Celtics signing son of former five-time NBA champion

As the Boston Celtics aim to establish themselves as a dynasty, they are taking inspiration from a previous NBA dynasty.

According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, the Celtics have decided to sign Ron Harper Jr. to an Exhibit 10 deal. Harper Jr., who has been part of Boston’s Summer League team this year, will receive a one-year contract at the veteran’s minimum.

At 24 years old, Harper Jr. plays as a small forward and is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. The senior Harper, known for his defensive skills, was a starter on the Chicago Bulls team that achieved a three-peat from 1996 to 1998. He then went on to win two more NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 and 2001.

Though Harper Jr. went undrafted in 2022 after playing for Rutgers for four years in college, he spent parts of the last two seasons on two-way contracts with the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately, he was released in December 2023 due to a shoulder injury that ended his season prematurely.

Despite the setback, Harper Jr. has been making good progress in his recovery and is now set to join the roster of the reigning champion Celtics, who are going through an intriguing offseason.