The Celtics have signed Max Shulga to a two-way contract, sources told CelticsBlog.
Shulga, who was selected with the No. 57th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft, averaged 5 points, 3.8 assists, and just 0.8 turnovers across five Summer League games.
In Las Vegas, Celtics Summer League head coach Matt Reynolds praised Shulga’s steadiness as one of the team’s primary playmakers.
“He doesn’t get rattled out there — never too high, never too low,” Reynolds said. “He just gets us into an action, pressuring the ball up the floor.”
Max Shulga entered the NBA as a sharpshooter
The 23-year-old Ukrainian spent three years at Utah State and his last two seasons at VCU, averaging 10.1 points and shooting 39.2% from three throughout his career. He was teammates with Celtics center Neemias Queta for one season at Utah State.
Shulga said earlier this month that as he prepares for the transition to the league, he’s been watching film from Minnesota Timberwolves forward Donte DiVincenzo.
“He knocks down open threes, plays defense, disrupts on the defensive end, and when it’s needed, he can get on the ball — playmake, create his own shot, create for his teammates,” Shulga said. “I’ve been watching a lot of him.”
Two of three incoming Celtics rookies have officially signed with the team
Hugo Gonzalez, who was selected with the 28th overall pick last month, signed a four-year, $14.3 million contract with the Celtics earlier this month, per Spotrac.
Amari Williams, the Kentucky center who was drafted with the 46th overall pick, remains unsigned. He averaged 6.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in four Summer League games.
As a two-way player for the Celtics, Max Shulga is likely to spend most of the year in Maine, where he’ll play under Phil Pressey and alongside fellow Summer League guard Hayden Gray, among others. He can appear in up to 50 games for the Celtics, and will earn $636,435 for his rookie season.
The official Maine Celtics roster has yet to be announced, but two recent fixtures of the program — JD Davison and Drew Peterson — won’t be returning to Maine. Davison, the franchise’s scoring, assists, and steals leader, was waived by the Celtics after three consecutive two-way contracts with the organization. He has since signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.
Drew Peterson, who was on a two-way contract with the Celtics for the past two seasons, signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets earlier this month.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
