Celtics Likely To Exercise Options On Smart, Young
The Celtics are expected to exercise the third-year options on point guard Marcus Smart and swingman James Young, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com reports. Both options are for the 2016/17 season, with Smart set to earn $3,578,880 that year, while Young would be paid $1,825,200. Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, declined to comment on the team’s intentions in terms of picking up team options or the status of potential extensions for fourth-year players Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger, Blakely notes in the same piece. November 2nd is the deadline this year for teams to decide on rookie scale options and extensions.
It was almost assured that Boston would pick up its option on Smart, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. During his rookie campaign in 2014/15, the 21-year old appeared in 67 contests, including 38 as a starter, averaging 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 27.0 minutes per night. His slash line was .367/.335/.646. He remains a big part of the Celtics’ future, though he is still learning the nuances of the point guard position.
Young’s situation is not so clear, with the 20-year-old struggling with his outside shooting since arriving in the NBA. Given the presence of 2015 first-rounder R.J. Hunter, his rotation spot is tenuous, though the young player certainly still has a high upside. “James is growing as a player and as a person,” Ainge told Blakely. “He has a better work ethic and he’s a better player.”
The Celtics executive did note that injuries and bad luck have played a part in holding Young back, the CSN scribe adds. “Last year, James’ development was stunted with no training camp, no summer league and hurt a couple times when he was just getting there and would have some kind of setback,” Ainge continued. “He had some really tough luck as a rookie.” In 31 appearances last season, Young averaged 3.4 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 10.7 minutes per contest.
Top Bloggers: Brian Robb On The Celtics
Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow. Last time, we spoke with David Zavac, managing editor of SB Nation’s Fear the Sword. Click here to see the entire Top Bloggers series.
Next up is Brian Robb, who is the owner and editor-in-chief of Celtics Hub, part of ESPN’s TrueHoop Network. You can follow Brian on Twitter at @CelticsHub and click here to check out his stories.
Hoops Rumors: The Celtics added David Lee, Amir Johnson and second-round draft pick Jordan Mickey to an already crowded mix of power forwards this summer. How can Brad Stevens divvy up playing time to get the most out of what they have?
Brian Robb: It’s all been about finding the right combinations. There’s an array of guys worthy of minutes, but certain guys complement each other better. For instance, Lee is a great passer and can initiate offense, so he’s a better fit with the likely starting backcourt of Marcus Smart/Avery Bradley, since that’s not a strength for either of those guys. Minutes will probably fluctuate game-to-game though, based on matchups and how particular players are performing.
Brian Robb: R.J. Hunter has looked the smoothest of the rookies, even though all three have had their moments. Hunter’s quick release has been a weapon (even though his accuracy has been off). He’s also been a better defender than advertised. The Celtics finished toward bottom of league in 3-point shooting last year, so Hunter should get his chances if he can help there. Mickey and Rozier have also looked sharp at times, but both players have too much veteran depth in front of them to make a major impact.
Brian Robb: I think they are on track. They’ve been patient waiting for the proper time to use all their draft picks in a big deal, but they are also building a solid reputation around the league with the way they have gone about things as an organization. Players seem to respect Brad Stevens and his scheme and players have fallen in line with his game planning. If Boston can continue to step forward in the East this year, they could be in line to make a big-name addition via trade/free agency next summer.
Brian Robb: I think the Celtics dodged a bullet there, especially when you consider one of the unprotected picks from Brooklyn would have been headed to Charlotte in that deal. Given the state of that franchise, that pick could have been higher than the No. 9 selection on its own. Winslow is a promising prospect, but the Celtics already have Jae Crowder signed long-term at the small forward. Winslow would have helped but could have been redundant with Crowder around.
Hoops Rumors: The Celtics certainly didn’t have trouble pulling off trades last season, when they engineered 11 swaps between July 1st and the February trade deadline. Is there anyone they would have been better off keeping?
Brian Robb: I don’t think so. I think it was pretty clear last year that Ainge sold on Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green at the right time. Everyone else dealt away was expendable, so the team shouldn’t really have any seller’s remorse in the interim.
Hoops Rumors: The Celtics improved their roster this summer, but so did several other teams that finished in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference last year. Are the Celtics in any better position now than they were going into the offseason?
Brian Robb: I think they will be better overall because of the continuity they can build upon with 10 returning players from last year’s roster. The rest of the East improved, but the Celtics played at such a high level in the final three months of the regular season, finishing the year with a 24-12 record in their final 36 games. They won’t match that pace, but should still be a 45-plus win team after adding Lee and Johnson into the equation.
