The Boston Celtics wrapped up a busy trade deadline week by adding one more piece to their roster: 24-year-old two-way guard John Tonje, acquired from the Utah Jazz as part of the multi-team deal that sent Chris Boucher to Utah.
The Celtics officially announced Tonje’s arrival on Thursday (February 5, 2026). He joins Boston on a two-way contract and is expected to spend most (if not all) of his time with the Maine Celtics in the G League, at least initially.
How Tonje Fits on the Roster
The Celtics promoted big man Amari Williams to the main roster earlier Thursday, which opened the two-way spot.Boston’s current two-way players are Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga.Tonje gives the organization another young, scoring-minded guard with upside to develop in Maine while providing emergency depth if injuries hit the backcourt.
Tonje’s Background & Performance
Drafted 53rd overall (second round) by the Jazz in the 2025 NBA Draft.Played collegiately for six seasons: Colorado State → Missouri → Wisconsin (final year).In his senior season at Wisconsin, Tonje was an All-American and one of the top scorers in college basketball.This season with the Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz G League affiliate): 32 games, averaging 18.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.4 APG — showing he can put the ball in the basket at the professional level.
Recap of Boston’s Deadline Activity
The Celtics made four trades in total this week, all with a clear theme: financial flexibility and long-term roster management under the new CBA rules.
Anfernee Simons → Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vučević (+ second-round picks swapped)
Josh Minott → Brooklyn Nets
Xavier Tillman Sr. → Charlotte Hornets
Chris Boucher → Utah Jazz (part of the deal that brought in Tonje + cash/second-round considerations)
As a result of the moves:
Boston dipped under the luxury tax (a major goal after being apron-constrained).They now have only 12 standard roster spots filled — meaning they must add at least two more players (via minimum deals, buyouts, or two-ways) to reach the league minimum of 14.The front office prioritized future cap flexibility over short-term splash moves, even as contenders around the league made big swings.
This was a classic Brad Stevens deadline: disciplined, financially motivated, and focused on preserving long-term options rather than forcing a win-now addition that could hamstring the books.
Celtics fans — how do you feel about the deadline haul? Happy with Vučević + Tonje + tax relief, or were you hoping for a bigger swing? And what do you think of Tonje as a two-way stash — any chance he surprises in Maine?