The Boston Celtics concluded Summer League play on Sunday, beating the Atlanta Hawks 101-80 in a consolation game. Going 3-1 in their first four games wasn't enough for Matt Reynolds' squad to qualify for the Summer League semifinals, which featured four undefeated teams.
After the NBA Summer League concludes, teams look to sign players who impressed during the games, or players whom they want another look at heading into training camp. For the Celtics and their mission to reconstruct the roster while getting younger and cheaper, Summer League was a gateway for de facto GM Brad Stevens to find hidden talent heading into this season.
While Celtics fans may be pleading for Charles Bassey or Kenneth Lofton Jr. to join the roster, Brad Stevens went another direction, signing a pesky defender to an Exhibit 10 contract.
Celtics Sign Guard Hayden Gray to Exhibit 10 Contract
Gray led all of NCAA Div. 1 last season with 3.1 steals per game at UC San Diego. At 6-foot-4, Gray shot an impressive 41.8% on 4.4 three-point attempts per game during his senior season. Now, he'll look to impress during Celtics training camp, in hopes of earning a two-way deal with Boston.
Although Gray only played a combined 22 minutes across five Summer League games with the Celtics, his ability as a perimeter defender and three-point shooter was enough for the team to bring him in on a non-guaranteed deal.
Hayden Gray's contract with the Boston Celtics is an Exhibit 10 deal, a league source told @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 21, 2025
Gray will get a bonus if he stays with the Maine Celtics for 60 days after training camp. Gray's deal can also be converted to a two-way deal.
The San Diego native played only two minutes combined during the first four Celtics Summer League games, but got his chance to shine in Sunday's win over the Hawks. Gray put up 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 20 minutes off the bench.
Gray was a big reason why UC San Diego made their first Division 1 NCAA Tournament appearance this past season. He was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist after leading the nation in steals per game, and was one of the best players left off the board during the NBA Draft in June.
Gray will look to compete with another young guard in Max Shulga during training camp, who the Celtics drafted with one of the final picks in the draft (No. 57).
The pesky guard plays the game with effort and tenacity on the defensive end, like Celtics fans have seen with guards Marcus Smart and Derrick White over the years. Not saying Gray will reach the heights that those two have, but any player with "three and D" traits will always appeal to Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office. His traits fit what the Celtics want to do on both sides of the floor, and are a big reason why Gray is the first summer Celtic to land a deal after the games (although not a guaranteed one).
Gray will look to leave his mark during Celtics training camp in September, throughout the preseason, and then with the Maine Celtics from there on. His track record as a defender could pose value moving forward in the Celtics organization.