The two-week roster gambit is over. After meticulously operating with just 12 players to dance along the luxury tax line, the Boston Celtics are finally mandated to fill out their bench. And in a move that brings a summer fan favorite back to the organization, the team is turning to a familiar big man to weather the storm.
The Celtics intend to sign center Charles Bassey to a 10-day contract, a league source confirmed to MassLive on Saturday. The news, first reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, comes as Boston faces an NBA roster requirement to add two players by Sunday after spending the last two weeks with only 12 healthy bodies on the standard roster.
Charles Bassey
Bassey’s signing is the first step in addressing a frontcourt that was suddenly thinned by injury. Veteran big man Nikola Vucevic, acquired at the trade deadline to fortify the center rotation, suffered a broken finger in the first quarter of Friday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks . He underwent surgery on Saturday morning and is expected to be sidelined for 3-4 weeks, a timeline that pushes his return dangerously close to the start of the playoffs .
A Summer League Star Finally Gets His Shot
For Celtics fans who paid attention to the desert last July, this signing feels like a long time coming. Bassey was a force of nature for Boston’s Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging a dominant 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game on an eye-popping 70.4% shooting from the field . He bullied opposing bigs, protected the rim, and looked every bit like a player who deserved a training camp invite.
At the time, however, the Celtics’ roster was full. Boston had to prioritize other signings, and Bassey eventually landed with the Atlanta Hawks on a training camp deal before being waived prior to the regular season . Since then, he has been on a nomadic journey across the NBA, signing 10-day contracts with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers, while spending the bulk of his season dominating the G-League .
G-League Dominance
While Bassey has only appeared in three NBA games this season (two with Memphis, one with Philadelphia), his production in the developmental league has been impossible to ignore. Splitting time between the Santa Cruz Warriors and the Delaware Blue Coats, the 25-year-old has averaged a staggering 20.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game .
His per-game averages in the G-League tell the story of a player who is simply too good for the minor league level:
20.5 PPG
12.5 RPG
2.1 BPG
60.6% FG
42.6% 3P%
That three-point shooting percentage is a notable development. Throughout his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, Bassey was strictly a rim-runner, attempting only 13 three-pointers across four seasons . If he has added a reliable pick-and-pop element to his game, he becomes a much more intriguing fit in Joe Mazzulla’s five-out offense.
Filling the Vucevic Void
The timing of this signing is critical. Vucevic’s injury leaves a noticeable gap behind starting center Neemias Queta. Luka Garza, who has enjoyed a career year shooting 43% from deep, will slide back into the backup role he held for most of the season . Rookie Amari Williams, whose two-way contract was converted to a standard deal last month, becomes the third option .
Bassey slots in as immediate insurance. While he may not crack the rotation immediately, his skill set—shot-blocking, rebounding, and vertical spacing—gives Mazzulla a different look than Garza’s floor-stretching or Williams’ physicality. Against teams with dominant backup bigs, Bassey’s rim protection could be a valuable weapon.
The Luxury Tax Shell Game
Bassey’s arrival isn’t just about basketball; it’s about bookkeeping.
The Celtics have been engaged in an intricate financial dance for weeks. By carrying only 12 players, they maximized their ability to stay under the luxury tax line . However, NBA rules require teams to carry at least 14 players on their standard roster, and Boston has exhausted its 28 days of leeway . Sunday is the deadline to comply.
Bassey fills one of those two required spots. His 10-day contract will pay him approximately $153,330, with a cap hit of just under $132,000 . The Celtics will now need to sign a second player to reach the 14-man threshold.
According to John Karalis of Sports Illustrated, the most likely candidate for that final spot is Ron Harper Jr. . Harper has been used in actual rotation minutes recently, including a career-high 22-point outburst against San Antonio. Signing him to a standard contract would not only reward his play but also make him playoff-eligible, giving Mazzulla a trusted wing option at the end of the bench .
A Long and Winding Road
Bassey’s journey to this moment has been fraught with obstacles. Originally drafted 53rd overall by the Sixers in 2021, he spent his first season in Philadelphia before being waived and picked up by San Antonio . His time with the Spurs was marred by significant injuries, including a non-displaced patella fracture in 2023 that cut his season short, followed by a devastating ACL tear in December of that same year .
To be standing here, three years later, on the verge of playing meaningful minutes for a championship contender, is a testament to his resilience. When asked last summer what drew him to the Celtics’ Summer League opportunity, Bassey pointed to the culture in Boston.
“They go to the playoffs every year,” Bassey said in Las Vegas. “So, obviously, just learning from those guys, it’s great for me. I went to the playoffs one time. But it’s been good, man… I’m just going to learn a lot from those guys” .
What’s Next
For the next 10 days, Bassey will get that chance to learn—and hopefully contribute. The Celtics are in the midst of a brutal road trip that features matchups against the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder . With Queta and Garza carrying the load, Bassey provides a safety net in case of foul trouble or injury.
If he impresses, Boston could sign him to a second 10-day contract or even convert his deal for the remainder of the season. For a player who has bounced from San Antonio to Atlanta to Memphis to Philadelphia to Santa Cruz to Delaware, finally landing in Boston might be the break he’s been waiting for.