Summer leagues all about the kids
SALT LAKE CITY — The Celtics arrived yesterday for the start of what has become an annual summer-league marathon, starting with four days here, followed by an even longer and much noisier experience in Las Vegas.
The team will begin the summer-league play with nine rookies, including six draftees, on the 14-man roster, including Malcolm Miller. The 2015 second-round choice/stash pick still counts as a rookie since Miller spent last season playing in Australia. Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey and Marcus Thornton all will be making a second summer appearance; James Young, still trying to gain traction with the organization, looks to play in a third. Here’s a few things to look for:
• Jaylen Br own will build his fan base early — Like Mickey last year, the No. 3 overall pick is expected to explode on the scene, except that he’ll likely score more.
It’s easy to see why the 6-foot6 small forward stands to dent coach Brad Stevens’ rotation by October. Brown is strong, with an NBA-ready body, and should thrive against the lesser form of defense these young summerleague teams tend to play.
There’s a theory that Brown is better suited for the NBA than college, simply because there wasn’t enough help on his California team to keep defenses honest.
• Catch Guerschon Y abusele now, before he gets st ashed for a year — The Celtics quite simply can’t put this many new players on the roster, and as such, this 6-8, 270-pound French power forward likely will play another year in his home country.
Yabusele can shoot 3-pointers, a big reason why he’s with the team. But like Brown, he stands a good chance of feasting at the rim, thanks to an especially athletic presence.
• Your clock is ticking — Two summers ago, Young was a rookie but missed summer league due to a concussion suffered in a car accident. Last year’s summer appearance was truncated by a basketball-related hip injury, after the muscled-up swingman got off to a horrible start in Salt Lake City. Then he was passed on the depth chart during the regular season by Rozier and Hunter. There can’t be much time left here for a revival.
• Rozier gets the ball — Marcus Smart, busy conducting the international segment of his own summer camp in the Canary Islands, decided not to play in a third summer league, meaning that Rozier gets to run the show. Of particular interest will be the development of the point guard’s jumper. He’s shown signs of being a devastating pull-up shooter from downtown.
• Hunter will get t o expand his range — The second-year shooting guard didn’t need much to steal the shooting show from Young last year after struggling in his first two games in Salt Lake City. Time to start hitting those bombs a little more consistently.
• Mickey will get to play smallball cent er — At 6-8, Mickey is the tallest player on the summer roster, indicating that the Celtics plan to go strong with their smallball lineups. He was one of the best shot blockers on the circuit last July, and will be a year better at his craft now.