Former Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger has officially signed with the Toronto Raptors on a one-year, $6 million contract. The 24-year-old big man is expected to start alongside Kyle Lowry, filling a much-needed power forward slot for the Raptors in the upcoming NBA season.
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm), Sullinger was born on March 5, 1992, and was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Celtics. Over the course of four seasons in Boston, he showed significant growth—posting at least 10 points and 7 rebounds per game for three consecutive seasons. However, issues related to attitude, weight control, and off-court discipline often overshadowed his potential.
During the 2015–16 season, Sullinger appeared in 81 games for Boston, starting in 73 of them. He averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Despite being the starting center for much of the season, his inconsistency limited him to just 23.6 minutes per game. With Al Horford joining the Celtics during the 2016 offseason, the team opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Sullinger, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Toronto has been actively seeking a reliable starting power forward over the past two seasons, and Sullinger may be the answer. Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri met with Sullinger earlier this week, and the two parties quickly reached an agreement. With his ability to shoot from mid- and long-range and rebound effectively, Sullinger is projected to take over the starting role previously held by Luis Scola.
It’s worth noting that Sullinger lost his role in Boston largely due to Horford’s arrival, which gave the Celtics a more traditional, stable presence at the center position. Last season, Sullinger often filled in as an undersized center—far from ideal for a player of his skill set.
Now that he’s joined the Raptors, not only does he get a fresh start, but he also strengthens a direct Eastern Conference rival. Fans are already speculating whether Sullinger will get his chance to exact revenge on his former team—a storyline that could add extra fire to this season’s matchups. For updates on trades, team dynamics, and rising stars, explore more through Jeetbuzz App Download, your hub for basketball insights.