The Celtics waived Exhibit 10 players Jay Scrubb, Ron Harper Jr. and Hason Ward, according to the NBA’s official transaction log. All three players were signed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Because they were signed to non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deals, Scrubb, Harper and Ward are all eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if they spend at least 60 days as an affiliate player with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine.
Scrubb has three years of NBA experience with the Clippers and Magic. The 55th pick in the 2020 draft, he spent the first two years of his career on a two-way deal with Los Angeles. He then played in the G League for the Magic’s affiliate in 2022/23, impressing enough to earn a two-way in March of that year. Last offseason, he signed a two-way deal with the Celtics but suffered an ACL injury. Upon rehabbing, the Celtics signed him to a training camp deal in October. He still has two-way eligibility, but fresh off the injury and with all three of their two-way deals filled, Scrubb is beginning the year in the G League.
Scrubb is a player to monitor. Still only 24 years old, he averaged 22.3 points and 5.6 points across two G League seasons. He could be a player the Celtics revisit again down the line once their roster opens up a bit more. Another team is free to sign or claim him if they so choose.
Harper is in a similar position to Scrubb. Though he went undrafted in 2022, he was signed to a two-way deal quickly after the draft by the Raptors. Like Scrubb, he didn’t play much with the Raptors, playing more extensively in the G League. He only appeared in six games in the G League last year, but he averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks in his last healthy season in 2022/23. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last year after only playing in one NBA game and was waived by the Raptors in December of last year.
Also similar to Scrubb, the Celtics offered Harper an Exhibit 10 contract and chance to compete for a roster spot now that he’s healthy. He made three preseason appearances with the Celtics and will be a player to watch down the line at 24 years old.
The Celtics signed Ward to an Exhibit 10 deal on Wednesday, with the move being designed to have Ward suit up for Maine this season. As we mentioned Wednesday, Ward is a 6’9″ forward who helped Iowa State to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season. He averaged 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds last year.
Boston theoretically could stand pat before the regular season begins. They’re at 18 players under contract. However, Boston still has a decision to make with Lonnie Walker IV. Walker is forcing the Celtics to make a tough decision, having averaged 7.3 points in just 16.4 minutes per game in the preseason. While the Celtics do have the roster space, it will be costly for them in tax dollars as they’re over the second apron. We’ll have clarity on what the Celtics decide to do before the unofficial cut-down day on Oct. 19.
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