Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Boogie Fland (2) shoots against St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) during the first half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Celtics Sign Guard Days After Cutting Him

Originally posted on Boston Celtics on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 5:30 PM ET

Just days after cutting former two-way rookie swingman RJ Luis Jr., the Boston Celtics have opted to re-sign him on an Exhibit 10 training camp deal, reports Noa Dalzell of CLNS.

NEW: RJ Luis, who was on a two-way contract with the Celtics throughout camp but waived earlier this week, has now signed an Exhibit 10 contract and will join the Maine Celtics.
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 18, 2025

Per Dalzell, Boston will soon cut Luis again — so that he can stay in their system and sign with their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

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A 6-foot-6 St. John's product, Luis went unselected in this summer's 2025 NBA Draft, but quickly latched on with the Utah Jazz via a two-way deal. Boston acquired him and a trade exception so that it could offload stretch four Georges Niang, a pair of second-round draft picks, and save cash.

Clearly, the Celtics didn't love what they saw out of him in the season's exhibition stretch. He couldn't have been too happy with it, either. In three healthy preseason games, Luis averaged 2.0 points on 75 percent field goal shooting and 0.7 rebounds.

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On the Maine Celtics, Luis will become eligible for an extension for as much as $85,300 — should he stay with Boston's G League affiliate for at least 60 days.

Earlier this summer, Boston traded former oft-hurt, 3-and-D starting center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics brought back Niang and a second-round draft pick.

A Summer of Change

So essentially, with Luis now not valued enough to even play up to 50 games as a two-way player yet, Boston ditched its starting center and one of its own second-round draft picks for a trade exception.

Boston team president and general manager Brad Stevens has blatantly been looking to cut costs this summer. Beyond the Porzingis deal, Stevens also traded away six-time All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday.

Additionally, Stevens let second- and third-string centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet depart for the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in exchange for more lucrative free agents offers than Stevens would tender.

The Celtics will be without All-NBA superstar power forward Jayson Tatum for most or even all of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from an Achilles tendon tear. Boston will be looking for young players to pop, but it seems like Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Jordan Walsh will get the first crack at major rotation run.