The Boston Celtics made a significant move by acquiring All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, solidifying their position as one of the top contenders for this season’s NBA championship.

 

Their earlier sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards for Kristaps Porzingis added to the strength of their starting five, making them a formidable force in the Eastern Conference. However, the Holiday trade did impact their frontcourt depth, which was already compromised due to the loss of Grant Williams in free agency.

 

To address this, the Celtics recently signed big man Nathan Knight to a two-way contract, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Nathan Knight was released by the New York Knicks earlier this week, and the Celtics wasted no time in bringing him on board.

 

Knight’s NBA career has primarily seen him playing on two-way contracts. He made his NBA debut during the 2020-21 season with the Atlanta Hawks and spent the past two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the course of his career, Knight has participated in 108 NBA games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. His shooting percentages stand at 47.6% from the field, 26.5% from beyond the arc, and 73.8% from the free-throw line.

 

With the departures of Robert Williams III and Grant Williams, the Celtics currently rely on Luke Kornet as their primary big man coming off the bench, especially if they choose to start Al Horford. Nathan Knight, along with fellow two-way contract player Neemias Queta, may have opportunities to contribute meaningful minutes right from the beginning of the season. It’s important to note that both players are restricted to a maximum of 50 games unless they are converted to standard contracts.