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celtics roster 2020

Advantages of the Celtics Presence in the FIBA World Cup

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The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup is set to begin on August 31st. For those unaware, the FIBA World Cup is the first official event for countries to qualify to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics. NBA players from all over the world will represent their home countries in the first step towards competing for the illustrious gold medal. For the Celtics, there are potentially seven players who will have the honor to represent four different countries in the event. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker will represent Team USA. Internationally, Daniel Theis will represent Germany, newly acquired forward Vincent Poirier will represent France, and Semi Ojeleye may represent Nigeria.

Originally, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker were the only Celtics invited to Team USA camp. After a multitude of prominent NBA players withdrew themselves from competition, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown received additional invites. Regardless of how the players received invites, a heavy Celtics presence in the FIBA World Cup will provide the team with advantages ahead of NBA training camp.

Off-Court

Following a disappointing end to last season, the Celtics reputation was in question. The commitments to play in the FIBA World Cup present an opportunity to restore that underlying image. With NBA superstars withdrawing from the event, it is uplifting for the Celtics players to take pride in representing their countries. Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker have each publicly commented on their participation with Team USA, and their excitement to dawn the red, white, and blue. Their overwhelming excitement and pride has instantly spun the narrative for the upcoming season. The team has seemingly ditched the underwhelming, dysfunctional attitude, and taken a positive approach to everything coming their way.

Additionally, the players will have an opportunity to promote both the Celtics’ and their individual brands. Playing for Team USA will expose each player to audiences that may not typically view Celtics games. While each player is fairly well known in NBA circles, the casual fan with vested interest in their country’s competition may now begin to root for each player. This works similarly for the Celtics brand. If audiences are impressed by each player’s performance, they may become more prone to viewing Celtics games during the upcoming season.

On-Court

(Credit: Hornets.com)

Perhaps an even greater advantage will come on the floor. NBA training camps won’t open until late September. This gives Kemba Walker a chance to play in real competition with his new teammates before other new acquisitions participate in camps. Through both Team USA camp and the FIBA World Cup, he can begin understand the tendencies and strengths of his teammates. This provides the Celtics with a head start in developing their on-court chemistry in actual games as opposed to simulated scrimmages.

Each individual Celtics player will also get a head start on preparing their body for the grind of the upcoming season. By the time training camp starts, each player will have about a month of high intensity training completed. Although this could be presented as additional stress on the player’s bodies, the young core of Tatum and Brown should have no problem accommodating the added work load. It presents a chance to “shake the rust off” early, and roll into camp in better shape than other teams.

A heavy Celtics presences in the FIBA World Cup could provide a major boost for team in the upcoming season. Scrimmages for Team USA begin August 9th at 10 p.m. EST. The tournament begins for Team USA on September 1st at 8:30 a.m. EST.

Edelman’s Training Camp Injury May Benefit the Patriots

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Julian Edelman will be sidelined for the first three weeks of training camp with a thumb injury. Edelman’s injury has caused speculation about the abilities of the Patriots receiving corp. Currently, only Phillip Dorsett has caught a pass in an NFL game from Tom Brady. However, Edelman’s injury could be a much needed kick start to the team’s passing game.

Developing Rapport

Edelman will miss the first three weeks of training camp with a reported thumb injury. (Credit: Getty Images)

With Edelman sidelined, the Patriots receiving corp for camp includes Philip Dorsett, N’Keal Harry, Braxton Berrios, Maurice Harris, and Dontrelle Inman. As previously mentioned, only Dorsett has caught passes in a game from Brady.

How is this positive?

For the first three weeks of camp, Brady needs to get on the same page with these new receivers. His ability to click with new and young receivers has been heavily criticized in recent years. The initial absence of Edelman can accelerate the development of trust between Brady and the rest of the receiving corp. Additionally, it’s a tremendous opportunity for those receivers to prove themselves as viable options in the passing game.

