BOSTON – Brad Stevens gave his players the day off on Tuesday.
When they return to the floor on Wednesday for practice, they will be light a few bodies with the Celtics waiving three training camp invitees – guard Levi Randolph, forward Coty Clarke and Malcolm Miller who is also a forward.
The lone training camp invitee without a guaranteed contract that’s still around is 6-foot-2 guard Corey Walden.
Celtics head coach said the decision to keep Walden around was to have an extra ball-handler.
Boston guards Isaiah Thomas (shin), Marcus Smart (strep throat) and Terry Rozier (left knee) have all missed time during the preseason with injuries that left the Celtics short at the point guard position.
At one point during the preseason, rookie R.J. Hunter found himself playing the point – a position he said he has not played since he was in middle school.
Shortly before the Boston Celtics’ preseason Gala on Tuesday, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens acknowledged Walden being kept around was primarily to ensure the team wouldn’t have to press a non-point guard into duty.
Boston Celtics
“Just to have an extra point guard so we don’t make Kelly Olynyk handle the ball or R.J.,” quipped Stevens. “Or anyone else.”
Boston’s roster now stands at 17 players which means there’s still some work to do in order to get them down to the NBA-maximum number of 15 players with guaranteed contracts.
In addition to Walden, the most likely player the Celtics will part with is Perry Jones III. Boston will attempt to get something for him via trade, but that’s unlikely to happen.
Jones remains a player high on potential, but low on proving himself worthy of a roster spot ahead of another Celtics player currently with a guaranteed contract.
Boston acquired Jones from Oklahoma City (along with cash and a second-round pick) in the offseason as a salary dump move, while sending the Thunder a second-round pick.