Celtics' J.R. Giddens Assigned to Maine Red Claws

by Scott Schroeder on Jan 21, 2026 4:00 PM EST in Transactions Comment 14 comments

This is a photo of J.R. Giddens. It was not the original photo.

J.R. Giddens, via the Boston Celtics, was assigned to the Red Claws today.

Looking at the comments on CelticsBlog (I wish we could get comments like that), they seem to really be ~~upset~~ ~~happy~~ ~~ecstatic~~ ~~pissed~~ unaffected by this news. And I understand why.

Much like the Joe Alexander assignment from yesterday, this is in no way benefiting the Celtics of the future, since they've already turned down Giddens option for next season.

As far as I can tell, this means he'll probably be with the Red Claws for the rest of the season, as essentially a late Christmas gift for Austin Ainge from pops Danny.

Currently the Red Claws roster includes fellow cusp-of-the-NBA wingman Trey Gilder, so it'll be interesting to see how Maine divides the playing time at the three. I guess they could play him at the two in place of the struggling Billy Thomas as well, but it'll be interesting either way. The option? This may explain, however, the Russell Robinson for Trey Gilder rumor I had heard about the other day.

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Read More: J.R. Giddens (G - BOS), Boston Celtics

Comments

I love that photo.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Jan 21, 2026 4:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who doesn't?

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jan 21, 2026 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Liberty Ballers

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jan 21, 2026 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That pic is not J.R.

You know that’s not J.R. Giddens right? It’s Bill Walker…….

by UofMUT on Jan 21, 2026 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought so.

But the AP caption identifies him as Giddens. We’ll fix it.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Jan 21, 2026 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my bad

But the ap’s bad, too.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jan 21, 2026 6:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

toldja i didn’t like that photo

Liberty Ballers

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jan 21, 2026 8:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't know what J.R. Giddens looks like?

That makes two of us. And the entire AP.

Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Jan 21, 2026 10:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

To be fair, the dude was in a Celtics t-shirt and looked like he didn’t play. Plus he had his cheeks puffed out. It could’ve been any Celtics bench player besides Scalabrine.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jan 21, 2026 11:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So

Russ Rob for Trey Gilder.

Any truth to this? And who does Gilder play for again? I’m assuming Maine

Beadlemaniacs - Award winning* college basketball blog
You know you like college hockey

by fetch9 on Jan 21, 2026 7:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

twitter is faster than this.

Beadlemaniacs - Award winning* college basketball blog
You know you like college hockey

by fetch9 on Jan 21, 2026 7:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Gilder plays for Maine

He has 11 points and seven rebounds with five minutes left in tonight’s game. As Scott said it was a rumor, and with all trades, maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t. It’s pretty clear that Reno doesn’t really want Russell Robinson anymore, and with J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker probably spending most of the rest of the season with the Red Claws, Maine’s small forward needs are less than their point guard needs.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Jan 21, 2026 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs