Celtics sign Jordan Walsh to three-year, $15 million contract extension
The Celtics continue to secure their supporting cast with contract extensions, this time agreeing to a three-year pact with swingman Jordan Walsh for $15 million, according to an NBA source.
On Tuesday, Walsh, 22, had his contract guaranteed for next season at $2.4 million and would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Celtics decided to extend Walsh, like teammate Neemias Queta, with the raise kicking in for the 2027-28 season.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has thrived in securing his role players to reasonable contracts, such as Payton Pritchard, who signed a four-year, $30 million extension three years ago that has become of the NBA’s biggest bargains. Queta, a former two-way-contract player, agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal that begins with the 2027-28 season.
Walsh was a second-round pick in 2023 who has slowly developed into a rotation piece, playing in 68 games last season and averaging 5.4 points and four rebounds. He shot 38.4 percent from the 3-point line.
The retooled Celtics will rely heavier on their reserves, such as Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. Walsh is expected to assume an expanded role behind the likes of Derrick White and Jayson Tatum.
“The biggest thing I’m trying to change is my identity offensively,” Walsh said July 12 after watching the Celtics’ summer league team in Las Vegas. “I’m trying to become a way better offensive player, trying to fit in situations that I didn’t fit in last year. Trying to be the answer to situations that [the coaching staff] took me out of. That’s kind of my goal.”
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While Walsh has emerged as a plus defender, his scoring has been an issue at times. He said he would like to be a more consistent option.
Like many of his teammates, Walsh struggled in the first-round series against the 76ers, missing 15 of 19 shots and 10 of 12 3-point attempts. After averaging nearly 18 minutes per game during the regular season, his minutes were sliced to an average of 12.7 in the Philadelphia series.
“I feel like there’s a lot of times it would become a clutch moment or we needed a bucket and I would have to be subbed out,” he said. “I talked to my [player development coach] and I said, ‘When those moments come I always want to be the best option.’ So to me, it’s working on my shot, working on my handle.”
The Celtics have one roster spot and two two-way spots remaining as they look to put the finishing touches on their club.
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