As the Boston Celtics prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season, many will be keeping a close eye on Hugo Gonzalez. The team selected him in the first round of the NBA draft earlier this summer.
Gonzalez has recently showcased some of what he brings to the table during the Celtics’ 4-1 run in Las Vegas Summer League. However, not everyone was impressed with what they saw.
In a July 25 article for The Athletic, John Hollinger shared his concerns with Gonzalez’s addition.
“The questions about his skill level didn’t exactly vanish with his play in Vegas. Gonzalez repeatedly lost his handle, including one notable turnover when he took a single dribble from a standstill and simultaneously had the ball picked and committed a clear path foul,” Hollinger wrote. “He finished summer league with as many turnovers (13) as baskets and, in addition to shaky perimeter shooting, only shot 6 of 20 inside the arc.”
Gonzalez, 19, spent the past two seasons playing for Real Madrid. He finally broke into the rotation toward the end of the 2024-25 campaign before making the jump to the NBA. And, while Gonzalez’s struggles in Summer League are cause for concern, it’s far too early to be drawing conclusions about what type of player he’s going to become, or if he can crack Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.
Former Celtics Guard Lands With Houston Rockets
While Gonzalez is preparing for his first year in the NBA, former second-round pick JD Davison is coming to terms with life away from the Celtics. Davison spent the first three years of his career in Boston. However, the franchise waived him on Thursday, July 24.
Davison has landed in another favorable situation. The explosive guard has signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. It’s worth noting that Davison is now using his final year of two-way eligibility.
Therefore, the Alabama product is taking a significant risk by teaming up with Ime Udoka’s roster. He must earn a spot in the rotation; otherwise, he’ll face an uphill battle to remain in the NBA beyond the upcoming campaign.
Celtics Insider Explains Davison’s Release
In a recent mailbag for MassLive, Celtics insider Brian Robb shared his thoughts on why the former second-round pick is now a free agent.
“JD was in the system for three years so the team had a very long look at him,” Robb wrote. “Did not get many opportunities at the NBA level, but never looked like a guy who deserved more minutes in those spots. Ultimately, he’s a late second-round pick, so he was always going to be a long shot to make it in the NBA. Possible it could still happen elsewhere but his shooting/size/defense never rose to NBA level here.”
Boston now has an open roster spot. It also has multiple players capable of handling the rock, including Gonzalez. Davison’s limited perimeter offense likely made the team’s decision easier. Furthermore, by waiving him, Boston has moved under the second luxury tax apron.
Waiving Davison was likely a tough decision. However, from a business standpoint, the flexibility the move provides is undeniable. Now, Brad Stevens must use that flexibility to his advantage. After all, the goal is to retool the roster for when Jayson Tatum is back on the court.
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