Oshae Brissett declines player option, becomes unrestricted free agent

The first domino of the Boston Celtics’ offseason has fallen.

According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Oshae Brissett has declined his $2.5 million player option with the Celtics for the 2024-25 season and will now be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The 26-year-old signed a two-year veteran minimum contract with Boston last offseason. While he might return to Boston after testing free agency, he will likely seek a larger role and higher salary than the Celtics’ minimum offer.

Brissett certainly earned his ring. While his stats don’t jump off the page—averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game over 55 regular-season appearances—he contributed valuable minutes to the Celtics’ championship run with his energy, effort, rebounding, and readiness when called upon.

The Syracuse product was an unsung hero in Boston’s Game 2 win over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Kristaps Porzingis out and Luke Kornet leaving the game with a left wrist sprain in the first quarter, Brissett got the call and played a key role in a 20-0 Boston run that buried Indiana.

“You gotta give credit where credit is due,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said after the game. “Oshae came in and really sat down and defended really well and just brought a different dynamic to their team. They were able to switch one through five. He came in and really changed the game defensively for them.”

Brissett finished Game 2 with a game-high +18 plus-minus in just 12 minutes, tied with Jaylen Brown, who scored 40 points . His +18 is the highest plus-minus recorded by a Celtic playing under 13 minutes in a postseason game since Jonas Jerebko’s +22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.

As he waits for his next opportunity, Brissett will gear up to represent Team Canada in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Brissett, who spent three seasons with the Pacers before joining Boston, joins Xavier Tillman, Luke Kornet, and Svi Mykhailiuk as part of the Celtics’ small group of free agents heading into the offseason.