Boston Celtics Camp Invitees' Chances of Making 2014-15 Roster

While NBA training camp may seem like a mere formality to seasoned veterans and first-round draft picks, it means everything to fringe players battling for roster spots.

Occasionally, a training camp invitee may be so impressive that he ends up making the team, but, of course, the glass is normally half-empty rather than half-full for these scrappers.

The Boston Celtics will be inviting five extra players to camp this autumn, but with the roster already looking full as it is, it is going to be incredibly difficult for any of them to convince head coach Brad Stevens to leave a slot open for them.

However, that does not mean we cannot break down which guys have the best chance of making their dreams come true.

Is there a glimmer of hope for any of these five players without a permanent home?

Christian Watford

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Christian Watford may be the most interesting candidate out of this group.

A 6'9" undrafted forward, Watford displayed the ability to stretch the floor during his four years at Indiana University, particularly in his senior season when he shot the three-ball at a 48 percent clip. Considering the Celtics ranked 28th in that category during 2013-14, it would seem like the former Hoosier would be a natural fit.

Watford, who played professional ball in Israel last year, was a steady contributor for Indiana, averaging at least 12 points per game each season (his best was 16 points per game in his sophomore campaign).

It was a bit surprising that the 23-year-old did not hear his name called during the 2013 draft. After all, he posted .214 win shares per 40 minutes in his fourth and final collegiate season. He also demonstrated that he could get to the charity stripe with the Hoosiers, recording 4.7 free-throw attempts collectively over his four years.

Given that Boston only has two typecast small forwards in Jeff Green and Gerald Wallace, there may be a slight chance that Watford gets a shot. However, you have to keep in mind that 18-year-old first-round pick James Young could end up being a small forward (or at least play both wing spots), so that dims Watford's hopes a bit.

You must also account for Evan Turner. Although Turner spends much of his time bringing the ball up the floor, he'll probably see a decent chunk of time at the 3.

Watford's best hope is beating out either Vitor Faverani or Joel Anthony, but keep in mind that both of those big men have guaranteed contracts, per Spotrac. If the C's really want to keep Watford around, it would likely mean trading one of those two. They could also outright release them, but it seems doubtful that the Celtics would want to eat that salary without getting anything in return.

Dwight Powell

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The Celtics recently acquired Dwight Powell when they traded Keith Bogans to the Cleveland Cavaliers, per ESPN's Marc Stein.

Powell, a 6'11" big man out of Stanford, was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets this summer and eventually found his way to Boston.

Like Watford, Powell is also intriguing, but for different reasons.

What gives the 23-year-old an outside chance of making the roster is his quickness and athleticism. Not someone who is going to bang down low, Powell has a good face-up game. During his four years with the Cardinal, he showcased his ability to beat defenders off the dribble and even knock down jumpers, although he struggled to find consistency from that range. Powell averaged only 0.74 points per possession on perimeter shots.

Perhaps Powell's best attribute is his ability to see the floor, as he posted 3.1 assists per game in 2013-14, doing an outstanding job of finding cutters.

The problem for this kid, however, is the fact that the C's are pretty deep in their frontcourt. Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller and Brandon Bass figure to see the bulk of the minutes, and the aforementioned Faverani and Anthony would be next on the list.

But here's the catch: Powell's contract is actually guaranteed for this season. Of course, it's for a minimal amount ($507,336), so the Celtics would likely have no problem parting ways with him and having to shell out that dough.

Again, if Boston makes a trade somewhere (which is entirely possible), then Powell's situation could change, but at the current point in time, he really must knock some socks off in order to sneak into the opening night roster.

Powell is certainly an NBA-level talent, though.

Erik Murphy

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Erik Murphy enters camp with a partially guaranteed contract ($100,000), but given the fact that that is such a minute salary, it is relatively negligible.

Selected 49th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2013 draft, the 6'10" Murphy appeared in 24 games during the 2013-14 campaign, but he hardly made a dent, averaging 0.3 points in 2.6 minutes per contest.

Murphy is getting a chance based on his incredibly efficient four-year career at Florida, where the big man compiled a true shooting percentage of 62.2 percent and an effective field-goal percentage of 60.6 percent. Impressive, to say the least.

While Murphy can certainly shoot the ball, he is not much of a rebounder for his size, and he scarcely gets to the charity stripe, averaging only 1.1 free throws per game with the Gators.

The 23-year-old would love to get an opportunity in Boston, as he grew up around the area.

"I’m pretty excited, for sure,” said Murphy, via Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal. "I grew up down the road in Rhode Island and it’s a special feeling to come back to New England."

Murphy seems cautiously optimistic about his chances.

"I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team and try to focus on the things that I can control,” he said. "Ultimately the decision will be made. All you can do is work hard and do whatever you can to help the team."

Murphy is probably behind both Watford and Powell in the race for a roster spot, but it's worth keeping an eye on the sharpshooter as camp progresses.

Rodney McGruder

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Here is where the term "long shot" becomes more and more applicable. 

Rodney McGruder, who went undrafted in 2013, was a fine player at Kansas State, but the 6'4" guard really does not have much of a place on the Celtics roster.

Boston already has a logjam at the guard position, with at least four players who are capable of playing the 2.

McGruder also does not excel enough in any one area that could help him earn a roster spot. He wasn't an overly efficient scorer during his four years with the Wildcats, posting an effective field-goal percentage of 52.1 percent. His career field-goal percentage? A respectable but hardly eye-opening 45.2 percent.

McGruder rebounds well for his size, but that isn't going to impress Boston enough to sign him to a guaranteed deal.

The 23-year-old might be able to catch on somewhere, but it likely won't be with the C's.

Tim Frazier

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That brings us to the most unlikely candidate of them all: former Penn State point guard Tim Frazier.

With Rajon Rondo in tow, not to mention other ball-handlers such as Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Turner and Phil Pressey, Frazier's chances of making the Celtics roster are slim-to-none.

While Frazier was solid with the Nittany Lions, he wasn't particularly dynamic, either, recording a true shooting percentage of 51.7 percent and an ugly effective field-goal percentage of 44.7 percent.

Unless there are several major injuries in training camp, Frazier will likely have to look elsewhere to earn a job in the NBA, and that doesn't look very promising, either.

Perhaps some time over in Europe would serve the soon-to-be-24-year-old well.