Tag Archives: celtics

Why Celtics Fans Will Love Grant Williams

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 22^nd 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.

GW👌 https://t.co/Hmo3wVCNY3
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 6, 2019

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.

😤 https://t.co/W9Sn9Q36uV
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 9, 2019

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.

Tremont Waters: The Celtics’ diamond in the rough

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The Boston Celtics continue to ride their rookies in the Summer League to a 3-0 record. They have gotten lots of surprising contributions from guys like Tacko Fall and Javonte Green. Their biggest find, however, was unheralded second-round point guard Tremont Waters. The LSU Product has shown he’s worthy of a roster spot, and the front office is very high on him as well.

Waters originally comes from LSU, where he made a big impact in March Madness

Where he came from

Tremont Waters caught the eye of Celtics management while playing for LSU. As their starting point guard he led them to the Sweet Sixteen of the March Madness tournament. Waters developed a reputation as a clutch player, helping spark and close out LSU’s dramatic victories. He was an average shooter, but his defensive capabilities and passing talent helped his team. He was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year who had a knack for making big shots. The Celtics took him with the 51st overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

The Perfect Brad Stevens’ Point Guard

We’ve seen many a point guard flourish in Brad Stevens’ system. The Celtics seemingly always have an All-Star at the 1 position. But its also no secret that the biggest traits that Stevens wants in a Celtic are selflessness and defense. Waters fits the bill. Your typical pass-first guy, Stevens will quickly fall in love with his system fit. Water’s clutch gene he has probably doesn’t hurt either.

Waters is one of the newest members of this young Celtics core

Why he’s a Steal

The Celtics picked Tremont Waters at pick 51 out of 60. Players picked that low are typically long-term projects or never make it. Most struggle in the Summer League. In three games Waters has proved he belongs, with 10.7 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 2.0 RPG. He’s made numerous defensive plays that helped the Celtics jump to a 3-0 record this summer. All his teammates love him, and listen to his directions on the floor. The Celtics also signed him to a two-way contract to help develop him. A defensive floor general, Tremont Waters is set to prove the doubters wrong and make the Celtics look genius for taking him.

How Free Agency helped the Celtics’ Chances in the East

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As one of the most action-packed periods of NBA Free Agency comes to a close, the balance of power in the East has drastically shifted. Kawhi Leonard has left the Toronto Raptors, the reigning champs in the east, and they’re now playoff long-shots. The Bucks lost a key player in Malcolm Brogdon to the Pacers. Jimmy Butler left Philly for sunny Miami, and the Sixers decided to go big with Al Horford. With a spreading of wealth across the league, the Boston Celtics find themselves in Eastern Conference contention once again.

All-Star for All-Star

The Celtics lost their one All-Star (Kyrie Irving) to the Brooklyn Nets at the start of Free Agency. Danny Ainge recovered quite nicely by signing an All-Star replacement in Kemba Walker. Walker is an excellent plug-and-play scorer who is more of a seasoned leader and floor general. This negates their big loss (Irving) with a big gain (Walker). Not many NBA teams were able to do that this summer.

Top Teams get weaker

The Celtics inadvertently benefit by some of the other top teams in the east getting worse. The Sixers boast about acquiring Al Horford and their giant lineup, despite losing Jimmy Butler. Butler was huge for them down the stretch, and has left the ‘giant’ lineup with lack of floor spacing and speed. The Raptors lost their one superstar and the main reason they dominated in Kawhi Leonard. The Milwaukee Bucks kept most of their big players, but sacrificed depth in the process. The spread of wealth has put the Celtics at least on par with these teams, if not made them better.

Grant Williams is a huge piece of the Celtics’ young core

Cohesion and Youth

One of the biggest knocks on last years Celtics were that the lacked chemistry. The locker room was rife with drama, and a rift between young guys and veterans quickly formed. This roster is extremely young (minus Walker) and seems to genuinely like each other. This team has a lot of players together at the summer league this year, and they look cohesive. If this can translate to the Celtics main roster, they could be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Celtics Summer League Preview: What’s next?

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After an active and hectic first couple of days of NBA Free Agency the dust is starting to settle and we look forward to next season. But first, we have the NBA Summer League beginning on July 6th as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Much as been made of the Celtics moves to get younger this season, and the Summer League is no exception. Here’s a full preview of what to expect:

Point Guards: Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters, Jon Elmore, Javonte Green

Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

The name that jumps out at you here is Carsen Edwards. The ultimate ‘heat-check’, Edwards has a lot to prove after the Boston Celtics picked him in this year’s draft. Was last year a one-time thing? Can he sustain his pace and production over a season? We’ll get to see this upcoming weekend. As for the other guys, they have a lot to prove. Waters is Marcus Smart with less offense, and we’re not sure what Elmore and Green are capable of. We’ll see what they bring to the table this summer.

