Josh Minott’s $2.4 million salary is fully guaranteed for 2025-26.

The Boston Celtics were forced to undergo a roster rebuild due to the regulations and restrictions of the new CBA in the NBA. With Boston’s high payroll in the last few years, it was inevitable that it wouldn’t be sustainable beyond the 2024-25 season.

The smoothest way to do this was by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. It also meant being unable to retain Luke Kornet, who most deservingly cashed in with the San Antonio Spurs ($45 million), and it’s more likely than not we’ll see Al Horford in another team’s jersey this season.

In Boston’s new and improving team, they signed free agent wing Josh Minott. He was drafted 45th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s played in 93 games over his first three years, averaging 2.3 points on 49/34/90 splits and 1.0 rebounds per game in his career.

While in Minnesota, Minott didn’t play too much on a loaded roster that featured many players ahead of him on the depth chart. Minott said that when he talked to Celtics GM Brad Stevens, he sold him on the fact that he could compete for legitimate playing time.

“I feel like providing that menace on defense and knocking down open shots. Running the floor, spacing the floor, being able to move without the ball, create without the ball, stuff like that.”

Minott is also ready to prove himself to head coach Joe Mazzulla after they talked about what the team is like.

“Just nothing is given, everything is earned. Don’t expect anything and obviously that’s everything to me. I just need an opportunity to get the chance to prove who I am and show what I can do.”

Minott’s path to get on the court is going to be through his defense. He has great size as a wing at 6-foot-8 and with a 6-foot-11 wingspan. He uses his long arms to his advantage to poke the ball away and turn defense into offense. 

The opportunity is going to be available for Minott to take. Not to mention there will be minutes to go around the position with Jayson Tatum recovering from ACL surgery and with no real timeline for his return.

Minott will be competing with Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Georges Niang for rotation minutes. I believe that Minott has a unique skill set that nobody else has on the team in terms of his stature and play style.

One last note. It’s worth mentioning that Minott’s contract became fully guaranteed for 2025-26 after July 15. He signed for $5 million over two years, so $2.4 million is now fully guaranteed for this season.

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