Atlantic Notes: Clarke, Fisher, Wood, Young
Derek Fisher experienced a difficult rookie season as Knicks head coach, but he feels that 2014/15’s growing pains are merely part of the learning process, and Fisher, who defied expectations throughout his playing career, may end up doing the same as a coach, writes Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. “Just continuing to chip away at what my vision is for coaching and teaching and leading,” Fisher told Ding of his approach this season, “Last year, coming in, I was learning and trying to figure out the best leadership styles. How do you work with players? How do you criticize players in a constructive way? All these things were unknowns. Just really learning as I went along. Not that I know the world of basketball a year later, per se, but I’m just more confident in what it is I expect and better able to articulate that to our players. Being really clear about what I want and not so much me trying to find that vision.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Combo forward Coty Clarke, who was waived by the Celtics on Tuesday, will play this season for Boston’s D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, Adam Johnson of D-League Digest relays (via Twitter).
- Being passed over in this year’s NBA Draft is what is driving Sixers power forward Christian Wood throughout the preseason, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Wood, who is signed to a partially guaranteed deal, believes that he has a solid shot to make the team’s regular season roster, Breen notes. “I want to show every team what they missed out on,” Wood said. “I’m hustling on every loose ball. Giving it my all and giving it my 100% on every possession. I’m lucky to have a shot with the 76ers.”
- Celtics swingman James Young chalks up a hefty chunk of his rookie difficulties last season to growing pains and believes he’s now on the correct path as a player, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald writes. “Last year, I just wasn’t thinking straight about the game,” Young said. “Now, I feel like I’m by that and I can just play my game.” When asked what was weighing on his mind last season, Young told Bulpett, “Hesitating, going back and forth to the D-League, off the court issues with my mom, family stuff. Everything’s caught up now, so I’m good.”
Atlantic Notes: Joseph, Calderon, Rozier
Point guard Cory Joseph, who inked a four-year, $30MM deal with the Raptors this summer, has been impressing the team with his solid two-way game, Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun writes. Joseph said he wasn’t feeling any added pressure to perform up to his new deal, Wolstat notes. “I don’t know how to answer that because I don’t really base my game on what people think,” Joseph said. “I just try to get better every day. I try to maybe prove that I can play within the organization, but outside the organization, I don’t really look at that stuff.”
Joseph’s new teammate, Luis Scola, praises the reserve playmaker’s ability, and predicts good things for Joseph this season in Toronto, Wolstat adds. “He’s a good player, he’s trying to explore his game, take his game to the next level,” Scola said. “I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities here. He’s in great shape right now, he looks very good, very confident, so, hopefully he can keep that momentum going into the season. We’re expecting a great year from him.”
Here’s more from out of the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks point guard Jose Calderon noted that there were some teams this offseason that were interested in trading for him, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. New York was reportedly trying to find a taker for the veteran this summer as the team attempted to free up cap space.
- 2015 first-rounder Terry Rozier‘s place in the Celtics‘ rotation is unclear with a number of players ahead of him on the depth chart currently, but coach Brad Stevens has noted the impact that former third-string point guard Phil Pressey had on Boston teams in recent seasons, a role that Stevens hopes the rookie can fill, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com writes.
- While injuries have kept Arron Afflalo on the shelf for the bulk of the preseason, the Knicks are banking on his skill as a post player to help him thrive in the triangle offense this season, Begley writes in a separate piece. “Post-ups aren’t as popular of a scoring opportunity in terms of efficiency and points per possession. But we still view it as penetration,” New York coach Derek Fisher said. “The ball is still closer to the basket than it is if you’re standing out by the line. And we believe we have some guys who are good enough to force teams to make a decision on how they’re going to defend us. [We] think Arron’s good enough.“
Celtics Waive Clarke, Miller, Randolph
4:12pm: All three players have officially been released, the Celtics announced.
3:07pm: The Celtics will waive Coty Clarke, Malcolm Miller and Levi Randolph today, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). Corey Walden, the team’s other camp invitee, will remain for the time being, but all are expected to end up signing with Boston’s D-League affiliate, Bulpett says. Miller, Randolph and Walden have matching $25K guarantees, while Clarke is on a non-guaranteed contract. The release of Clarke, Miller and Randolph will take Boston down to 17 players, 16 of whom have fully guaranteed deals, as our roster count shows.
Clarke, a 23-year-old combo forward, and Miller, a 22-year-old small forward, went scoreless in preseason cameos that encompassed less than a minute of playing time, while the 23-year-old Randolph, a shooting guard, managed three points in slightly more time on the court. The Celtics also got a look at Miller on their summer league team in July, when he averaged 4.0 points in 12.1 minutes across seven appearances.
