The Celtics have officially lost their first member of the 2023-2024 title team one month into the offseason. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com was first to report that the Jazz have agreed to a four-year deal with Celtics free agent guard Svi Mykhailiuk worth $15 million. It’s unlikely the final three years of the deal are fully guaranteed.
Mykhailiuk, 27, played a single season with the Celtics after signing with Boston for the league minimum last summer. He appeared in 41 games, averaging 4.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game, largely in mop-up duty in blowout wins. Mykhailiuk did play well when he got chances, shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range but a loaded backcourt that was constantly healthy limited meaningful opportunities for the sharpshooter.
The Celtics have brought back 13 players from their title team last year but Mykhailiuk has looked like the odd man out since draft night after the team selected Baylor Scheierman with the 30th overall pick. The young prospect ate up one of Boston’s roster spots at Mykhailiuk’s position, leaving him to seek out other opportunities. He should get a chance to play off the bench in Utah for former Celtics assistant Will Hardy in a team looking to rebuild on the fly.
It will be the eighth team for Mykhailiuk in his career as he’s played for the Lakers, Pistons, Thunder, Raptors, Knicks and Hornets before joining the Celtics last summer. His return to Boston from Utah will be poised to become a memorable night as he is awarded his 2023-24 championship ring.
With Mykhailiuk signed, the sole remaining free agent the Celtics have on last year’s roster is Oshae Brissett who is pursuing more playing time with other teams. The Celtics still have one open roster spot on the 15-man roster but could keep that open when the season begins to maximize roster flexibility.
