentioned. “He’s an actual guard. He’s in a position to form of manipulate the protection. After which his potential to get to the basket, he’s actually explosive.”
Within the spring, Vacation mentioned he expects Davison to make the transition to the NBA quickly.
“He’s undoubtedly going to be a extremely good NBA participant,” Vacation mentioned.
Forward of the playoffs, the Celtics transformed his two-way contract to an ordinary deal, with a group choice within the second yr. That choice has now been exercised.
“I simply felt it was the appropriate factor to do due to what he’s performed for our program and what he’s performed as a participant and what he’s performed as an individual off the court docket,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned after Davison’s contract was first transformed. “So, I’m actually comfortable for him.”
