Rookie Progress Report: Where Each Boston Celtics Rook Stands at Start of Season

The Boston Celtics had three picks in the 2012 NBA draft and they selected Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph with those picks.

All three of these players had very successful college careers, but all three of them are projected to have much less success in the NBA. Although none of them will likely be big time contributors to the 2012-2013 Celtics' squad, Sullinger is the only one who will receive consistant minutes.

This was displayed in the Celtics' season opener against the Miami Heat as Sullinger was the only rookie to play for the Celtics. Both Joseph and Melo will likely spend portions of their rookie seasons playing for the Maine Red Claws in the NBA's Developmental League. 

The Celtics selected two very different players in the first round.

Sullinger is going to be a good player, but doesn't have a very high ceiling as he has limited athletic ability. Fab Melo, on the other hand, is completely different, as he could either be a complete bust or a very good player. 

The Celtics are used to getting little to no contributions from rookies in recent years, as they are almost always picking in the late first round. 

Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger is the only rookie that will contribute to the 2012-2013 Celtics' squad. Sullinger impressed in both the summer league and in the Celtics' preseason games, which earned him minutes in their rotation.

In the Celtics' season opener against the Heat, he played eight minutes and contributed two points and one rebound. Although this is less than an impressive debut, Sullinger never really got a shot to make an imprint on the game. With the return of Jeff Green, Sullinger will see limited but consistent minutes all season long.

Sullinger will likely have a solid year, and looks like he will be a solid NBA player for years to come.

Fab Melo

Fab Melo was drafted one pick behind Jared Sullinger in the 2012 NBA draft, but he is far behind Sullinger in terms of skill. However, the reason that Melo was selected in the first round is his immense potential to be a game changing defensive player in the NBA.

Melo averaged just under six minutes per game during the preseason, and did very little in those limited minutes to impress. Melo is a project, and the Celtics knew that when the selected him. Unfortunately for Boston fans, Melo won't contribute to the Celtics for several years.

Kris Joseph

Kris Joseph was the Celtics' second round pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Second round picks rarely contribute to NBA teams, and Joseph will be no different this season.

Joseph had a stand-out career at Syracuse, but he will not see nearly the same success in the NBA. Joseph will likely spend the majority of the 2012-2013 season in the D-league and will only see minutes for the Celtics if they have serious injury problems.