The Celtics and several other teams await the appeals process following a shocking federal court ruling this past week that could allow Class of 2022 players like Dillon Mitchell to return to college for a fifth season. St. John’s would reportedly have a roster spot and interest in Mitchell’s return, according to Adam Zagoria.
Mitchell remains unsigned, another significant factor after a recent challenge by a former NBA player who signed a contract with a team fell flat. The Celtics, who typically
leave their 15th roster spot open into the season, probably intended to sign Mitchell, their second-round pick, to a two-way contract worth $678,882 this year. Conversely, name, image and likeness (NIL) deals available to a college star in New York City could reach $1-million in value. For Mitchell, that’s part of the appeal of returning to college.
The Celtics have until Sept. 5 to make a contract offer that would maintain their rights to Mitchell over the ensuing season, but that only lasts until the subsequent NBA Draft. For what it’s worth, a longer look at the NBA CBA revealed a complicated outlook for Boston maintaining Mitchell’s draft rights should he return to college. It allows for a player to enter as many as two NBA drafts, an initial and subsequent draft. The Celtics’ exclusive rights to sign Mitchell would expire with the arrival of the 2027 draft, which Mitchell could then enter.
Mitchell’s return to college differs from a traditional draft-and-stash setup, because the CBA outlines a professional contract outside of the league as the pretense for a team indefinitely maintaining a player’s rights. That’s why the Hornets and the Knicks (following a trade) maintained James Nnaji’s rights after the former second-round pick joined Barcelona before successfully returning from draft declaration to college basketball himself last summer. Mitchell’s move would more closely mirror a player who decided to sit out one season rather than sign with the team that drafted him.
Of course, Boston and Mitchell, could agree to a contract ahead of that date, and still have the ability to sign a standard contract for this season worth roughly $1.4 million, which would keep the Celtics below the luxury tax threshold. The NCAA also expressed its intention to appeal the court ruling, which could factor in Mitchell’s decision. Returning to college would not only carry that uncertainty, but also push back a year of development within an NBA organization.
Mitchell would begin his professional career in a crowded mix of wings on the Celtics’ roster including Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, recently extended Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, Ron Harper Jr. and fellow rookie Chris Cenac Jr., who could play some minutes at the four. The team also signed undrafted rookie Tucker DeVries to a training camp contract. John Tonje, the team’s standout scoring wing during Summer League, left Boston for a two-year, two-way deal with the Trail Blazers.
DeVries has already played five college seasons. Milos Uzan, another Celtics training camp signing from Vegas, could also explore his eligibility for a fifth season.
Rick Pitino and St. John’s, who have a rare open roster spot, will undoubtedly hold out hope for Mitchell’s return after a Sweet 16 run powered, in part, by his emergence as a playmaker. The Celtics can trust that he’ll remain committed to Boston in one year. They expressed some surprise and excitement that Mitchell fell to them at No. 40, Mike Zarren even revealing that Boston considered moving up to acquire him, but the constantly evolving college basketball landscape could make that acquisition too good to be true.
The NCAA filed its notice of appeal on Sunday and the court gave both parties one week to brief the issue of pausing the ruling that would allow Mitchell to return for a fifth season. The court ruling came as a result of the NCAA’s five-for-five rule, which would start a five-year clock across five seasons from the date of beginning of a player’s eligibility. A federal judge ruled that should apply retroactively to players from the Class of 2022, like Mitchell, New York’s Tyler Nickel and the Grizzlies’ Richie Saunders who did not have a fifth year of eligibility.
The Celtics have signed 14 standard roster players and have second-year center Amari Williams, Mitchell, Uzan and DeVries in play for two-way deals into training camp late next month.
