The Celtics like Perry Jones III, but may not be able to keep him unless there’s another roster move, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. Boston traded for the 24-year-old in July after he saw little playing time in Oklahoma City. Forsberg writes that the Celtics are impressed by Jones’ athleticism for being 6’11”, but aren’t convinced they have a spot for him. He left the team briefly last week to attend a funeral and has only played 17 preseason minutes. There have been calls to get rid of James Young instead, but Forsberg says the Celtics like his defensive development and are reluctant to part with a 20-year-old first-round pick.
There’s more out of Boston:
- Jared Sullinger is hoping for an extension, but he has been struggling to distinguish himself in a crowded frontcourt, Forsberg writes in the same story. Even after spending the offseason on a conditioning plan, Sullinger has had a flat preseason, making just three of 14 shots in his last two games. Hoops Rumors writer Will Joseph examined Sullinger’s prospects in our Extension Candidate series.
- A return to New York could be possible for David Lee when he hits free agency next summer, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Lee, who spends much of his offseason in New York, was acquired by the Celtics in a July trade with Golden State. He hopes for more court time this season than he got with the Warriors. “Hopefully I’ll get a chance to play a little bit,’’ Lee said. “That’s different from last year. It was a strange year last year, of course, with an unbelievable ending being able to contribute to a title. It was all worth it.”
- Rookie R.J. Hunter, who is making a bid to be part of the Celtics’ rotation, got to show off his point guard skills Friday night, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. The columnist says coaches are considering a larger role for the 6’6″ Hunter, who had originally been slotted to spend much of the year on assignment with the team’s D-League franchise in Maine. Hunter said he hasn’t played point guard since middle school, but the move was necessitated by Marcus Smart‘s illness and Terry Rozier‘s aching knee.