Boston's training camp group is set at twenty players, but the roster's final two-way slot, flagged open since September 12, still has no name attached. Two roster moves this month, Gabe McGlothan and Hayden Gray in, Max Shulga out, are the only changes to a group that has otherwise played out on schedule.
Camp roster set at twenty, one slot still blank.
The camp group now stands at twenty, after Gabe McGlothan and Hayden Gray joined September 23 and Max Shulga left September 21. Caleb Grill's own camp deal, signed September 14, lasted a single day before he left the team. The roster's final two-way slot, flagged open since September 12, still carries no name.
The preseason arrives before anything counts.
Four preseason games open the calendar: October 8 at the Cavaliers, October 10 against the 76ers, October 14 against the Hornets and October 16 at the 76ers. The regular season opener follows October 20 at the Pistons, on NBC and Peacock. The record reads 0-0; last season's 56-26 finish carries into camp as reputation, not results.
The payroll is tight before a single game is played.
Boston carries $203.9M in salary, $3.5M into luxury-tax territory and $5.1M short of the $209.0M first apron. Tatum's $58.5M and George's $54.1M lead the books, with White at $30.3M and Robinson at $15.0M behind them. Last season's 8.3 net rating, fourth-best in the league, is the baseline this group is paid to protect.
George's health is the swing variable, not his talent.
CelticsBlog raised the question this week of what a title would mean for George's legacy. The answer starts with availability: he played 37 games last season at age 36, and Tatum, back after a 16-game season, carries a version of the same question. Camp will be the first real test for both.
Is Jayson Tatum cleared for training camp?
Yes. His status cleared on September 24, resolving the concern that had followed him into camp.
Who fills Boston's final two-way spot?
No one yet. The spot has been open since a September 12 report flagged it, with no candidate named since.
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