The Celtics have exercised JD Davison’s team option 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 will be worth $2.27 million.
Last year, Davison had the best G League season of his career, averaging 25.6 points, 7.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals en route to being named G League MVP.
Davison, who was drafted with the 53rd overall pick by the Celtics in 2022, had spent the last three seasons on a two-way contract with the Celtics, but has gotten limited on-court opportunities with the parent club. He appeared in a career-high 16 NBA games last year, but in his three-year career, he’s only played 198 regular-season NBA minutes.
If Davison does stick around next year, he could be presented with a larger opportunity, as Jrue Holiday, who started at guard for the past two seasons, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week. Davison could also still be used in a trade or waived, given the non-guaranteed nature of his contract.
Last year, Davison’s teammates sang his praises and expressed their belief he was ready for the next level.
“JD is a really good passer, and he has a really good feel for the game, especially when he’s playing pick-and-roll,” Al Horford said. “He’s a real guard. He’s able to kind of manipulate the defense. And then his ability to get to the basket, he’s really explosive.”
In the spring, Holiday said he expects Davison to make the transition to the NBA soon.
“He’s definitely going to be a really good NBA player,” Holiday said.
Ahead of the playoffs, the Celtics converted his two-way contract to a standard deal, with a team option in the second year. That option has now been exercised.
“I just felt it was the right thing to do because of what he’s done for our program and what he’s done as a player and what he’s done as a person off the court,” Joe Mazzulla said after Davison’s contract was first converted. “So, I’m really happy for him.”
