AUGUST 9: Boston’s deal is now official, according to an announcement from the Clippers.
AUGUST 8: The Clippers are signing rookie wing Brandon Boston Jr. to a multiyear deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Boston will get two guaranteed years with a third-year team option.
In his single college season at Kentucky, Boston averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.6 APG on .355/.300/.785 shooting in 25 games (30.4 MPG) for the Wildcats. The 19-year-old is considered a raw prospect who is still adding bulk to his slender frame.
The Grizzlies technically selected Boston with the No. 51 pick on draft night, but by that point the selection had already been part of two trades agreed to before or during the draft. It was sent to the Pelicans as part of a bigger deal earlier in the week and then flipped to the Clippers for cash on draft night.
The Clippers’ willingness to buy their way back into the draft in order to nab Boston – and their willingness to give him two guaranteed years – signals how highly they regard him. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac (via Twitter), Boston’s $2.5MM in guaranteed money will be the most ever for a player drafted in the 50s who wasn’t stashed overseas before coming to the NBA.
Los Angeles will use a portion of its $5.9MM taxpayer mid-level exception to complete the signing. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported on Instagram on Sunday that Justise Winslow got about $3.9MM of that exception, which leaves more than enough wiggle room to accommodate Boston’s first-year salary.
It’s odd how the league makes it easier to sign 1st round picks while most teams that don’t have any cap space are forced to use part of their MLE to sign 2nd rounders.
makes 100% sense to me. Being a 1st rd pick should obv give guys a more secure future than being a 2nd rd pick
I remember a time in the not so distant past when many in the Atlanta area thought BJ would be a better basketball player than Anthony Edwards long term. I got much love for BJ & LAC is a great spot for him… but he ain’t Ant. So much Atl area talent in the league rn tho. BJ, Ant, Young Bull Sexton & Sharife Cooper all gonna have great NBA careers & there’s many more where they came from
Jabari Smith Jr is next.. he’ll be a top10 draft pick next summer
Thought Boston had huge potential and think going to LA and the clippers will be good for him. Gets to learn from PG13 everyday and be apart of a winning culture that’s pretty cool.
Has high potential and was a great late second round pick
BJ, right
Celtics should’ve drafted him so they can have a guy named Boston.
Interesting competition with Jason Preston.