Celtics Rumors: Boston Adds Wing After Making Unexpected Cut

The Boston Celtics acted urgently following Sunday’s 110-103 win over the Denver Nuggets, and it resulted in a depth addition.

Boston signed forward Miles Norris, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, to a two-way contract just a few hours after the team announced rookie Anton Watson had been waived. Watson was selected in the second round (54th overall) in last year’s NBA draft and made 16 appearances for Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, averaging 12.1 points with 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Watson, unlike fellow Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman, failed to make an appearance with the title-defending team in Boston. The Gonzaga product will now search for his next opportunity to continue his professional development.

The Celtics, on the other hand, now welcome Norris to the team. The 24-year-old spent most of this season with the Memphis Hustle — the G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies — and put together a strong 22-game run. Norris, a 6-foot-7 outside shooter, averaged 17.1 points, five rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range — attempting 8.6 per game.

Norris spent his senior high school season at New Hampshire’s Brewster Academy, where NBA talents Donovan Mitchell, TJ Warren, Matas Buzelis and Will Barton went before college. Norris then attended Oregon in 2018-19, spending a year alongside Celtics guard Payton Pritchard and then transferred to City College of San Francisco. He averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds across three seasons before embarking on a professional career.

Since college, Norris has undergone a journeyman’s route. He’s spent brief stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Çağdaş Bodrumspor in Turkey and the Grizzlies and is still yet to appear in an NBA regular-season contest.

Norris fills Watson’s roster spot and the team’s third two-way contract slot — Drew Peterson and JD Davison are Boston’s other two. Norris has shot a career 39% from three and ranks third in 3-pointers made (79) among all G League players this season.

Torrey Craig was presumably the final roster addition made, signed hours following the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, but that signing hasn’t paid its dividends. Craig has played limited minutes, mostly for defensive purposes, and hasn’t solved the team’s overarching need for depth to support the starting five and Pritchard.

“To me, the amount of minutes doesn’t add up to what the opportunity is,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters Sunday about Craig. “Playing 20 minutes is as important as playing 20 seconds if you execute the situation that we need you to do. He’s exactly where we need him to be. He has an open mind, he’s ready to impact the game in whatever way. What we do is put our guys in the best position to help us impact winning.”

It’s a tall task for any newcomer to help light a fuse off Boston’s bench, but if there’s a silver lining for Norris to consider entering a pressure-filled situation, it’s an opportunity. Mazzulla hasn’t shied away from getting creative with rotations and opening the door for dark-horse candidates to make an impression.

Boston has already provided Peterson and Davidson minutes, so Norris could be up next.