The Boston Celtics have made their first significant roster moves as the 2025-26 NBA regular season approaches, trimming their squad to meet the league’s 18-player limit, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith. With the preseason and training camp now behind them, the defending champions have waived three players—RJ Luis Jr., Aaron Scott, and Hason Ward—finalizing a streamlined roster of 14 standard players and a full complement of three two-way contract players.
The trio of waived players isn’t leaving the Celtics’ orbit entirely. Smith reports that Luis, Scott, and Ward are expected to join the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G League affiliate, to continue their development under the team’s watchful eye. This move reflects the Celtics’ strategy of maintaining depth while fostering talent in their developmental pipeline.
Ward and Scott were recent additions to the Celtics’ camp, having signed with the team earlier this week. Meanwhile, Luis arrived in Boston as part of a trade that sent veteran forward Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz at the start of the 2025 NBA offseason. Though their time on the main roster was brief, their transition to the G League offers a chance to hone their skills and potentially earn a call-up in the future.
As the Celtics gear up for another title run, these roster cuts signal a focused approach, balancing a lean, battle-ready core with a commitment to nurturing young talent in Maine. Fans can expect Boston’s 14-man roster and three two-way players to hit the court with championship intensity when the regular season tips off.