RJ Hunter, Celtics agree on reunion with a two-way contract

Keith Smith reported the interest between RJ Hunter, 28th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, and the Boston Celtics:

Hunter’s agency, Priority Sports, confirmed the deal between the two parties, bringing Hunter back into the fold after being waived prior to the start of the 2016-17 NBA season.

At the time, the Celtics were carrying 16 fully guaranteed players, and the choice of who to waive and who to keep came down to either James Young or RJ Hunter. The Celtics took a flier on the younger Young who was not re-signed at the end of that next season.

As for RJ Hunter, after being waived by Boston, he went on to play 3 games for the Chicago Bulls in the 2016-17 season and then 5 games for the Houston Rockets last season, averaging 3.8 points in 9 minutes per game.

In his lone season at Boston, Hunter played in 36 games, averaging 2.7 points in 8.8 minutes while shooting 37% from the field. Despite Avery Bradley going down with an injury in the first game of the opening round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, RJ Hunter wasn’t able to make an impact in Boston’s six-game series against the Atlanta Hawks.

This year, the Celtics have been searching for guard depth with their last two-way contract spot after Walt Lemon Jr. was waived, and Hunter fits the bill. Although his numbers aren’t impressive in limited minutes and opportunity, this guy can shoot the ball. During his career at Georgia State, he averaged 18.4 points, shooting 42% from the field and 35% from 3.

RJ Hunter will spend most of his time with the Maine Red Claws, but the Celtics now have him poised to make an impact should the Celtics need guard depth in a pinch. With PJ Dozier and now Hunter, the Celtics have both of their two-way slots filled heading toward February 7th’s trade deadline.