Heading into training camp ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season, the Boston Celtics have announced that they have cut rookie guard Hayden Gray.
The Celtics previously signed Gray to an Exhibit 10 contract after he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft. This type of contract allows the player to compete for a roster spot or be moved to the team’s G League affiliate.
Gray is now expected to join the Maine Celtics ahead of the start of the new season.
The Celtics are coming off a 61-21 regular season and a Conference semifinals exit to the New York Knicks last year. They’re entering the new season without their star player, Jayson Tatum, who went down with an Achilles injury in the series against the Knicks. Whether or not he’ll return to the court during the 2025/26 season is still unknown.
With Tatum out and an offseason that’s deemed by many as unsuccessful, it could be a tough year for Boston. Sportsbooks currently have them sitting just outside the top 15 in title projections. Odds for all teams are available on the top sportsbooks listed on esports.net.
After making several moves during the summer, the Celtics are now trying to figure out what their final roster will look like once the new NBA season kicks off.
Guard Hayden Gray was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft out of UC San Diego. However, this doesn’t mean he won’t get another chance with the Celtics, as he’ll be heading to the team’s G League affiliate in Maine.
The move is a part of the typical cutdown process every team goes through before the start of a new NBA season. While players on Exhibit 10 contracts often face long odds, Gray will still have a chance to impress and receive a future call-up. He’ll also have the chance to win significant bonuses if he impresses in the G League.
His likely path forward includes developing in Main, staying ready, and waiting for Boston to call him up during the season.
The team has several other players on similar contracts, including Ron Harper Jr., who was a part of the package in the trade that saw Georges Niang return to the Utah Jazz earlier in the offseason.
Also on similar contracts are Jalen Bridges and Kendall Brown, with both players being added to the Celtics training camp roster just a few days ago.
The Celtics’ two-way slots are currently occupied by guard Max Shulga, wing RJ Luis Jr., and center Amari Williams. This means the Celtics have limited room for movement, unless the team releases someone before the new season starts.
Two players on the Celtics’ 15-man roster are currently on partially guaranteed deals — Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta.
In his final year at college, Hayden Gray averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while also adding an impressive 3.1 steals. He shot 47.9% from the floor and 41.8% from three.
