As the Boston Celtics evaluate their roster in preparation for the next season with Jayson Tatum back from injury, they face an important decision regarding Baylor Scheierman. The team must decide by Friday whether to pick up Scheierman’s third-year option for the 2026-27 season, which stands at a modest $2.7 million—just above the veteran’s minimum. Given the looming supermax contracts that occupy a significant portion of their salary cap, such low-cost contracts are essential for filling out the roster effectively.
Scheierman addressed the uncertainty regarding his future, stating, “I’m just focused on what we got tomorrow and that’s about it.” This focus comes amid a promising performance stretch from the young player, who was the No. 30 overall pick in 2024. Despite his average shooting percentage of 35 percent over 417 NBA minutes, he has demonstrated flashes of potential, particularly noted during a productive run last March.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla recently recognized Scheierman’s contributions in a postgame interview after a decisive victory over the Cavaliers, highlighting the depth of the team and Scheierman’s execution of the game plan against notable opponents like Donovan Mitchell. Mazzulla emphasized the importance of building a solid roster, indicating that having multiple players who can contribute effectively on both ends of the court is vital for the team’s growth.
Should the Celtics opt to retain Scheierman, they would have ten players under guaranteed contracts for the upcoming season, which would allow them some financial flexibility and the possibility of avoiding the luxury tax. With a strategic vision for reworking the team surrounding Tatum, Scheierman, at just 25 years old and having spent considerable time in Mazzulla’s system, may prove to be an asset off the bench.
The next few days will be critical as the Celtics aim to solidify their lineup, with Scheierman’s potential contributions being a noteworthy aspect of their planning for a competitive season ahead. While there is still uncertainty regarding his development into a reliable bench player, his low-cost option makes it likely that Scheierman will stay with the team for at least another season.