Back to Basics

Credit: USA Today Sports)

It’s obvious how great Tom Brady is. That does not mean he is invulnerable from criticism. Particularly, Brady has always been associated with the “favorite receiver is the open receiver” cliche. In recent memory, this hasn’t always been the case. There have been egregious forced passes to Josh Gordon and Rob Gronkowski, multiple times ignoring an open Chris Hogan on downfield routes, and perhaps the most notable moment was missing an open James White on the sack-fumble that ultimately cost the team Super Bowl 52.

Why rehash these sour moments for fans? Without Edelman in training camp, it’s a chance for Brady to revert back to that basic principle of “my favorite receiver is the open receiver.” Developing that rapport with the rest of the receivers will allow him to trust those players when they create separation or get open.

Kick Start, Not Replacement

(Credit: Getty Images)

The Patriots are not a better team without Julian Edelman in the receiving corp. His return will bolster both the passing game and run game due to his impact on defenses. His absence at the start of training camp has the chance of being a great kick start to the potential development of the rest of the offense. It’s up to the other receivers and the greatest quarterback of all time to do the rest.

What’s Next for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown?

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The NBA off-season is in full swing. Marquee players are relocating at an unprecedented rate, new draftees are signing their first NBA contracts, and young, talented players are receiving some of the largest contracts in NBA history. The Celtics have been in the mix on all of these endeavors except for the last. With the addition of Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter, and the recent draft class, it has flown under the radar that Jaylen Brown will become a restricted free agent (RFA) after the upcoming season. As players from the same draft class sign massive contracts, it bodes the question: What’s next for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown?2

2016 Draft Class

Brown was selected #3 overall in the 2016 Draft. (Credit: Getty Images)

The 2016 draft class is approaching their fourth year in the league, and thus the players are eligible to begin negotiating contract extensions with their current teams. We have already seen Ben Simmons (the #1 pick, 76ers) and Jamal Murray (the #7 pick, Nuggets) each sign 5-year, $170 million contracts with the teams that drafted them. So where does this leave Jaylen Brown (the #3 pick)?

From the Celtics perspective, Brown has not produced in a manner similar to Simmons or Murray. Simmons was the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year and made the 2019 All-Star team. Murray is coming off of a 2019 campaign where he averaged over 18 points per game (PPG) and was an integral piece in the Nuggets contention for the #1 seed in a stacked Western Conference. Currently, Brown does not have the accolades to compare to either player.

From Brown’s perspective, he can argue that each players’ respective teams were desperate to sign their young stars to remain relevant. Brown has taken a back seat to players such as Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and even Jayson Tatum in his time with the Celtics. He has had his fair share of dust-ups with his teammates, but after the turn of the 2019 New Year, Brown was one of the only players to accept his role and produce. He effectively recreated his production from the 2017-2018 campaign while playing nearly five minutes less per game.

Ceiling vs. Production

Brown dunks over 2018-2019 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Credit: AP Photo)

An extremely prominent factor in the case of Jaylen Brown is his potential ceiling vs. his current production. Brown has shown significant flashes of brilliance on both the offensive and defensive ends at times. His abilities and athleticism allegedly held Danny Ainge from trading him for two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. In an ideal world for the Celtics, Brown has been compared and projected to be a similar two-way player to Leonard.

Thus far, he has not flourished into that projection. Brown’s numbers have been serviceable: he averaged 11.2 PPG, 46.2% field goal percentage (FGP), and 36.5 three point percentage (3P) for his career. He has struggled defensively at times, and is most notably a poor free throw shooter, 65.8% for his career. However, it is easily forgettable that Brown is still only 22-years old. There is still plenty of time for his game to progress.

Ultimate Decision

(Credit: Getty Images)

The situation is a predicament for the Celtics. With players of similar age cashing in on mega-deals, it is hard to believe that Brown would accept an offer less than his peers. Additionally, a lot of Brown’s current value is still based on projection rather than performance. The ultimate question for the Celtics is: do you pay Brown based on projection or performance?

The common sense answer would be performance. By performance standards, the Celtics should offer Brown a deal that is less than the five-year, $170 million that both Simmons and Murray received. Would he accept that offer now? Would he be offended by a lower offer at the current time?

