The Celtics got off to a stellar start this preseason with a pair of wins over the Nuggets in Abu Dhabi. The games will be coming fast and furious in the next four days and there are some areas to watch for in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation to begin the year. Let’s dive into those and much more in this week’s mailbag. If you have questions about the Celtics or NBA, email brobb@masslive.com or tweet @briantrobb
Hey B Robb love your stuff. Given Porzingis injury history and Al’s age, imo the backup bigs are the most important position group this year. Thoughts? — Belichick’s burner
That group definitely has the most pressure on it during the early part of the season. The good news there for the Celtics is that there is no indication so far they won’t be up for the task. Luke Kornet has played well with the starters during the first two games of the preseason and has shown good decision making in the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum in the short roll. Those types of reads will be pivotal as the year continues.
Meanwhile, Xavier Tillman looks a bit more spry coming off surgery over the summer and that bodes well for a team that is going to need him to play more regular minutes this year. Tillman does provide good defensive versatility that will allow for a good alternative when Kornet’s inability to stick with quicker bigs on the perimeter is magnified. Ultimately, these guys all did the job well last year (including Neemias Queta) and they should be more comfortable in the system a year later.
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Hey hey B Robb love the column. Does Lonnie Walker start the season on the Celtics? If not does Walker go to the G League? — Carlo C
Based on his playing time in the first two games, Walker remains a long shot to make the 15-man roster to begin the year. What happens after the Celtics waive him (assuming they do) will be dependent on Walker. If no other team claims him on waivers, Walker will be free to play where he chooses abroad or join a G-League team. The Celtics will own his G-League rights and Walker will have a little financial incentive ($77,500) to play 60 days in Maine if he does elect to go the G-League. There will be much bigger money waiting for him abroad but if Walker is intent on making it back to the NBA, playing stateside is probably his best bet.
Hey Brian,
With the 10 man rotation almost certainly set, is there any hope for the Celtics to bring someone in who could make an immediate impact?
I love our combination of Hauser, Pritchard, and Tillman on the back end but has there been any notable progress with our young guys like Springer, Walsh, and Schiermann that lead you to believe they will get time?
Hard for me to believe this team needs to make any external adjustments to get better. Keep improving chemistry, synergy, and toughness day in day out and the limit does not exist for this team. Thanks for reading.- Nick
It’s going to be challenging for the Celtics to bring in anyone to make a meaningful impact without touching their current 10-man rotation. Walsh and Springer looked solid in their preseason stints so far, less so for Scheierman. Ultimately, it’s going to be a wait and see situation for Brad Stevens this year. That trio will get a chance to earn Joe Mazzulla’s trust as deep rotation depth. Ultimately, if no one sticks out in that role as a good fit, I do think Stevens will be active on the trade market. Boston could move Springer’s salary ($4 million) and another minimum salary (with draft compensation attached) to try to land a more proven low-cost commodity. The options within that price range will not be impressive though, making a buyout signing perhaps just as appealing of an option down the line.
Realistically, those types of additions shouldn’t matter in the big picture for this group, barring injuries. As you said, the chemistry and continuity within this group is stellar and should only improve as this year rolls on. Stevens likely knows this will be the last year this group has together fully intact with this rotation so maximizing that result will be pivotal.
Hi Brian,
Big fan of your work. Three questions for you.
What type of minutes restriction do you think Joe will have on Porzingis when he returns from his injury?
Do you see Boston as a more relaxed team since they got the championship monkey off of their back?
Given he had a very important role on those 80s team, and was the architect of the 2008 title roster, do you think Boston retires Danny Ainge’s #44 one day? — Max
Thanks for the kind words! Porzingis has never averaged below 28 minutes a game in his career so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Celtics to try to get him below that number coming off such a major surgery. The goal obviously is getting him to the postseason healthy and avoiding heavy mileage in the regular season will be pivotal on that front.
I definitely think the Celtics stars are a lot more relaxed this year, which makes a ton of sense given how long a road they took to a title. How that plays out over the course of the regular season will be fascinating to watch but the burden they carry is certainly reduced now.
I think Ainge definitely gets his numbers in the rafters, especially if this group gets another title or two. He handpicked Tatum and Brown last decade and that opened the door to this run as well in addition to his past accolades.
