Which Boston Celtics Rookies Should Make the 2016-17 Roster?
Barring any major moves, the Boston Celtics' core for next season is already established. But roster spots are still up for grabs, and plenty of young candidates are fighting for them.
The Celtics ended up with eight picks in the 2016 NBA draft. The team has already traded some of those players, but the future of many others is up in the air.
Boston will head into training camp with 19 players and 13 roster spots all but locked up. Here is what the depth chart should look like:
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Demetrius Jackson.
Shooting Guard: Avery Bradley, James Young, R.J. Hunter, John Holland.
Small Forward: Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Gerald Green, Abdel Nader.
Power Forward: Al Horford, Jonas Jerebko, Jordan Mickey, Ben Bentil.
Center: Amir Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller.
Boston has an intriguing roster. On one hand, the team is strong and a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs thanks to the addition of Al Horford. On the flip side, it still lacks one major piece to be considered a legitimate title contender.
The core is young, and internal growth needs to be considered. Head coach Brad Stevens should go into the season seeking a healthy balance between winning and talent development, but there are only so many mouths he can feed. Some rookies should contribute immediately, but just making the roster will be a challenge.
The Sure Thing
Jaylen Brown, the No. 3 pick in this summer's draft, should be the team's most impactful rookie. Even though he is just 19 and had some shaky performances in the summer league, he has plenty of things going in his favor.
Brown should see playing time simply out of necessity, as Boston is relatively shorthanded on the wing. Outside of Jae Crowder and Gerald Green, Brown is the only true small forward on the roster. Stevens slotted Jonas Jerebko at the 3 last season, while Avery Bradley filled the gap in three-guard lineups, but those were forced adjustments because of a lack of depth. That should no longer be an issue.
He is young and raw, but Brown possesses the required athleticism and a perfect 6'7", 225-pound frame for the small forward position. He looked unstoppable in transition during summer-league play. That is an area where he could contribute immediately, according to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman:
"Brown, who is a monster in transition thanks to a combination of power, agility and springs, should also embrace Boston's uptempo pace, which ranked third in the NBA last season, per ESPN.com's Hollinger Stats. If there is one thing we can be sure he can give the Celtics as a rookie, it's the ability to put pressure on the rim and pick up easy open-floor points.
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Brown should find ways to make an impact, but it's important to keep expectations in check. He will be a work in progress, and it will take time for him to shore up some notable weaknesses. Despite an explosive first step, he struggles to finish at the rim with consistency. He also needs to improve his shooting stroke, court vision and passing.
On the Edge
The Celtics don't have many roster spots available, but some of the team's rookies appear to have a great chance of making the roster. Demetrius Jackson, whom Boston selected 45th overall, recently secured a four-year deal with the team, per the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach:
Just like Brown, Jackson didn't look particularly convincing in summer-league play, although he did shoot 45 percent from three-point range. The long-term contract still wasn't a bad idea, as the Celtics addressed a position of need at a cheap price tag ($5.5 million).
Isaiah Thomas is as durable as any player in the league, but the Celtics needed insurance and some depth at the point guard position. Marcus Smart's playmaking is a question mark, and Evan Turner, who spent valuable minutes at the point last year, joined the Portland Trail Blazers earlier in the summer. Terry Rozier will likely be ahead of Jackson in the rotation, but his rookie season wasn't groundbreaking.
Jackson is a solid shooter, especially when he doesn't have to force shots off the dribble. Despite being just 6'2", he could theoretically form a serviceable backcourt duo with each of Boston's guards.
Ben Bentil, the 51st overall pick, has reportedly also signed a contract with the Celtics, according to the Boston Globe (via Jay King of MassLive.com). The deal is only partially guaranteed, and Bentil still has a long way to go to lock down a spot past training camp, per King:
"After the NBA draft, a number of league people I spoke to considered Bentil among the second-round picks most likely to make an opening night roster. He didn't help himself in summer league, though, suggesting he still needs plenty of defensive improvement to earn a role in the world's top league. Right now, the Providence product looks like the seventh big man in the rotation...and that's without considering the minutes Jae Crowder will play at power forward. Barring a trade, the sheer numbers look like too much for Bentil to overcome.
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With Jackson all but locked up, Bentil will duke it out with three other players for the final roster spot, according to Himmelsbach:
It will be an uphill battle for Bentil. He is mobile and can score on the move, but Boston doesn't need a big man as much as it needs another guard. With Tyler Zeller back and Jordan Mickey being a more enticing pet project for next season, Bentil would most likely be the odd man out in an inevitable frontcourt jam.
Boston needs a second shooting guard behind Bradley, and R.J. Hunter should be considered the favorite for the job if no major trade takes place. He is already used to Stevens' system, and he could be a serviceable contributor if he improves his efficiency.
Future Prospects
The rest of Boston's selections are not in contention for the roster just yet. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge was always going to move some of his picks, and he traded Rade Zagorac and Deyonta Davis to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night.
Abdel Nader, the 58th overall pick, had a strong showing in the summer league, and under normal circumstances, he would likely have made the team. But with Brown and Crowder already occupying the small forward position, it appears the Egyptian will head to the NBA Development League:
Guerschon Yabusele was selected 16th overall, while Ante Zizic went 23rd. Both players will have to wait at least one year for a shot at NBA action, with Yabusele signing with the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association and Zizic staying put in Europe.
Yabusele and Zizic are intriguing prospects, but it's impossible to speculate whether they'll ever wear a Celtics uniform. Boston should continue to build toward title contention, but allowing its young core to mature and develop over another season is two is fine.
When Boston's key cogs enter their collective prime, the front office will likely look closer at veterans rather than young talents. It's highly possible Ainge ends up moving the rights to Yabusele and Zizic when that time comes.
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