The Boston Celtics waived two roster hopefuls at the guard spot Tuesday, cutting Dionte Christmas and Jamar Smith to bring the team's roster to 16.
Christmas had impressed on the team's summer league roster and seemed likely to make the roster after signing a half-guaranteed two-year contract for the league minimum with the team. However, the Temple product didn't impress in four preseason games, averaging 3.3 points and one rebound while missing eight of nine threes. Waiving him will cost the team $236,000 in guaranteed money, a tough pill to swallow for a team already up against the salary cap.
Smith was guaranteed less money, but also had a guaranteed deal. He also had been on the summer league teams but played poorly in the preseason, going 4-for-22 from the field and 1-for-8 from downtown.
Both players have bounced around Europe and were looking to stick to an NBA roster for the first time in their careers. Each had played in all four of the Celtics' preseason games.
This is great news for Kris Joseph, the team's second-round pick, who now seems more or less a lock to make the final roster. The team also has a pair of non-guaranteed training camp invitees in Rob Kurz and Micah Downs, but both have played sparingly in the preseason, and neither particularly well. Unlike with Christmas and Smith, Boston will have nothing to lose from cutting either player, and still needs to waive at least one more body to get to the maximum of 15 players by the regular season.