Re: Official Boston Celtics Thread
I think we should go ahead & see what we can get in a trade for Yabu. He just isn't good enough of a frontcourt player to contribute much at all for this team. We're not going to get much in return with his salary & the type of player that he is but maybe someone in return that's a young player we could stick in the G-League or a bench player that would be like the 12th man on the NBA roster.
What concerned me about Grant from watching him play every single game in his college career either in person or on TV was getting into foul trouble way too many games. He took himself out of several key games in SEC play by getting into foul trouble & costing us a few SEC losses @ UT by him getting limited minutes.
It wasn't really that I thought his game skills would keep him from making the NBA roster. I thought originally a 1/2 year or even whole year in the G-League might have been best for him. I have changed my mind now after seeing how he's handled these 1st 2 Summer League games. He's better than Robert Williams & Yabu.
He has a better skillset than both of them & most importantly he's a smarter player & has excellent character. He will be nothing but a positive influence in that locker room. I could see Grant getting 15+ minutes per game next season because we are so limited with frontcourt players.
I also agree with your roster assessment. I think the only other possibility would be Wannamaker actually being our 3rd PG & having him on the NBA roster & that would mean one of the other players you have listed either being released/traded or placed in the G-League. Edwards isn't going to be in the G-League.
He's already showed too much so he should easily make the NBA roster. In my opinion, Robert Williams is the one that needs to be sent down to the G-League but I don't think Stevens/Ainge will do that because they like his athleticism so much inside. Athleticism is great to have in any sport but you've got to have more than that.
R. Williams just doesn't seem to have any drive about himself. He just goes out there & goes through the motions. He's not good enough to play like that. He needs a fire lit underneath him. I mean with his leaping ability & height he should be getting at least 8 rebounds per game even if he's only playing ~18-20 minutes per game. He's only getting 2-3 rebounds in his playing time. That's not acceptable for a player with his height & athleticism.
I think we should go ahead & see what we can get in a trade for Yabu. He just isn't good enough of a frontcourt player to contribute much at all for this team. We're not going to get much in return with his salary & the type of player that he is but maybe someone in return that's a young player we could stick in the G-League or a bench player that would be like the 12th man on the NBA roster.
You pretty much covered everything that I was going to say. G Williams, Edwards and Tacko have been the most impressive players through the first two games; with Waters looking really good as well. Yabu and Aaron Harrison (not that he really matters cause he's not making anything other than the Red Claws anyway) have been the least impressive.
I agree with you about G Williams rebounding, as well. Him and R Williams are like night and day. One is extremely gifted psychically but gets out of position a lot because he's not ready mentally yet and the other isn't a physical specimen but he makes up for it with his IQ. I thought he was going to be what he has shown so far but you really had me second guessing myself since you watched him so much in college and though he wasn't ready to be an NBA player. One other thing I wanted to point out regarding G Williams is he is led the team in +/- both games. Not that +/- in the "be-all end-all" but in 38 minutes of play he's a +41. Pretty impressive and in contrast Yabu is -13 in 32 minutes and has just looked really bad.
It's still kind of early with Summer League, training camp and preseason left but barring a trade how do you guys think the roster ends up shaking out?
I've got the following penciled in
Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, Kanter
Smart, Langford, G Williams, Theis, R Williams
Edwards, Semi, Poirier
Tacko and Waters - 2 Way
That means cutting or trading both Wanamaker and Yabusele. Strus has a 2-way deal now but if I recall correct 2-way deals aren't guaranteed so that shouldn't be a big deal. It's going to be weird with four (possibly five) rookies but Stevens has done it before. My may point is keep Tacko. He's never going to be a 30 minutes a game NBA player but I think he can be a solid 10-15 minute a game contributor. If Poirier ends up being a bust, then perhaps Tacko could climb all the way up to backup center.
I agree with you about G Williams rebounding, as well. Him and R Williams are like night and day. One is extremely gifted psychically but gets out of position a lot because he's not ready mentally yet and the other isn't a physical specimen but he makes up for it with his IQ. I thought he was going to be what he has shown so far but you really had me second guessing myself since you watched him so much in college and though he wasn't ready to be an NBA player. One other thing I wanted to point out regarding G Williams is he is led the team in +/- both games. Not that +/- in the "be-all end-all" but in 38 minutes of play he's a +41. Pretty impressive and in contrast Yabu is -13 in 32 minutes and has just looked really bad.
It's still kind of early with Summer League, training camp and preseason left but barring a trade how do you guys think the roster ends up shaking out?
I've got the following penciled in
Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, Kanter
Smart, Langford, G Williams, Theis, R Williams
Edwards, Semi, Poirier
Tacko and Waters - 2 Way
That means cutting or trading both Wanamaker and Yabusele. Strus has a 2-way deal now but if I recall correct 2-way deals aren't guaranteed so that shouldn't be a big deal. It's going to be weird with four (possibly five) rookies but Stevens has done it before. My may point is keep Tacko. He's never going to be a 30 minutes a game NBA player but I think he can be a solid 10-15 minute a game contributor. If Poirier ends up being a bust, then perhaps Tacko could climb all the way up to backup center.
It wasn't really that I thought his game skills would keep him from making the NBA roster. I thought originally a 1/2 year or even whole year in the G-League might have been best for him. I have changed my mind now after seeing how he's handled these 1st 2 Summer League games. He's better than Robert Williams & Yabu.
He has a better skillset than both of them & most importantly he's a smarter player & has excellent character. He will be nothing but a positive influence in that locker room. I could see Grant getting 15+ minutes per game next season because we are so limited with frontcourt players.
I also agree with your roster assessment. I think the only other possibility would be Wannamaker actually being our 3rd PG & having him on the NBA roster & that would mean one of the other players you have listed either being released/traded or placed in the G-League. Edwards isn't going to be in the G-League.
He's already showed too much so he should easily make the NBA roster. In my opinion, Robert Williams is the one that needs to be sent down to the G-League but I don't think Stevens/Ainge will do that because they like his athleticism so much inside. Athleticism is great to have in any sport but you've got to have more than that.
R. Williams just doesn't seem to have any drive about himself. He just goes out there & goes through the motions. He's not good enough to play like that. He needs a fire lit underneath him. I mean with his leaping ability & height he should be getting at least 8 rebounds per game even if he's only playing ~18-20 minutes per game. He's only getting 2-3 rebounds in his playing time. That's not acceptable for a player with his height & athleticism.
Comment