Wings: Romeo Langford(INJ), Aaron Harrison, Kendrick Ray, Max Straus

The interest of this group was diminished when the Celtics announced that Langford would sit out with a thumb injury. However, one other interesting prospect is Aaron Harrison. A former star SG at Kentucky, Harrison has had little success at the next level. This makes him a perfect guy to take a flyer on and see what he’s got. If he performs well, he could be a quality bench option for the C’s

Frontcourt: Robert Williams, Guerschon Yabusele, Grant Williams, Tacko Fall, Chinanau Onuaku

This may be the most interesting position group on the entire team. Robert Williams has high expectations this season at center, and his performance here could translate to big minutes come September. Yabusele has a chance to earn a promotion from G-League play with a strong showing. Grant Williams was a first-round pick of the Celtics this year, and is shaping up to be a fan-favorite. He can amplify those claims by showing that he’s become more well-rounded. Tacko Fall is a 7’6″ center. The Celtics need height at center. If he can play hard and defend well, the Celtics could have a secret weapon this season.

What to Watch For: Young guns, Raw talent

This group is interesting because they could be the Summer League champions or not be there at all. The 2019 draft class seem to be very close with one another, and overall this Summer League team appears to be friendly with each other. The chemistry this team shows will reflect upon what we can expect come September. If the young kids can refine that raw talent into basketball production, then the future is bright for the Boston Celtics.

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

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 6^th 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

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

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!

Why Kemba Walker is a good signing for the Celtics

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Amidst the impending decisions of big fish like Kevin Durant, players like Kemba Walker became lost in the shuffle. However, the Celtics have emerged as front runners for Walker come July 1st. Many see this as iffy, considering it would leave Boston with $1.8 Million left in cap space. I’m here to tell you why this is a great signing for the C’s.

Walker averaged 25.8 points per game and 5.9 assists

Fills the void at Point Guard

The Celtics are watching both Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier walk out the door on Sunday. That would leave them with two unproven rookies in Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters. Kemba Walker is a multi-time All-Star who is coming off his best statistical season and entering his prime. He’ll bring high-quality play and production to a team in desperate need of a play-maker at the 1.

Invaluable Leadership

The Celtics have built a very young team where all players are 25 and younger. There is no clear-cut leader among the pack. This is why Kemba would be invaluable. He was lauded as a high-quality leader and teammate by his Charlotte teammates. Kemba is an unselfish player who loves being a team player as much as being a superstar. As such, he doesn’t posses a dominating ego like Kyrie, so the young stars should be more willing to listen to him. His leadership would soften the blow of Al Horford leaving.

Kemba’s return to New England puts Boston back on the map.

Flip the Script on the Boston Celtics

When it comes to the NBA, Boston has typically not been a marquee destination for free agents. The exits of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford have only helped keep this notion alive. Kemba Walker would flip this on its head. Not only would Boston land an All-Star after two leave, but it would be a guy who picked Boston. They become a destination for stars and become contenders again in one fell swoop. Kemba Walker is the ideal solution for the Celtics, and signing him shouldn’t warrant a second thought

Celtics Free Agent Profile: Malcolm Brogdon

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The Celtics showed with their NBA Draft class that they were on route to building a young team with raw talent. This inadvertently resulted in the C’s freeing up about $28 million in cap space. The Celtics will most likely look for guys that will fit the timetable of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. This makes Malcolm Brogdon an ideal target for them in Free Agency.

Bio

Malcolm Brogdon is a point guard who stands at 6’5″, 229 pounds. He is 26 years old, and won Rookie of the Year in 2017. He has played most of his career on limited minutes behind Eric Bledsoe, and with injuries he has rarely started games for the Bucks. Brogdon willingly accepted his bench role and did whatever he could do to help his team win. He’ll be a restricted free agent come July, and will garner roughly 10-12M a year. Boston will have more than enough cap space to acquire his services.

Why the Celtics should sign him

The Celtics’ point guard woes are very well documented. Kyrie Irving is set to sign with Brooklyn, and Terry Rozier wants to leave. The Celtics have two rookies at point guard in Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters. Brogdon has played for three years in the league, and at 26 fits the timetable of this young Celtics team. Brogdon defends with every ounce of effort, even though he’s not the best on defense. He’s a good shooter, knows how to utilize his teammates, and responds well to coaching. He is an exceptional athlete, as shown here. Brogdon’s biggest asset may be his low mileage. He averaged 17.4 minutes per game with the Bucks. His light usage means he’ll be more helpful to Boston in the long run. He has no outstanding ego and is typically a ‘team-first’ guy.

