Minnesota declined its team option on forward Josh Minott, making him a free agent.
Minnesota declined its team option on forward Josh Minott, making him a free agent.Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
The Celtics have agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal with former Timberwolves forward Josh Minott, a league source confirmed Tuesday.
Minott, 22, appeared in 46 games for Minnesota last season, averaging 2.6 points and 1 rebound. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 48.9 percent from the field. Minnesota recently declined Minott’s team option, making him a free agent.
He is positioned to be another low-cost developmental piece for the Celtics, who on Monday agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal with center Luka Garza — Minott’s teammate in Minnesota for the last three seasons.
The Celtics are now slated to have all 15 roster spots filled, but league sources have stressed that the team is still pursuing other alterations. The Celtics picked up guard JD Davison’s $2.8 million team option on Sunday, but that salary is non-guaranteed.
Also, Boston could still look to make trades that would help maximize its future flexibility, with the expiring deals of Anfernee Simons ($27.7 million) and Georges Niang ($8.2 million) in play.
The current roster would put the Celtics slightly above the salary cap’s second apron line and about $20 million over the luxury tax line. They will have little trouble dipping back below the second apron, resetting various roster-building restrictions in the process. Getting below the tax line would require a more significant trade.
The Celtics have been a luxury tax team for three years in a row, activating harsh repeater tax penalties that are imposed when a team is in the tax in three of four seasons. Getting below the tax line now, in a season in which the Celtics will not be contenders, could help with future flexibility as the team awaits Jayson Tatum’s eventual return from an Achilles’ injury.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.