The best answer may be that the Celtics wait until after the upcoming season to offer an extension. If Brown’s production increases more towards his ultimate ceiling, he may be worth the contract extension. If his production stays at the current level, it would be difficult to invest that type of cap space on a player entirely for potential.

The upcoming season is shaping up to be a make or break situation for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown.

Why Celtics Fans Will Love Grant Williams

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As the Celtics are in the midst of their NBA Summer League play, there has been plenty of buzz surrounding their latest draft picks and undrafted signees. So far, the up and coming Celtics have thoroughly impressed with their play on the floor and their demeanor off of it. One player in particular has immediately stood out above the rest: Grant Williams.

Williams was the 22nd pick in the 2019 draft after coming off back-to-back SEC Player of the Year accolades in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. In his three years at Tennessee, he averaged 15.7 points per game (PPG), 6.5 rebounds per game (RPG) and 2.1 assists per game (APG) over 104 games. He was also a consensus first team All-American following the 2018-2019 season. He also wrote an amazing scholarship essay while attending Tennessee.

The 6’7” power forward has picked up right where he left off, and has carried his impact over immediately to summer league play. He is averaging 11.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 2.0 APG. While it’s clear that Williams has been impressive on the stat sheet, his influence on the game goes far beyond the numbers.

Defensive Awareness

Summer League play is far from a typical NBA environment, but Williams has quickly shown that he has a defensive awareness that could land him significant minutes in the Celtics rotation.

https://twitter.com/maxacarlin/status/1147623905366032384

As an undersized power forward, Williams has the grit and hustle mentality that it takes to compete with players that have a height advantage over him. As seen in the video above, he is not afraid to get tangled with larger bodies in the paint, and has the awareness to remain within his defensive rotations. His ability to defend against different positions and different size players has drawn some early comparisons to that of Marcus Smart.

Developing Offense

Williams’ long range shooting ability has been criticized as a weakness in his game. He shot only 29.1% from 3-point range in college. However, so far in Summer League play he has shown willingness to work on his outside game, while also developing his offensive approach overall.

It’s clear that his mentality on the offensive end mimics that of his defensive approach. He is still a raw talent, but clearly working to refine parts of his game that he knows will need improvement to succeed in real NBA games.

Although his long-range game is a work in progress, his 51.6% field goal percentage (FGP) in college is nothing to balk at. His inside game and awareness will do nothing but help his outside game progress.

Off-Court

Williams off-court story is just as intriguing as his on-court game. He chose to play for the University of Tennessee over attending both Yale and Harvard. His mother is a NASA engineer, which has stirred banter over his disagreement with a certain former Celtic’s “flat earth theory.” He has also considered himself as a “nerd” and “goofball” when asked about his personality and camaraderie with his new Celtics teammates.

For Celtics fans, Williams represents leadership for their new-age roster additions. His on-court game is predicated on hard-work and hustle. His off-court approach is humble, intelligent, and refreshingly playful. If there is ever a player that Celtics fans could and should get behind, it is Grant Williams.

The Case of Kawhi Leonard and NBA Tampering

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NBA free agency has been underway for just shy of a week. The league’s most talented players have been relocating at a dramatic rate. With the current flux of roster building and talent swapping, one of the biggest names on the market still has yet to choose his next destination: Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard is coming off a dominating NBA Finals performance in which he deservedly earned MVP honors. However, the performance that brought Toronto its first NBA title in franchise history has quickly flown under the radar. How can a performance and an accomplishment of such magnitude lose its place among the headlines so suddenly?

The answer is simple: tampering between teams and the NBA’s elite players.

The Free Agent Experience

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were seen discussing what was perceived as Free Agency plans to play together at the 2019 All-Star game in Charlotte, NC. (Credit: Getty Images)

In today’s world of “who had the information first” and “give me the information right away,” it seems incredibly odd that a player of Leonard’s caliber would still be determining his next move. The truth is, Leonard is experiencing free agency how it is supposed to be.

It seems like the distant past, but remember that Kevin Durant held free agent meetings with five teams in the Hamptons during the 2016 off season. Durant then proceeded to announce his choice to join the Golden State Warriors via an article published on the Player’s Tribune. What does that have to do with Leonard and the 2019 free agent landscape? It is demonstrating that Leonard is doing the exact same thing. He has reportedly visited with the Lakers, Clippers, and Raptors; all teams in which he has interest in signing with. He is carefully exploring his options and will ultimately decide on his own terms.

