After three seasons split between Boston and Maine, JD Davison has earned an official Celtics roster spot.
The Celtics on Saturday filled their final open 15-man roster slot — which had been left vacant for the entire season — by converting Davison’s two-way contract to a permanent NBA deal, his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
It’s reportedly a two-year contract for Davison that runs through next season.
Davison has seen minimal NBA playing time since the Celtics drafted him in the second round out of Alabama in 2022 (181 career minutes across 35 appearances), but he was the Most Valuable Player of the G League this season, averaging 25.1 points, 7.4 assists and 5.2 points per game for the Maine Celtics.
The 6-foot-1 point guard was even more productive during Maine’s recent playoff run, which ended in the Eastern Conference finals. He topped 30 points in all three games, averaging 34.7 points, 13.3 assists and 2.0 blocks per contest while going 10-for-24 from 3-point range (41.7%).
With the parent club, Davison has been stuck behind Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard on the backcourt depth chart, limiting him to 15 mostly garbage-time appearances this season.
White, Holiday and Pritchard all are signed through at least the 2026-27 season, but the Celtics could look to shed some of their soon-to-be record-setting payroll this offseason to avoid further luxury tax penalties, and the 34-year-old Holiday is a potential trade candidate.
“I think it’s always tough being here because we’re balancing winning and developing at the same time, and it takes a level of patience and understanding the long term and still trying to win in the short term,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said earlier this month. “I think (Davison’s) leadership has really grown, and just his ability to impact the game in different ways. … (He’s) just getting more comfortable playing with the ball and without the ball when he’s with us. He usually has it most of the time in Maine, but here, not as much. But just putting his leadership and his patience into seeing what he can look like as he continues to get better and better.”
The Celtics took a similar step to fill their final roster vacancy last season, converting center Neemias Queta’s two-way deal before their NBA championship run. Queta only played in blowouts during last year’s playoff run but had a larger role this season as Boston’s fourth big man behind Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
Davison, Queta and the rest of the Celtics’ deep reserves should see ample playing time in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden, as Boston is expected to sit most or all of its starters to prepare for the playoffs.
