Celtics to waive forward Jabari Parker
The Celtics are waiving forward Jabari Parker, according to a league source. Parker’s $2.3 million salary was set to guarantee at the start of the regular season.
Boston now has one open roster spot and one open two-way contract slot.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens said recently the team would likely wait to see what players became available after other cuts around the league before deciding how to use the second two-way spot. The Celtics, who are operating above the luxury tax threshold, could simply keep the 15th roster spot open. In addition to being a cost-saving measure, it could also create options for two-for-one trades.
Also, two-way contract players are now eligible to be active for up to 50 games per season, essentially serving as end-of-roster depth at a lower price.
Several notable veterans have been cut in recent days, including Dante Exum, Avery Bradley, Kris Dunn, and Jordan Bell.
The Celtics signed Parker, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2014 draft, to a two-year deal last April, but just $100,000 of this season’s salary was guaranteed. He played in 10 games with the Celtics last season, averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He started Boston’s preseason finale against the Heat on Friday, registering four points and 3 steals.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.
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