Boston Celtics release rookie forward, open up roster spot

The Celtics are waiving rookie forward RJ Luis Jr., league sources tell MassLive. The two-way forward was previously acquired by Boston in a trade with Utah back in August that sent Georges Niang and two second-round picks to the Jazz in exchange for the undrafted rookie. Michael Scotto of Hoopshype was first to report on the release.

According to Jake Fischer on Bleacher Report, Luis Jr. was deciding between the Utah Jazz and Celtics back in June he went undrafted before he ultimately decided to ink a two-way contract with Utah. However, after getting a closer look at Luis Jr. after the Niang trade, the Celtics are opting to move in a different direction with their final two-way spot. League sources tell MassLive that Ron Harper Jr. is a strong candidate to fill the spot after he was signed to a training camp offer earlier this summer. Harper Jr. still has one year of eligibility as a two-way player and has appeared early in games with Boston’s regulars for Joe Mazzulla during Boston’s preseason schedule.

Luis Jr. did not suit up for the team in Summer League due to a leg injury and played in three preseason games for Boston, averaging just 2.6 minutes per game.

The 22-year-old spent a season playing at UMass during the 2022-23 season and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Freshman team. For his sophomore season, he transferred to St. John’s, playing for two years under legendary coach Rick Pitino. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists last year earning second-team All-American honors before declaring for the draft.

The Celtics’ opening night roster will be set next week after the team wraps up their preseason schedule Wednesday night against the Raptors.