For Boston, this is exactly the type of low-risk move that makes sense at this stage of the offseason.
Devin Carter isn't arriving with a guaranteed place in the Celtics' rotation. He isn't even guaranteed a standard roster spot. What Boston is getting is an extended look at a 24-year-old who was selected 13th overall only two years ago, without having to make a major commitment to find out whether there is still an NBA player worth developing.
And there are reasons to find out.
Carter's second season was a significant step forward. After averaging just 3.8 points in 11.0 minutes as a rookie, he increased that to 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes last season. He also started 12 of his 38 appearances.
Those aren't numbers that suddenly make Carter a hidden star, but they do suggest Boston isn't simply taking a swing based on where he was drafted.
The obvious problem is his shooting.
Carter made only 26.3% of his three-point attempts last season and is a 27.4% three-point shooter through his first 74 NBA games. For a Celtics team that places such an emphasis on spacing and perimeter shooting, that is going to be difficult to ignore.
But training camp is exactly where Boston can decide whether the rest of his game is good enough to justify patience with the shot.
Carter brings defensive potential, rebounding from the guard position and the ability to attack rather than simply living on the perimeter. There have also been flashes of considerably more offensive upside than his averages suggest. Against Indiana last season, Carter scored 24 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter.
That inconsistency is probably the reason this opportunity is interesting.
Boston isn't signing the finished version of Devin Carter. They're effectively asking whether the player Sacramento thought was worth the 13th pick in 2024 can still be found underneath two uneven NBA seasons.
If the answer is no, the Celtics haven't risked much.
If the answer is yes, they've picked up a young former lottery selection at precisely the point when his value has fallen furthest.
The next few weeks therefore matter considerably more for Carter than the wording of today's deal. He now has to show Boston that his defence, athleticism and development potential can outweigh the shooting concerns and earn him one of those final places.
LEAN EDGE VERDICT: this isn't a signing that changes Boston's season today, but it's a very sensible gamble. Carter is still only 24 and showed genuine improvement last year. If the Celtics can improve his perimeter shot, a player currently fighting simply to make the roster could become a useful piece of their guard depth.
