Why Celtics Should Sign Jon Elmore
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Jon Elmore has played with the Los Angeles Lakers at NBA Summer League, but the balding guard isn't guaranteed much of anything when it comes to the season ahead.
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The Boston Celtics should change that. Elmore would make perfect sense with the offense the Celtics run for head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Unsure of who Elmore is?
He's a 30-year old guard who once upon a time was a college sensation at Marshall University.
Now, he's prompting posts like this on social media:
Somebody said they’re calling him “top off” from now on 😭 pic.twitter.com/CfgKpmBvSW
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 17, 2026
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Appearances can mislead, though. This dude can play.
During the 2025-26 season with the Stockton Kings in the G League, Elmore averaged 13.8 points and 6.1 assists per game.
He had played collegiately at Marshall University. Elmore led Marshall to its first NCAA Tournament win ever, scoring 27 points in an upset of Wichita State.
He set Conference USA's all-time record in both scoring and assists, and he was the first player in D-I history to score more than 2,500 points and dish out more than 750 assists.
Elmore has had to play all over the world to keep his basketball career alive. He's never gotten a minute in an NBA regular season game.
And yes, it's too easy to simply compare him to Payton Pritchard.
But the Celtics love guards who can make plays for themselves and others while letting it fly from way beyond the arc.
Maybe Elmore wouldn't be good enough defensively. Maybe he's just a bit too much past his prime.
Shooting plays, though. If Elmore is available, the Celtics ought to give him a look.