The concept of this seems like common sense. The problem is that other top tier players in the 2019 free agent class did none of this. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant had all but sealed their fate to play together at the 2019 All Star Game. Al Horford squandered rumors of a reunion with the Celtics based on an agreement with the 76ers reportedly a week before the free agency period began. Kemba Walker was replacing Irving before the Celtics were even sure that Irving wasn’t returning. Additionally, players like Anthony Davis are facilitating trades to destinations where they want to play while diminishing their trade value significantly for other interested teams. All of these players had their destinations determined far before the 6 p.m. opening of Free Agency on July 1st.

All-In or All-Out

It’s clear that these players and the teams they have agreed with are violating the tampering rules of the NBA collective bargaining agreement. Players want to have full control of who they play with and where they play. While this can be a detriment to some smaller market teams, it is generally a good thing for the NBA in generating publicity and promoting their stars.

The league needs to take a hard stance on the matter, one way or the other. If tampering is to be illegal, players who conspire to play with each other while under contract should be fined or suspended games to prevent future occurrences. If the league wants to allow teams and players to continue to have agreements in place prior to the opening of free agency, then penalties for tampering should be eliminated entirely. It is foolish under the current landscape to punish executives for discussing players under contract with other clubs while those same players are plotting to join forces months later in the offseason.

A Prominent Reminder

(Credit: The Canadian Press via AP Images)

Perhaps fittingly, Kawhi Leonard has approached free agency similar to his on-court demeanor. He has proceeded with a business-like, by-the-rules mentality that should be a reminder of how the free agency process should be.

So while we anxiously await his decision that will undoubtedly change the NBA landscape, let’s be thankful that at least one player is seemingly working at his own pace within the rulebook.

Celtics Free Agency: What follows after Kemba Walker signs?

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The NBA has set the salary cap for the 2019-2020 season at a value of $109,140,000. With the Celtics’ anticipated addition of Kemba Walker on a $141 Million max salary, the team will be searching for feasible options to continue to upgrade the roster.

By renouncing the rights to all free agents on the roster at the end of this past season, the Celtics created approximately $37.3 Million in salary cap space. The addition of Kemba Walker will consume slightly more than $35 Million of the created space. This leaves the Celtics with about $1.8 Million in cap space to pursue additional free agents.

The rules of the NBA salary cap can be convoluted. The $109 Million hard cap deters teams from spending exorbitant amounts of money on multiple free agents in one off season. However, there are numerous exceptions at different values that can assist teams in pursuing roster upgrades via free agency. After signing Walker, the Celtics will be granted a $4.8 Million “room exception.” This exception will allow them to exceed the salary cap.

With the remaining $1.8 Million in cap space and the room exception, who might the Celtics pursue in free agency after the Kemba Walker signing?

Filling the Void

With the departure of Al Horford, the only centers listed on the Celtics’ roster are Daniel Theis and Robert Williams. While Celtics fans have embraced “Timelord” and the serviceable German big man, the prospect of either player consuming big minutes is less than ideal.

The Celtics are rumored to have interest in multiple free agent centers. These players are realistic options for the Celtics to pursue with their remaining cap space and the room exception:

Nerlens Noel

(Credit: The Oklahoman)

The 6’-11” Massachusetts (Everett) born center declined a $1.9 Million option with the Oklahoma City Thunder to pursue free agency. He has had an up-and-down, injury filled career that has limited his potential that boosted him to the 6th pick in the 2013 draft.

Noel would be an ideal candidate for the Celtics because he may command a salary around the $1.8 Million that the Celtics have left under the salary cap. He is only 24 years old and he is best known for his abilities as a rebounder and a shot blocker. Although his offensive skills are mediocre, he would allow for the Celtics to use their remaining cap space and save the room exception for the possibility of an additional player.

