The Boston Celtics have been the surprise of the NBA this season and are legit NBA title contenders with Jayson Tatum back in the fold. Still, the Celtics made a pair of roster moves to comply with NBA rules. But the moves were also made with an eye towards the playoffs and next season.
Celtics Still Planning Another Roster Move After Promoting Charles Bassey and Max Shulga. What Do The Signings Mean Going Forward?
Boston has been a top-10 team all season long despite making several cost-cutting moves in the offseason and being without Tatum for the first four months. The Celtics have been even better since the calendar changed to 2026.
Since January 1, 2026, January 1 has gone 24-11 with a +8.2 scoring margin. The Celtics have split their last six contests and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 111-100 victory over the Washington Wizards. Jaylen Brown has continued to produce career numbers. Meanwhile, Tatum has been productive since returning; he has been inefficient in his four appearances. Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta are among the other Celtics having career campaigns.
Overall, the Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference with a 44-23 record with the league’s third-best point differential at +7.8. A big part of the Celtics’ success has been their continuity; they have used just 20 players. While they have used 17 starting lineups, four of those lineups have been used nine or more times.
Nikola Vucevic is currently the only Celtic on the sidelines. Vucevic underwent surgery last Saturday to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger and could miss the rest of the regular season as he is not expected to be reevaluated in two to three weeks. His injury left the C’s with 15 healthy players, including three players on two-way deals.
The Celtics have been operating with fewer than 14 players under standard contracts sincMarch 1 1. However, March 1st came into league compliance with a pair of roster moves today.
© Petre Thomas, Imagn Images
Celtics Sign Max Shulga and Charles Bassey
Boston officially promoted Max Shulga, who had been on a two-way contract, to a standard contract and signed free agent Charles Bassey to a 10-day deal yesterday. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported yesterday that Shulga’s deal is for two years, when it was announced that an agreement between the sides was in place.
Shulga was selected with the 57th pick in the 2026 draft by the Orlando Magic. But, the Celtics acquired the 23-year-old Ukrainian in a day two draft day deal along with the draft rights to Amari Williams and two future second round picks (2026 and 2027) in exchange for Noah Penda. Williams had his two-way deal converted to a standard deal by the Celtics at the trade deadline.
Shulga has spent most of the season with the G League Maine Red Claws, though he appeared in four games with the Celtics, totaling six minutes. During his time with the Red Claws, the 6-4 athletic guard has shown off his two-way ability, playmaking, and shot-making prowess.
Shulga averages 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals in 34 minutes over 36 appearances. Shulga has knocked down 2.4 threes with shooting splits of 42/36.7/69.3. Additionally, he has scored 20 or more points 10 times, including three double-doubles.
Bassey Returns to the Celtics After Participating In The Summer with the Team
Bassey, who was part of the Celtics 2026 Summer League squad, has bounced around the league this year. The 25-year-old participated in training camp with the Atlanta Hawks, but didn’t make the team. However, he didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity, signing a 10-day deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. He also signed a pair of 10-day deals with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bassey, who has 116 NBA games of experience, has appeared in just three games and logged 36 minutes with the Grizzlies and 76ers, though he has been extremely active on the glass with 15 boards (seven offensive). He has also had stints with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors and Delaware Blue Coats this year, averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks.
What Do The Signings Mean For The Celtics?
Bassey was signed primarily to provide depth in the frontcourt with Vucevic sidelined. While Bassey may get two 10-day deals with the Celtics, he likely won’t see much time on the court. Unless Tatum sits out or either Queta or Luka Garza gets injured, as Amari Williams, Sam Hauser, and Jordan Walsh are also capable of playing up front. Like Bassey, Williams can play either the 4 or 5.
Bassey will make $131,970 during this 10-day stint. Now that Shulga is on a standard contract, he is eligible for the playoffs. He carries a $212,145 cap hit for the remainder of the season, though next year’s deal is nonguaranteed, per Brian Ranonguaranteed.
Bassey and Shulga are the third and fourth different players the Celtics have signed to NBA contracts since the trade deadline. Dalano Blanton (10-day) and John Tonje (10-day) are the others to get a deal. The four signings have allowed the Celtics to remain below the NBA’s luxury threshold. All four deals have cost the Celtics approximately $549,238 in cap hit.
“Those savings will help keep the team under the luxury tax for the season after the team’s cost-cutting moves at the trade deadline,” Brian Robb of MassLive said late Saturday night. “Shulga is signing a two-year deal, per sources, that is non-guaranteed or next season, 2026; SaMarch 10nio, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) shoots the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Ron Harper Jr. Is Expected To Join 15-Man Roster Before Season Concludes.
With the signings, Boston is $293,000 under the luxury tax. Once Bassey’s 10-day deal is up, they will have to sign another player. Robb, in another article, believes that Ron Harper Jr. will ultimately get the last contract for the Celtics this year.
“It comes down to the cap hit,” Raab responded, talking about Harper Jr. not already being on the 15-man roster. “The team doesn’t want to sign him now because it’s higher than Shulga since he’s a veteran. The Celtics will eventually bring him aboard the 15-man roster, but there is no rush to do so right now. He’s got plenty of games remaining where he can play for Boston on a two-way contract, and Boston has until the last day of the regular season to convert his deal to a standard contract, which will make him eligible for the postseason. Harper Jr. will likely be the last signing to the main roster in April.”
Harper Jr., who has made 14 of his 21 appearances over the last two months, has stepped up his efficiency in March. In six games, Harper Jr. has produced 5.5 points a game with a true shooting percentage of 78.6%.
If Harper Jr. is indeed promoted, he will likely receive a similar two-year deal to the one Shulga received. Thus, Harper’s deal for next season is projected to be non-guaranteed. If Harper Jr. is guaranteed to fruition, Boston will have 14 players on the books, including the projected No. 24 draft pick for next year, with a salary cap hit of $186,680, 000. Therefore, the Celtics project to be around $14 million below the luxury tax. Queta, who could get a new deal this summer, Walsh, and Williams join Shulga and potentially Harper Jr. with nonguaranteed deals next season.