Boston Celtics sign Dillon Mitchell to two-way contract after St. John's scare

The Boston Celtics have a knack for developing young talent, but they can’t excel in that process if their draft picks return to school. Since the NCAA has adopted more flexible rules that allow players extra eligibility, Celtics rookie Dillon Mitchell was reportedly considering returning to St. John’s, where he spent his senior season.

The second-round selection went to the Celtics via the No. 40 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Boston’s brass sounded thrilled to have him. In fact, Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren even said the C’s would have traded up to get Mitchell in the draft if necessary. The 22-year-old fell to them regardless and toured the Green Team’s facilities in late June.

There was no news of a deal for Mitchell, though, which could be why he thought about going back to Queens for some more money and more basketball lessons from Rick Pitino, the Red Storm’s renowned coach (and former Celtics skipper). Ultimately, the Celtics worked out a deal with Mitchell, as the team officially announced his two-way contract on Wednesday afternoon.

“The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed rookie forward Dillon Mitchell to a two-way contract,” a PR statement read. “Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.”

The real work can now begin for Mitchell, who will likely spend a fair amount of his time in Maine with the G League Celtics. The Florida native shined during Summer League play — averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per outing over the course of three games — and adheres to an unselfish mindset that the Celtics look for in their rookies.

“I’m a very selfless person,” Mitchell said at a community event in Boston a week after he was drafted. “I don’t care about me scoring that much. I care about just winning.”

Boston Celtics sign Dillon Mitchell to

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Boston Celtics sign Dillon Mitchell to two-way contract after St. John’s scare