Enes Kanter

(Credit: AP Photo)

Kanter was linked to the Celtics as a potential trade target at the 2018-2019 trade deadline. He has once again been linked to the Celtics as a candidate for the room exception in the 2019 offseason.

Another 6’-11” natural center, Kanter provides the offensive ability that other available centers may lack. Between time split in New York and Portland during 2018-2019, Kanter averaged 13.5 points and 3.7 offensive rebounds per game. This type of offensive production from the center position could benefit the Celtics in replacing Al Horford’s offense. Kanter’s offensive game would also complement the defensive ability of Robert Williams. This would allow the Celtics to dictate at the center position when in-game adjustments are necessary.

Kevon Looney

(Credit: AFP Photo)

Perhaps the most intriguing option that has been linked to the Celtics is former Golden State Warrior Kevon Looney. The 22 year old, 6’-9” power forward/center is coming off his most productive season in which he showed undeniable grit and toughness by playing through a fractured rib in the NBA finals.

Looney’s numbers are not overwhelming on paper, but he has steadily progressed in every category from games played, minutes played, total rebounds, and points per game in all four years of his career. Looney’s growth, toughness, willingness to accept his role, and playoff experience at such a young age could provide the Celtics with another core player to establish the chip-on-the-shoulder culture that disappeared from the 2018-2019 locker room.

Although the Celtics salary cap space is limited, the remaining free agent options at center are not. Let the free agency games begin!

Should the Celtics pursue a reunion with Isaiah Thomas?

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With less than a week until the legal tampering period of free agency begins in the NBA, the Celtics have all but sent Kyrie Irving packing from the Auerbach Center. With the anticipated departure of Irving and the potential payday looming for restricted free-agent guard Terry Rozier,the Celtics have been linked to multiple top-tier point guards on the market, namely: Kemba Walker and D’Angelo Russell. While those are the sexy high-profile names that will presumably become available on July 1st, one name in particular that should strike Celtics fans seems to be flying heavily under the radar: Isaiah Thomas.

Approaching the two-year anniversary of the blockbuster trade with Cleveland; Thomas is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Thomas has only appeared in 44 games since the trade due to the well-documented hip injury he suffered in the 2017 playoff run with Celtics. He was benched indefinitely after a brief return with the Denver Nuggets this past season.

Thomas is still searching for the opportunity to re-establish himself as a dominant scorer and an All-Star. Thus, the question: should the Celtics pursue a reunion with Isaiah Thomas?

Re-establishing Culture

Isaiah Thomas celebrating with teammates (Credit: Getty Images)

After a disappointing season full of angst and discord, who better to help re-establish the gritty, chip-on-their-shoulder culture of the Celtics than the player who started it all?

From the moment he arrived in Boston during the 2014-15 season, IT changed the attitude of the team. The Celtics went from the loveable losers with the up and coming coach to never-back-down competitors in the Eastern Conference. It was Thomas’s killer mentality on the floor and his infectious personality off the floor that hastened the team’s planned rebuild faster than Danny Ainge and upper management could have ever imagined.

This type of attitude is what the 2018-2019 Celtics desperately lacked. A leader who demonstrated that type of fire and competitiveness on the floor, but showed composure during difficult times off the court.

Low Risk/High Reward

Thomas is coming off a campaign in which he was paid the veteran’s minimum salary and appeared in only 12 games before being indefinitely benched. This may seem like a deterrent, but let’s not forget that he was recovering from major hip surgery and was thrown into the mix of a team that ultimately threatened the Golden State Warriors for first place in the Western Conference. There is the possibility he never returns to his previous form as a player, and as a result, his current market value is at an all-time low.

For the Celtics, his value is much higher. He’s a player that has proven to fit into the system Brad Stevens has established. He’s beloved by the city of Boston. He was a major piece in recruiting Gordon Hayward and Al Horford during their respective free agencies. He’s established relationships with younger players such as Jaylen Brown, which have proven to not be overly toxic for the team environment. He won’t command maximum salary or contract length in his upcoming contract. Most importantly however, he loves the City of Boston and wanted to be here.

(Credit: AP Images)

Should the Celtics pursue a reunion with Isaiah Thomas? Indefinitely, yes.