Will he sign with Boston?

The C’s will make an offer to Brogdon because of need. As a restricted free agent, the Celtics only need worry about the Bucks matching their offer. While Milwaukee has other high-priority free agents, Brogdon is an asset they may want to keep. The high cost of their other stars may mean the Bucks won’t retain him. In conclusion, a 4yr/$12M deal should allow Boston to procure his services and that is something they absolutely should explore.

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 1^st, 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.

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

Evaluating The Celtic’s 2019 draft haul

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The 2019 NBA Draft has come to a close, and now teams can reassess what they have before free agency starts. The Celtics participated in an assortment of trades and brought home an interesting pool of prospects and assets. Here we’ll evaluate the haul that the C’s brought home.

Prospects: Romeo Langford, SG; Grant Williams, PF; Carsen Edwards, PG/SG; Tremont Waters, PG Grade: B-

The Celtics draft translated from 14, 20, 22, and 51 into 14, 22, 33, 51. The talent brought in is an intriguing mix. Romeo Langford is not exactly what the Celtics needed. He’s a talented scorer and an excellent young wing, but the Celtics already have a bunch of those. Williams and Edwards are Brad Stevens-like players. Williams is a stretch 4 who like to bump-n’-grind in the paint. He also plays great defense. Carsen Edwards brings huge amounts of offensive production and is a hard-nosed player. Waters is a good passer, but didn’t make much sense after the Edwards pick. Any type of center, or any guy over 6’8″ would’ve made more sense. The Celtics also missed on trading up for a guard and grabbing a center like Brandon Clarke, which was desperately needed.

Assets: Milwaukee 2020 1st Round pick (Top-6 protected), $5.45M in cap space Grade: A

Despite what some might call some missteps in the draft, the Celtics made sure to get some assets as well. By giving Aron Baynes to Phoenix when trading the Ty Jerome pick, the Celtics pick up another $5.45 million in cap space for a stacked FA class. In that same trade, Danny Ainge acquired another future first-round pick to help build this young team. Creating close to $30M in cap space and starting to fill the chest of draft picks is genius. The Celtics got high value for next to nothing in return. With an uncertain future, the Celtics combined young, raw prospects with solid assets to continue to build for the future. Only time will tell what Danny Ainge and the Celtics can turn this haul into.

The Celtics could look drastically different in 2019-20 season

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The Boston Celtics and Danny Ainge have opened up a plethora of paths this offseason. With Kyrie Irving and Al Horford set to leave the franchise, the C’s have some cap room to play with and an interesting free agent class coming up. By the end of this offseason, the Celtics will likely look drastically different than last year’s team.

Returning Players: Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Aron Baynes, Robert Williams, Guerschon Yabusele, Semi Ojelaye

With eight rostered players for next season, the Celtics have a solid top of the roster. Tatum, Brown, Williams, and Ojelaye comprise a young core with Hayward, Smart and Baynes bringing the veteran leadership. The biggest problem that will arise is the lack of depth and the weakness at point guard. The Celtics will need to focus on adding to a roster that has some potential, and they have the means to do so.

Projected Cap Space: ~28-36M dependent on Rozier

This figure works under the assumption Rozier signs with Boston at a projected 8.5M dollar cap hit. With reports that Rozier is all-in on a Celtics team minus Kyrie, we’ll assume the Celtics have $28 million to spend after retaining Rozier. Now the big question: where to spend that money.

Mid-Tier free agents

The Celtics don’t command the required cap space to sign a max contract at the moment, so their focus should shift to signing the middle tier of role players that are in this class. Guys like Patrick Beverley (pictured), Ricky Rubio, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Trevor Ariza all fit that 8-12M range. Each one provides the Celtics with depth and key roles that strengthen and diversify the team. They have the space to acquire two or three of these guys, none of which have ever played for the Green.

UNC’s Nassir Little could be an option for C’s at 14th Pick

Fresh Faces from Draft

The Celtics may look a lot younger next year due to their three first-round picks in this year’s NBA Draft. Each pick offers a plethora of intriguing prospects. While none have the star power of Zion, they all bring skills to the table that will give the Celtics a nice crop of young players to groom. Guys like Nassir Little and Ty Jerome are nice developmental projects that can become key role players early in their careers. The Celtics would love the opportunity to fill the team with fresh faces for the young core.

Overall, The Celtics have the pieces in place for a drastic roster Shake-up. Don’t be surprised when you see a bunch of new faces next season.