Celtics Mailbag: Kristaps Porzingis impact, Jordan Walsh role

The Celtics look like they are in midseason form after a couple of dominant outings to close the preseason. Let’s dive into a few areas to watch in Boston during this edition of the mailbag. If you have questions about the Celtics or NBA, free agency or more email brobb@masslive.com or tweet @briantrobb

Is Jrue Holiday going to come off the bench when they start double bigs? — Dave

I do think this was a legitimate consideration this preseason but my bet would be on the double big alignment being a rarity in the starting five with Al Horford coming off the bench. That’s the guy they need to protect from a minutes standpoint regardless and the team can still load up non-Tatum lineups adequately even if Jrue Holiday starts.

Will there be times when starting double big makes sense? Of course, especially against the Bucks and Sixers of the world. Even in those instances, I feel like Derrick White may be the one to come off the bench more than Holiday. Perhaps they will try it here and there with Holiday after getting it a trial run in the preseason but to be honest, I think they will go double big more with reserve units and let that small ball starting five cook offensively since that’s the group that needs to build continuity and has the greatest offensive upside.

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KP works great in the pick and roll against man to man D. But what about zone? The zone did them in against Miami in the ECFs. Are they practicing with KP at the top of the key or other offensive schemes to beat the zone? —Craig S

I mean, I think a huge part of bringing Porzingis in is to be able to beat that zone. The Celtics didn’t have any bigs that could adequately punish a zone with Rob Williams hesitant to get shots up and Al Horford’s shot slipping away from him all preseason long. Porzingis will be able to stretch the floor against the zone and has the size to punish small defenders down low. In theory, this should create a lot of tough decisions for defenders and open up holes that other Celtics players can attack on offense. There’s no doubt teams like the Heat will still try it but the Celtics have better personnel to break it down this time around. There’s no Marcus Smart around to lay off of and invite to throw up 3s.

Brian, with Al’s age and KP’s injury history, do you think they either promote Queta or sign a FA big like Dwight or Dedmon for big man depth? Kornet clearly isn’t it. Thanks — Frank S

I think Queta stays put on a two-way for now. He’s going to be eligible for 50 regular season games anyway and the team can always promote him later in the year if needed/he proves worthy of a rotation role.

Ultimately, I think the Celtics are going to trade for another big. They still have that Grant Williams TPE worth $6.2 million and that could help bring in a serviceable depth option that should be an upgrade over Luke Kornet. For now, there’s no real rush to get anything done on that front while everyone is healthy. The bet here is the Celtics see what it all looks like before honing in on a potential upgrade/alternative to Kornet. Queta has been a nice surprise as well so he could get a look on nights when Horford rests if more bulk than Kornet is needed on the interior.

What’s the route for Jordan Walsh to break into the rotation sooner rather than later? It’s hard for any rookie to break into a good team with big aspirations in a high-stakes season, but I’m particularly nervous that Joe Mazz, at this stage in his career with legit fears around job security, doesn’t have a lot of incentive to help along a guy who seems like he has some specific skills could wind up helping this team. — Nate D

It’s a tall ask for any second-round pick to play his way into a rotation as a rookie, much less to do so on a title contender. Walsh showed some nice flashes in Summer League but it’s evident throughout the preseason he’s way down the depth chart on the wing, even behind guys like Lamar Stevens and Svi Mykhailiuk.

I would assume that means Walsh is headed for a lot of reps with the Maine Celtics once their season gets going. That should be fun group to watch with JD Davidson and Queta also likely to get plenty of playing time as well. Walsh could be a valuable member of this Celtics roster in time from a defensive standpoint but it’s hard to envision that happening during a rookie season where he barely got on the floor in the preseason.