Boston Celtics: Summer League Roster, Key Storylines

The Las Vegas Summer League is set to begin on Friday, July 13, and the Boston Celtics will be one of the 24 teams in attendance as they follow up their stint in the Orlando Summer League. 

This set of five games is an opportunity for young players to prove themselves at a slightly-higher level than they're used to playing. Young NBA players and incoming rookies will be joining forces with foreign prospects as they all attempt to establish some name recognition. 

Some players are looking to keep their spots on the Celtics' squad while carving out bigger roles. Others are trying to just make the team and avoid the D-League or Europe. 

Read on for a complete breakdown and individual predictions. 

Schedule

Monday, July 16 at 4:00 p.m. ET against the Atlanta Hawks

Tuesday, July 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET against the Chicago Bulls

Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET against the Sacramento Kings

Saturday, July 21 at 10:30 p.m. ET against the Milwaukee Bucks

Sunday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m. ET against the Los Angeles Clippers

Craig Brackins

Last Played With: Philadelphia 76ers

Position: PF

Experience: 2 years

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.1 blocks

Craig Brackins has now spent two years bouncing between the D-League and the Philadelphia 76ers' main roster, but he's now fighting for a shot to stick around with the Boston Celtics. 

So far in the Orlando Summer League, Brackins has only averaged 4.3 minutes per game and has yet to record a single point for the C's. He's not going to get much more of an opportunity when the scene shifts to Las Vegas. 

Brackins primarily goes to work on the blocks, but he'll have to improve his offensive range to make any noise. 

The set of games in Vegas will be this power forward's last with in this green uniform. 

Jonathan Gibson

Last Played With: Trabzonspor

Position: PG/SG

Experience: Rookie

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 19.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.0 blocks

Jonathan Gibson has already made some noise in Orlando, scoring 15 of his 17 points against the Brooklyn Nets in the fourth quarter to help the team rally for a win. 

The combo guard has only played professional basketball in the Turkish League—other than Summer League of course—and he's excelled while doing so. Last season with Trabzonspor, Gibson hit more three-pointers than anyone else in the Turkish League during the 3-Point Contest and nailed quite a few during the season. 

A solid defender as well, Gibson, in the words of ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg, is even starting to remind some of Avery Bradley. 

If he keeps making an impression, Gibson could just barely sneak onto the Boston roster for the regular season. 

JaJuan Johnson

Last Played With: Boston Celtics

Position: PF

Experience: 1 year

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 3.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.1 steals, 0.4 blocks

JaJuan Johnson didn't stand out much during his rookie season with the Boston Celtics after he went No. 27 overall in the 2011 NBA draft, but he's a near lock to be sitting on the bench at the start of the season. 

It would take an absolutely putrid performance to work his way off the roster, especially because Johnson still has a lot of potential. 

Here's what I wrote about him when he was drafted (not much has changed, even if he hasn't gotten many opportunities yet).

"

I’ve been searching for a real reason why JaJuan Johnson isn’t universally regarded as a top prospect in this draft class, but I honestly have yet to find it.

Johnson improved during each of his four seasons at Purdue, finished his career with All-American honors after averaging 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds.

The 6’10” power forward has impressive size and displays many skills with the ball that would make an uneducated person think that he was a guard. Really, the only thing wrong with his game is a lack of strength for a player his size.

Johnson is versatile enough that he can succeed in any situation, and I fully expect for him to do that here.

"

Kris Joseph

Last Played With: Syracuse

Position: SF

Experience: Rookie

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 blocks, 1.4 steals

Kris Joseph still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame so he can finish once he draws contact and make the most of his athleticism, but his outside and midrange shooting is enough to get by right now. 

The second-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics should make the squad, especially if he keeps up his pace from Orlando. Through three games, Joseph is averaging 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. 

As he gets even more experience, Joseph will start making more correct decisions on the court and allow his athleticism to shine even more. 

He should make the roster, even with a lackluster performance in "The City of Lights." 

Stephane Lasme

Last Played With: Obradoiro CAB

Position: PF

Experience: 1 year

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.8 blocks

Stephane Lasme last played in the NBA back in 2007-2008 and has bounced around the European leagues since then, last playing with Obradoiro CAB, a new addition to the Spanish ACB league. 

Way back when, Lasme played for the Golden State Warriors but was waived midway through the season and picked up by the Miami Heat. He played in 15 games, starting four of them, for the Heat, but failed to make any sort of major impact. 

Lasme plays bigger than his 6'7" frame would indicate and is a threat on the offensive boards at all times, with his ridiculous athleticism and 7'2" wingspan. 

The power forward won't make the roster, but he might produce a highlight or two in Las Vegas. 

Fab Melo

Last Played With: Syracuse

Position: C

Experience: Rookie

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 2.9 blocks, 0.5 steals

Fab Melo is going to make the NBA roster, after the Boston Celtics deemed him worthy of a first-round pick, but he's still incredibly raw on both ends of the court. 

Melo is going to have some big swats while playing defense, but he messes up on rotations a little too often for anyone's liking right now. As for offense, well, just forget about that for right now. 

The former Syracuse center hasn't stood out thus far during the Orlando portion of Summer League, but he hasn't exactly impressed either. 

Melo's potential is quite high, but it's becoming more and more clear that he's a project player. 

E'Twaun Moore

Last Played With: Boston Celtics

Position: SG

Experience: 1 year

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 2.9 points, 0.9 assists, 0.9 rebounds, 0.1 blocks, 0.3 steals

Unless he keeps up the pace he's begun the Orlando Summer League with, E'Twaun Moore is going to be headed to the D-League for the beginning of the 2012-2013 season. 

Drafted at No. 55 in the 2011 NBA draft, Moore played in 38 games for the Boston Celtics this past season, starting a grand total of zero of them. 

Amazingly enough, Moore is one of the rare players who succeeds without a remarkable amount of athleticism, speed, quickness or strength. He uses his intelligence and fundamental soundness to score his points, most of which come on self-created midrange jumpers and three-pointers. 

Through three games in Orlando, Moore is averaging a team-high 15.3 points to go along with his 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Keeping that pace up ensures a spot on the roster for a second-straight year. 

Larry Owens

Last Played With: New Jersey Nets

Position: SG/SF

Experience: 2 years

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 1.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.1 blocks

Over the past two seasons, after he finished up his college career at Oral Roberts, Larry Owens bounced around from team to team and played a total of 12 games at the NBA level. After he was waived by the New Jersey Nets during the 2011-2012 season, he's landed with the Boston Celtics for Summer League.

Already 29 years old, Owens is essentially using this upcoming set of games in Las Vegas as a tryout for the D-League or other professional leagues. He doesn't have the upside necessary to even have an outside shot at the NBA roster.

Primarily a defensive player, Owens does have the ball-handling skills necessary to allow him to create mismatches at shooting guard with his 6'7" frame. He can hit the occasional three-pointer, but that's about it.

Owens has received the least playing time of anyone on the Summer League roster during the Orlando part of the summer. In 11 minutes, his only box score contributions are two turnovers and a personal foul.  

Jamar Smith

Last Played With: Maine Red Claws

Position: PG/SG

Experience: Rookie

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks

Jamar Smith's basketball career has taken some interesting twists and turns, going from Illinois to Southern Indiana to the Maine Red Claws of the D-League. Now, he's back with the Boston Celtics in Summer League for the second-straight season. 

While it's a nice story to see a former Division II standout get his shot with the big guns, there's absolutely no chance that Smith finds his way onto the actual Celtics' roster. 

Smith makes his living behind the three-point line, the same one (albeit a shorter version) that allowed him to once knock down 10 triples in a single game for Southern Indiana. He's been lights out from downtown thus far, knocking down six of his first 12 attempts while averaging 9.7 points per game and earning significant playing time. 

The journey will come to an end soon enough, but Smith is enjoying it so far. 

Jared Sullinger

Last Played With: Ohio State

Position: PF/C

Experience: Rookie

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.2 steals

Jared Sullinger's journey towards proving to the world that he fell way too far on draft night begins now. As red flags concerning the status of his back dropped him down the boards, the Boston Celtics were able to snag the former Ohio State standout and put him to work. 

Although his conditioning could use a lot of work and he's not particularly athletic, Sullinger has an impressive old-school post game, preferring to play with his back to the basket. He can dazzle with post moves and make tough shots in the paint from virtually any angle. 

Sullinger struggles against length, but his strength is usually enough for him to get the best of his opponent.

Through the first three games of the Orlando Summer League, Sullinger has been the best player for the Celtics, averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, including a 20-point, 24-minute performance to open the season. 

He's a lock to make the real roster. Pencil it in. 

Sean Williams

Last Played With: Boston Celtics

Position: PF

Experience: 4 years

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 3.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks

Sean Williams isn't quite the old man of the roster at 25 years old, but he does already have four years of NBA experience. 

The power forward is a great athlete and a shot-blocking specialist, and he's looking to blow this Summer League opportunity out of the water in an attempt to find himself on the big roster once more. So far that hasn't happened, as the former Boston College Eagle has only averaged 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game. 

Williams is no longer the immature young man that he once was and Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports that head coach Doc Rivers is firmly on his side.

"

"That’s gone. I think he’s grown up,” Rivers said. “He was great. We had no problems with him. That’s why we give everyone a chance. I hear all kinds of things about people. I get coaches calling me about other guys sometimes, and I don’t give a (bleep) about that. I’m going to give him a shot, and then if he burns you, let him go.

“But he’s young. People forget, some of these guys make mistakes at 22, 23. I’d like to see all of us at that age with the fame. It’s not that easy. But it looks like he’s grown. His hair has changed, which is a plus from where it was. He’s in great shape. You can see that he’s in better shape now than he was at the end of the season. He’s committed to being an NBA player.”

Williams’ talents hardly need an introduction.

“He’s proven he can play in the NBA,” said Rivers. “He’s not skilled offensively, but he has a chance to be a shut down defender, a shot blocker, a guy you can bring in and change the tempo of the game. He rebounds. He has that skill set in him, and he has to marry himself to that.”

"

Look for Williams to both improve his play in Las Vegas and stick around long enough to make the roster. 

Projected Lineup

Starting point guard: Jonathan Gibson

Starting shooting guard: E'Twaun Moore

Starting small forward: JaJuan Johnson

Startting power forward: Sean Williams

Starting center: Jared Sullinger

Sixth man: Kris Joseph

Bench players: Craig Brackins, Stephane Lasme, Fab Melo, Larry Owens, Jamar Smith