Dillon Mitchell Signs Two-Way Deal With Celtics, Ends College Return Talk
The No. 40 pick averaged 13.0 points and 2.7 steals in Vegas Summer League before choosing Boston over a fifth year at St. John's.
Two-way defensive project — no fantasy value until a role opens up.
- Signed two-way deal, No. 40 overall pick
- 13.0 pts, 2.7 stl, 1.3 blk in Vegas
- 37.5% from three on low volume
- Boston's 2nd two-way, one spot left
- 6-foot-8 forward, ex-St. John's
Boston settled a week of uncertainty on Wednesday, signing 6-foot-8 forward Dillon Mitchell — the No. 40 overall pick — to a two-way contract. The move ends speculation that Mitchell might return to St. John's for a fifth college season after reports suggested an NCAA appeal could reopen the door, with a lucrative NIL payday potentially waiting on the other side.
The stakes were real: because Mitchell was still unsigned, there was legitimate doubt about which path he'd take. And per one report, a return to school could have jeopardized Boston's ability to keep his draft rights beyond next year's draft. Instead, the Celtics locked him in and can now focus on developing him rather than fielding eligibility questions.
Mitchell earned the deal in Las Vegas. He put up 13.0 points, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 37.5 percent from three — encouraging, even on limited volume, for a prospect whose offense is still a work in progress. The defensive numbers are the headline: that steal-and-block rate is the archetype Brad Stevens keeps chasing.
The Boston Blueprint
This is a well-worn path for the Celtics. They've prioritized long, switchable wings, and they've seen it pay off with younger players cut from similar cloth. Jordan Walsh posted 5.4 points and 4 rebounds across 68 games last season (2025-26), good for 14.5 fantasy points per game and our #302 overall rank. That's the ceiling story Boston sells to guys like Mitchell — carve out defensive minutes, and the offense can follow.
Mitchell becomes the Celtics' second two-way player alongside center Amari Williams, who managed just 1.4 points and 5.6 fantasy points per game in 22 appearances last season (2025-26), ranking #397 overall in our model. Boston still has one two-way slot open heading into training camp. Two-way deals mean Mitchell splits time between Boston and the Maine Celtics — development runway, not rotation minutes.
For fantasy managers, this is a name to file away, not draft. Two-way forwards with raw offensive games don't produce redraft value, and Mitchell will spend most of his season in the G League. The steals-and-blocks profile is genuinely intriguing for deep dynasty leagues, so keep him on your watch list — but there's nothing to act on until an NBA role actually materializes.
