The Boston Celtics endured the first loss to their championship-winning roster after Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz dug into the free agency market.
Utah signed guard Svi Mykhailiuk to a four-year deal worth $15 million on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Mykhailiuk joined Boston last offseason as a depth addition, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal before the career 36.3% 3-point shooter played 41 games for the Celtics, and logged three appearances in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
The 26-year-old averaged four points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 41.6% from the field and 38.9% from three in his lone season with the Celtics. Mykhailiuk was a member of Boston's "stay-ready" crew, working hours before tip-off with assistant coaches, running in-game scenarios to get warmed up just in case. He tied a career-high in points by scoring 26 on 10-of-13 shooting in 37 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets on April 14. Yet, based on how the offseason progressed for Boston, the likelihood of Mykhailiuk returning for a second season with the Celtics rapidly decreased.
Boston re-signed go-to reserve unit sharpshooter Sam Hauser to a four-year, $50 million extension and selected Baylor Scheierman -- former Creighton 3-point-shooting standout -- with the 30th overall pick in June's NBA draft. That would've sunk Mykhailiuk even further down a Celtics depth chart had both sides agreed on a new deal. Hauser will, again, be leaned on more than anyone else for catch-and-shoot services while the organization will look to turn the home-grown Scheierman into a serviceable role player like Hauser.
While Mykhailiuk's time with the Celtics was brief, it did end in the most rewarding way possible: a confetti-filled celebratory duck boat parade around the streets of Boston with a championship ring soon coming the six-year veteran's way.
Free agent Oshae Brissett remains the only member of last season's team yet to be signed.
