Blazers add ex-Celtics guard on two-way contract

While the sports world is focused on LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Portland Trail Blazers are making moves of their own. On Friday, the front office managed to add some depth to the backcourt by signing a former Boston Celtics guard on a two-way contract.

Reports indicate that the club signed John Tonje in free agency, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The former second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft appeared in six games last season in Boston.

“The Portland Trail Blazers are signing guard John Tonje on a two-way NBA contract, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tell ESPN,” Charania reported. “Tonje appeared in six games for the Celtics last season as a rookie.”

Tonje was originally drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 53rd overall pick in 2025. He was eventually traded to the Celtics before the deadline last season. The former Wisconsin Badger made his NBA debut in Boston’s 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns on February 24.

He happened to be a standout player during his time in the G League. After his six games played for the Celtics, the franchise sent him back down, where he recorded a career-high 42 points in a March contest with the Maine Celtics. Tonje joins the Blazers with an opportunity to earn a more prominent role on a two-way deal.

While it’s an exciting signing for John Tonje, he has quite the hill to climb to earn playing time in Portland. The Blazers’ backcourt is loaded with talent, which includes Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson.