Celtics Notes: Tatum, Scheierman, Brown, Walsh
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is making his season debut on Friday vs. Dallas after tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs last May. Head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed Tatum prior to the game.
“We always knew he was going to come back this year,” Mazzulla said (Twitter link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic). “I knew that when he had surgery within 16 hours of (the injury).”
Mazzulla was asked if the perennial All-NBA member would be on a minutes restriction in his first game in nearly 10 months.
“I have no idea,” Mazzulla replied, per Brian Robb of MassLive (Twitter link).
However, ESPN’s Jorge Sedando later reported (via Twitter) that Tatum would not be on a minutes restriction, and Michael Malone confirmed that news on the broadcast, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac.
Tatum will be in the starting lineup, with Baylor Scheierman moving to the bench, according to Jay King of The Athletic (Twitter links).
Here’s more from Boston:
- Five ESPN insiders answer five questions about Tatum’s return. As ESPN’s Zach Kram writes, Tatum has led the team in field goal attempts per game each of the past six seasons, so it might take some time for the Celtics to adjust to having him back once he finds his rhythm. That’s particularly true for Jaylen Brown, who has the second-highest usage rate in the league this season, Kram notes. Still, the attention Tatum receives should only benefit the Celtics, who have the second-best offensive rating in the league, says Kram.
- Brown’s strong play — and the team’s success with him as the No. 1 option — has led to some renewed speculation that he should continue in that role for the rest of the season. Former Celtic Grant Williams tells King of The Athletic he’s tired of hearing the debate about how Brown and Tatum fit together, especially after they won the title in 2024. “It’s the same dumb s–t they’ve been talking about since I was here,” Williams told The Athletic. “So I think neither one of (Tatum or Brown) should pay any attention to it because they’re both phenomenal human beings, but also phenomenal players. And no matter what the media says, they’ve shown that they can play with one another and they add to one another’s games. And no matter who gets the attention, no matter who gets the praise, the ultimate goal is winning. Both of those two deserve to be in the Celtics rafters one day. And by doing it together, they’ll be able to do it at a high level.”
- Third-year forward Jordan Walsh will be out Friday due to an illness, the Celtics announced (via Twitter). Boston holds a $2.4MM team option on Walsh, a 2023 second-round pick, for next season.
Celtics Notes: Scheierman, Queta, Brown, Centers
Baylor Scheierman was in the Celtics‘ starting lineup Sunday night even though he fractured his left thumb in Friday’s win over Brooklyn, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only story. The second-year guard made his eighth consecutive start and managed a normal workload, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes. The thumb injury on his shooting hand may have affected his outside shot as he only connected on 2-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc.
Scheierman explained that the injury occurred in a collision with Nets rookie Egor Demin late in the first half.
“He was running the other way, and I thought he was just going to chase after the ball because it was up in the air, and I think my thumb just kind of went into his chest,” Scheierman said. “Just hurt and looked down and just kind of felt weird and kind of just locked.”
He was able to tape his thumb and finish the game and didn’t realize the extent of the injury until X-rays revealed the fracture. He took some jumpers during the day on Sunday and decided he would be able to play.
“We’re kind of just evaluating it as it goes, but I feel good enough to be out there, so that’s how it’s going to be,” Scheierman said. “I’m not going to sit out.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
Celtics Notes: Queta, Scheierman, Tatum, Vucevic
Celtics starting center Neemias Queta recently detailed his journey as the NBA’s first (and only) player from Portugal in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape. Queta’s parents moved to Portugal from their native Guinea-Bissau due to the civil war that took place in the West African country in the late 1990s, Spears writes.
Queta has never been to Guinea-Bissau or to Africa, but he hopes to visit his parents’ home country with his mother “in the next couple of years.”
“They were in kind of like a refugee type of situation. It was more trying to get to that safe place and Port Portugal welcomed them,” Queta said.
The 26-year-old big man, who was born in Lisbon and grew up 20 miles outside of Portugal’s capital, didn’t start playing basketball until he was 10 years old, per Spears, and only had one full scholarship offer (from Utah State) in the United States in 2018. After he spent three years with the Aggies, Sacramento selected Queta 39th overall in the 2021 draft.
Queta spent two years with the Kings on two-way contracts, but was waived in the 2023 offseason. The Celtics signed him to a two-way deal a few days later, and after being converted at the end of the 2023/24 season, he signed a multiyear standard contract in the summer of 2024. Boston holds a $2.7MM team option on Queta for 2026/27.
“It’s a lot of love. Being the face of the NBA for Portugal is pretty good for me,” Queta said. “It’s a blessing that I don’t take lightly. I just want to be out here and just do the best I can so I can put the best version of our culture on the map.”
Here’s more on the Celtics, who are currently 39-20, the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference:
- Second-year guard Baylor Scheierman is questionable for Sunday’s game vs. Philadelphia due to a left thumb fracture, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac. Scheierman, who is left-handed, appeared to suffer the injury when he collided with Egor Demin in the second quarter of Friday’s win over Brooklyn, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter video link). The 25-year-old wing was able to stay in the game another 13 minutes after having his thumb taped, Forsberg adds. Scheierman has been productive in 13 games (27.1 MPG) as a starter this season, Forsberg notes (via Twitter), averaging 8.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 36.8% on threes and playing solid defense. Scheierman, the 30th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has started Boston’s last eight games.
- There had been speculation that Jayson Tatum might return to action on March 1, but that won’t be the case, as the star forward has been ruled out against the 76ers as he continues to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, per Souichi Terada of MassLive.com.
- The Celtics are focused on self-improvement and integrating trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic as they look to make another deep playoff run, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscriber link). The 35-year-old center had his best game with Boston during Friday’s lopsided victory, recording 28 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), 11 rebounds and four assists in just 25 minutes. “I’m still getting used to the new offense and all my teammates and learning their tendencies,” Vucevic said. “At times I think I do overthink a little bit, which makes me kind of hesitant and takes away my aggressiveness. I feel like [Friday] I was able to put a little more together and play off my teammates. I just have to find the right balance of being aggressive, use my instincts but make it fit with what we want to run.”
Celtics Notes: Hot Streak, Pritchard, Walsh, Tillman
The Celtics‘ recent hot streak has changed expectations for the team, which now looks capable of competing for a top-four finish in the East rather than merely a spot in the play-in tournament, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscription required). They’ve won nine of their last 11 games after blitzing the rival Lakers Friday night, and Washburn sees them as legitimate challengers amid an ordinary-looking group of Eastern contenders.
This was expected to be a “gap year” in Boston after two starters were traded over the summer and two other rotation players left in free agency as the team focused on moving below the second apron. However, the roster newcomers have meshed quickly with the remaining talent, and the Celtics have notched several impressive wins over the past two weeks.
“We have a bunch of guys figuring it out for the first time,” Jaylen Brown said. “Of course you all expected it to sink right away, but we had five or six new players and we were all figuring it out. I know you guys don’t care about that. We’ve been getting better every single day and it’s coming together a little bit now, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
There was speculation coming into the season that the front office would try to move below the tax threshold, likely by trading Anfernee Simons or Sam Hauser. However, Washburn claims it would now be “negligent” if president of basketball operations Brad Stevens doesn’t try to upgrade the roster by the trade deadline.
There’s more from Boston:
- The Celtics’ offense has been surprisingly successful, posting the second-best rating in the league, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Payton Pritchard believes there’s still room for improvement and said it’s “exciting” to be a part of. “If everybody’s just focused on, ‘How can I just get a little bit better each day, each game, no matter win or loss?’” Pritchard said, “then eventually we’ll become the team we want to become.”
- Jordan Walsh has provided a strong defensive presence since moving into the starting lineup, and he made an impression on Lakers star Austin Reaves Friday night, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. Walsh has also been scoring lately, posting 17 points in 26 minutes against L.A. after a career-high 22-point night Thursday at Washington. “He just plays hard as crap every single possession,” Reaves said. “You don’t take a possession off. His ability, his length, his athleticism. He’s physically gifted. Moves really well. I could see him being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come. He made shots tonight. Good player.”
- Xavier Tillman has barely played over the past month because coach Joe Mazzulla has been using Josh Minott as his backup center instead of a traditional big man, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. Robb endorses the move because it creates more playing time for young wings Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman.
Celtics Picking Up 2026/27 Option On Baylor Scheierman
The Celtics will exercise their team option on Baylor Scheierman‘s rookie scale contract for the 2026/27 season ahead of Friday’s deadline, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Scheierman, 25, was the 30th overall pick in the 2024 draft and played a limited role as a rookie, averaging 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game across 31 regular season appearances.
In the wake of the Celtics’ offseason roster shake-up, there was a sense that Scheierman could be in line for a bigger role this season, but that hasn’t materialized yet. Although he has seen the floor in four of five games so far, the 6’6″ shooting guard is averaging just 8.5 minutes per contest.
Still, it likely wasn’t too difficult a decision for Boston to guarantee Scheierman’s $2,744,040 salary for the ’26/27 season. Since the former Creighton standout was the last pick in the first round of the 2024 draft, his third-year option won’t be worth all that much more than a veteran’s minimum deal.
The full list of rookie scale option decisions for 2026/27 can be found right here.
Celtics Notes: Gonzalez, Simons, Scheierman, Tatum
Rookie forward Hugo Gonzalez looks like a strong contender for regular playing time after an impressive NBA debut Friday night, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Gonzalez energized the Celtics when he entered the game midway through the first quarter with a blend of athleticism and aggressive defense. Coach Joe Mazzulla trusted him to guard Knicks star Jalen Brunson and gave him heavy minutes in the second half as Boston tried to stage a comeback.
“Stepping on the floor was good,” Gonzalez said. “But still, I’m not having a great memory of this day because we lost the game that we could have won. We’re working on details, gotta get better there.”
Terada notes that Mazzulla’s rotation is still unsettled as Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh all saw minutes in the first half, while Josh Minott wasn’t used at all after playing in the season opener. Gonzalez is only 19 and didn’t play much last season with Real Madrid, but he could establish a regular role with the Celtics as a defensive stopper off the bench.
“He understands what it takes,” Mazzulla said. “I think he has a clear understanding of what his role is, and it’s to defend at the highest of levels and play with a level of effort on the offensive end. And he’s able to do that. There are things he needs to clean up, obviously, but I thought he did a great job of helping accept that third-quarter tone of his effort and his toughness.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Anfernee Simons, who spent four years playing for Chauncey Billups in Portland before being traded to Boston his summer, couldn’t believe that his former coach was arrested this week in a federal investigation of illegal gambling, Terada adds in a separate story. “Just in shock, obviously, I have a great relationship with Chauncey,” Simons said (Twitter video link). “Speaking even after the trade, he’s checking in on me, I’m checking in on him. We have a great relationship. It’s an unfortunate situation for him to be in, especially with him and his family. All the media attention is coming in, the scrutiny.”
- The Celtics need more production from their three best players to remain competitive while Mazzulla figures out his rotation, observes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. In the season’s first two games, Payton Pritchard missed 12 of his 14 three-point attempts and Derrick White is only shooting 7-of-24 from beyond the arc and 12-of-38 overall. Jaylen Brown is scoring consistently, but he committed seven turnovers on Friday.
- Boston will probably pick up Scheierman’s $2.7MM salary for the 2026/27 season, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. The decision is due by the end of the month, and Robb believes it’s a low-cost gamble for a team that still has to watch every dollar it spends. He views it as less certain that the Celtics will exercise their option next year for the final season of Scheierman’s rookie scale contract, when he’ll earn nearly $5MM.
- In the same piece, Robb speculates that it will be sometime in March before Jayson Tatum can realistically consider returning from his Achilles tear.
Celtics Notes: Boucher, Gonzalez, Simons, Scheierman
Celtics forward Chris Boucher continued his bid for a starting spot with another strong performance Friday night, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Boucher, who spent the past seven years in Toronto before signing with Boston as a free agent in August, posted 19 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes against his former team. He made his second straight start at power forward and may keep that role when the season begins.
“He cares about winning, he cares about people, he takes pride in his work ethic,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “There’s few guys who take no plays off whether it’s at shootaround, or a game, and that guy is one of them. It’s impressive, 32 years old, to have the energy that he does on and off the court.”
Boucher, who accepted a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract, has been a welcome addition for a team that had significant frontcourt losses from last season. Robb sees him as a natural fit for the up-tempo approach that Mazzulla wants to bring to the offense, and he’s willing to shoot from beyond the arc whenever he gets an open look. Boucher is probably most effective in a double-big lineup, Robb adds, but he can handle some minutes at center if the Celtics want to go smaller.
“I’m really excited,” Boucher told the Toronto media, including Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports, about his decision to sign with Boston (Twitter link). “I talked to them and had a great conversation about what my role could be and the opportunity I could get on this team. So, for me, it was an easy decision to make.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Rookie forward Hugo Gonzalez is already proving to be a strong wing defender and may challenge for rotation minutes, Robb states in a mailbag column. Robb points out that Jordan Walsh’s adductor strain might create an opportunity for Gonzalez to play right away, unless Mazzulla is hesitant to give a regular role to a 19-year-old with no NBA experience.
- Mazzulla took issue with a report this week that Gonzalez has struggled to grasp some team concepts because of a limited understanding of English, according to Eurohoops. He said Gonzalez is fluent in several languages and is aware of everything that is being presented to him. “At this point, I only yell at him in Spanish — but we also have conversations,” Mazzulla said. “He can speak both languages and does a great job understanding what’s going on out there. Right now, we argue in Spanish, but we’ll get to the point where we’ll do other stuff too.”
- Anfernee Simons made his preseason debut on Friday night, finishing with 18 points and three assists after committing three fouls in the first five minutes, per Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Simons, who was acquired from Portland in the Jrue Holiday trade, was concerned about making a good impression on his new coach. “I was a little nervous at first, but I think in the second half I calmed down and started to play my game a little bit more,” he said. “I was nervous about being back out there and a new team. (Mazzulla) didn’t say nothing about the fouls, but I knew I needed to chill out with the fouls.”
- The preseason continues to be a learning process for Baylor Scheierman, who was pulled from Friday’s game early in the fourth quarter after committing two live-ball turnovers and missing three contested three-point shots, Washburn adds in the same piece. Mazzulla reacted angrily to the mistakes, but sent the second-year shooting guard back into the game 98 seconds later. “He’s a smart guy and he plays really hard,” Mazzulla said. “But that segment was an important segment for a young player to understand, especially at the start of the fourth quarter. Those momentum swings regardless of the game, you have to play really hard, but you also have to have situational awareness.”
Celtics Notes: Simons, Queta, White, Scheierman
The Celtics have taken care of much of the business they were expected to address this summer, including trading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in cost-saving moves, then re-routing Georges Niang to Utah for similar reasons. The one question mark left is Anfernee Simons, who was acquired in the Holiday trade with the Blazers, but Simons’ situation likely won’t have an imminent resolution, according to Brian Robb of Mass Live.
As Robb writes, in addition to being a talented player capable of picking up some of the scoring load for the Celtics with Jayson Tatum out for the year, Simons also remains their one major trade chip outside of the core players of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard.
Because of that, it’s unlikely the Celtics will rush into a deal involving Simons, in Robb’s view. If the time comes to move him, it will likely be in a trade that helps the team’s long-term plans of returning to title contention once Tatum recovers from his Achilles injury.
We have more from the Celtics:
- Another lingering question for Boston is who will win the battle for the starting center role. The Celtics currently have Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman Sr. on their roster, none of whom have an established track record as a starter. Robb speculates that Queta will have pole position due to his combination of rim protection and rebounding, though he says the window is open for someone like Boucher to beat him out in training camp. Robb also notes that health will likely play a big part in determining Tillman’s role, as the former Spartan big man has dealt with knee problems over the last two years that have limited his contributions.
- With Tatum out, White will be counted on to carry a much larger offensive load than the role he’s become accustomed to in Boston. Chris Forsberg and the NBC Sports Boston Staff discuss what they hope to see from White this season, ranging from increasing the volume of his scoring output and achieving his first 20-point-per-game season to being named to his first All-Star team. Forsberg notes that in games without Tatum last season, White averaged 20.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per contest, though he adds that the veteran guard has, at times, been prone to cold shooting streaks, which will be harder for the Celtics to weather now.
- The Celtics’ backcourt rotation appears to be set with Pritchard, White, and Simons, but if any of them were to miss time, Robb thinks an under-the-radar player could pick up the slack: Baylor Scheierman. Scheierman impressed the team toward the end of last season with his ability to function as a play-maker in the pick-and-roll, Robb writes, adding that the Celtics will look for more of that from him this season if he’s able to carve out a role for himself off the bench.
Celtics Notes: Norris, Gonzalez, Lillard, Scheierman
Miles Norris only appeared in three games after signing a two-way contract with the Celtics in early March, so he has tried to make a strong impression during Summer League, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The 25-year-old power forward had 11 points, including four dunks, in Thursday’s win over the Lakers. He said everything has been positive since he came to Boston, and he’s hoping to eventually move into a larger role
“The whole organization, you know, it’s been good to me,” Norris said. “Basketball has been enjoyable since I’ve been here, the environment has been great. So, you know, everyone’s having fun. I’m having a lot of fun. It’s good, I’m just trying to go out there and compete. I’m the two-way now, you know, trying to get work my way. Yeah, I’ve been enjoying it so far.”
Norris spent time with Atlanta and Memphis after going undrafted out of California Santa Barbara in 2023, but the Celtics gave him his first on-court experience. The organizati0n hopes he can develop into an effective three-and-D player, and he’s been instructed to study Michael Porter Jr. and Obi Toppin. He said he benefited from being part of a playoff atmosphere during the spring as the Celtics advanced to the second round.
“The thing I noticed was the preparation, before the court, off the court, you know, guys taking care of their body,” Norris said. “The real professionalism. That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen from the veterans you know. JT (Jayson Tatum), JB (Jaylen Brown), Al (Horford), I (saw) Al every day (last season) working on his body. It’s good to see guys you know, have that longevity, yeah, see how important it is. So I try to take some things from them every day, watch them every day. You know, try to follow them.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- First-round pick Hugo Gonzalez has been his own toughest critic during Summer League, Washburn adds in a separate story. The 19-year-old Real Madrid star could be seen talking to himself in Spanish after a few early errors in Las Vegas. “I’m just trying to have a positive message to my mind after a turnover or missed shot,” he said. “I’m trying to have the mindset of I’ve got to make the best decision on the next play. I try to live with the mistakes. That’s what basketball means.”
- Appearing this week on NBA Today, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Damian Lillard gave strong consideration to Boston before returning to the Trail Blazers, per Brian Robb of MassLive. “Over a dozen teams made minimum and mid-level exception offers to Dame,” Charania said. “Two teams in particular, I’m told, that Damian Lillard really considered: Celtics and the Timberwolves. He held calls with both teams at different points, but to be in Portland, back home with his three young kids, was by far the most important factor in his return to the Trail Blazers.” Robb points out that Boston’s offer was limited to the $5.9MM taxpayer MLE and that signing Lillard would have required other moves to get below the second apron.
- Baylor Scheierman is trying not to get discouraged by his poor shooting in Summer League, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Last year’s first-round pick is connecting at 27.4% from the field and 20.5% from three-point range. “Just keep shooting,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’ve practiced a lot in my career to get here, shooting-wise. I’ve shot a lot of shots in a game — made a lot of shots in a game. It’s just a slump that I’m in right now. At the end of the day, the only way I’m going to get out of it is to keep shooting.”
Celtics Notes: Holiday, Scheierman, Draft, Peterson
The Celtics‘ efforts to cut salary by moving Jrue Holiday could wind up being tied to a Kevin Durant trade, NBA insider Zach Lowe stated on his most recent podcast (hat tip to Souichi Terada of MassLive). Lowe suggested that Boston could get involved as a facilitator, shipping out Holiday while the Suns send Durant to another team.
“The focus for me is on Jrue Holiday,” Lowe said. “I’ve heard that there have been at least very broad discussions of three-team, Durant-related trades where Jrue Holiday is (included). I think these could be conjured by Phoenix in hopes of getting a deal done, more-or-less, where Jrue Holiday moves somewhere. Just like he was the shrapnel in the (Damian Lillard) trade and ended up in Boston.”
The Celtics acquired Holiday from Portland shortly before the start of the 2023/24 season, just days after Milwaukee sent him to the Trail Blazers in the Lillard deal. Boston gave Holiday a four-year, $135MM extension in April of 2024 in a deal that made sense at the time, but has become burdensome considering the team’s projected tax bill and Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury.
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Baylor Scheierman figures to get increased playing time next season regardless of who else is on the roster, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. The 24-year-old shooting guard got off to a rough start during his rookie season, but he provided some hope with a strong performance in March. Robb notes that Scheierman’s offensive versatility should make him a valuable member of the bench unit, and he’ll probably be part of the Summer League team again this year.
- The Celtics will likely respond to Tatum’s injury by playing at a faster pace next season, Robb adds in the same piece. He notes that Jaylen Brown has talked about liking to run, while Derrick White should also be effective in an up-tempo system.
- The draft could be especially important for the Celtics as they look for low-cost players to fill out their roster, observes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. With Boston holding picks No. 28 and 32, Washburn talked to ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who points to Rasheer Fleming of St. Joseph’s and Adou Thiero of Arkansas as prospects who might be available in that range.
- During a recent appearance on The Garden Report podcast, two-way player Drew Peterson said he enjoys playing for the Celtics and hopes to return next season in a larger role (hat tip to Ryan Stano of Sports Illustrated). “I love it here. It’s been a couple of years, and I hope to be here for a long time. … I love it here,” Peterson said. “I can’t speak better of how much I love Boston and being in Boston, and the organization, top to bottom, is incredible.”