The Boston Celtics are bringing in another veteran presence this summer.
Sources inform The Athletic's Jay King that Boston is planning to bring free agent small forward Jalen Bridges in to join its Summer League roster this month. King notes that Bridges will have "a chance to make the roster" with the Celtics this fall, suggesting that he will sign an Exhibit 10 training camp agreement.
Jalen Bridges has been added to the Celtics summer league roster, I've been told, and will be going to camp with the team in the fall with a chance to make the roster. He played for Phoenix on a two-way contract as a rookie.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) July 2, 2025
The 6-foot-8 wing began his pro career with the Phoenix Suns in 2024-25 on a two-way deal, cameoing for just eight contests in Phoenix proper.
Across 3.8 minutes per, Bridges averaged 1.1 points on .286/.286/.750 shooting splits, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.5 rebounds — but those stats shouldn't necessarily be counted against him. The 24-year-old posted better numbers with the Valley Suns, Phoenix's G League affiliate.
In 31 games for the Valley Suns, Bridges notched averages of 14.3 points on .425/.386/.794 shooting splits, 5.7 boards, 1.6 dimes, 1.3 swipes, and 0.7 rejections a night.
Boston's Summer League roster is gradually coming together.
Bridges will join undrafted former UC San Diego guard Hayden Gray, undrafted ex-Penn State forward Zach Hicks, unselected former Gonzaga forward Ben Gregg and undrafted St. John's guard Aaron Scott on the club's Summer League team. They'll suit up next to rookie draft picks Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams and Max Shulga, returning Celtics Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Miles Norris.
The Celtics' summer has been perhaps defined by the team's trades, however. Boston flipped center Kristaps Porzingis and All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday in separate salary dump deals, netting score-first guard Anfernee Simons and stretch four Georges Niang plus some second round draft equity.
The team also lost backup center Luke Kornet to a lucrative new contract with the San Antonio Spurs, with former All-Star big Al Horford still a free agent and likely headed elsewhere. Boston has signed big man Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott to minimum deals, but otherwise hasn't been particularly active in free agency.
Boston appears to be poised for a "gap" year situation, with six-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum likely out for all of 2025-26 while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear. Should this be the case, the Celtics will use the season to try out young talent it can add on team-friendly deals, with the NBA's punitive luxury tax system looming over everything.