More pressing for the Celtics is their decision regarding the final preseason cut, which will involve letting go of a full season’s salary unless they work a trade. Perry Jones III has appeared to be most at risk for a release among the 16 Celtics with full guarantees, as Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe said to Hoops Rumors last month, but Jones has drawn praise from Celtics coach Brad Stevens and others.
Who do you think should be the final cut for the Celtics? Leave a comment to let us know.
Atlantic Notes: Johnson, Jones, Hernangomez
Amir Johnson‘s production fell off last season with the Raptors, but the Celtics regard their free agent signee as a steal, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge is enamored with his versatility and the way he can complement any of the team’s other big men, as Forsberg notes. Johnson is just as sold on his new home.
“I like the vision, I like that we are young, and I like what they did last season coming into the playoffs,” Johnson said. “I felt like they were doing their best to get better. Just talking to [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] and [coach Brad] Stevens, I love what they got going on here.”
See more on the Celtics amid the latest from the Atlantic Division:
- Stevens distanced himself from roster decisions, but he complemented Perry Jones III, who’s on the chopping block as the Celtics must offload at least one fully guaranteed salary to trim to the 15-man regular season roster limit within the week, relays Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. “I think the biggest thing for Perry is, Perry has a chance to be a very, very good multi-positional defender, and he’s got a chance to be a guy that can play off closeouts, make shots or post switches,” Stevens said. “So being able to do those things regularly is a huge key. But I’ve been impressed with what Perry can do, what he has done, especially in practice.”
- Knicks draft-and-stash prospect Guillermo Hernangomez wants to play for Real Madrid of Spain for many years before considering a move to the NBA, as he said to Emilio V. Escudero of ABC.es (translation via HoopsHype). An earlier report indicated that the Knicks were planning to sign him before the 2016/17 season. New York acquired the NBA rights to the 6’11” center via trade after the Sixers selected him 35th overall in June.
- The Sixers‘ rebuilding process is enduring criticism, but even though GM Sam Hinkie has presided over three offseasons, it’s still too early to judge the success of his plan because so many of the assets he’s acquired are for the future, opines Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.
Atlantic Notes: Early, Thomas, Jones
Cleanthony Early, who struggled as a rookie last year with the Knicks, seems to be more comfortable offensively and is playing tougher defense, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Berman adds that Carmelo Anthony has helped groom the small forward into becoming a two-way force.
“[Early] looks more confident this year,’’ Anthony said, per Berman. “I think it was good for him to go through the season last year, this offseason and even right now he looks a lot more confident.’’
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- As the 16th player with a guaranteed contract added to the maximum 15-contract mix, Perry Jones has roughly a week to win a roster spot with the Celtics, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald writes. Jones did not play Friday against the Knicks, as Murphy points out. “Always keep the faith. That’s part of basketball,” Jones said. “I can’t tell you why I didn’t see the floor, that’s a question for Brad, but I just have to stay ready for the next game.”
- Isaiah Thomas is adding some creativity to his offensive repertoire and Celtics coach Brad Stevens believes that is one reason why the team acquired the point guard last year, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com relays. “First of all, I thought he’d really impact our team,” Stevens said. “I thought his ability to get into the paint would be like a shot in the arm for our team. From an efficiency standpoint, on the offensive end of the floor, both at the end of last year and through the first four preseason games, he’s just playing at such a high level; he’s such a good fit. I think that I thought he’d have a huge impact, but I think he’s probably — and my expectations were high — but I think he’s probably been at the top of those at least.”
Atlantic Notes: Johnson, Joseph, Reed, Celtics
The mental challenges of the upcoming season will determine whether the Raptors‘ James Johnson can survive in the NBA, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. As Johnson enters the final year of a contract that will pay him $2.5MM this season, one of those challenges will be a shortage of playing time. Johnson is stuck behind Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson at power forward and behind Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo at center. It’s a familiar situation for Johnson, who has never averaged more than 28 minutes per game in his six years in the league. “It’s very difficult because I know how hard James has worked, my heart goes out for him, but he’s got guys in front of him here so he’s always going to be in that role,” coach Dwane Casey said. “That’s what’s going to keep him in the league for a long time . . . him embracing that role in a positive way and being able to play multiple positions because he is such a valuable tool.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- New Raptor Cory Joseph sees the benefit of the “role cards” Casey hands out to players to remind them of his expectations, according to Mike Gantner of The Toronto Sun. The practice is new to Joseph, who signed with Toronto in July after four years in San Antonio. “It creates some structure,” he said.
- Willie Reed‘s injury leaves the Nets short on frontcourt players, writes Tim Bontemps of The New York Post. The rookie will miss six to eight weeks after having surgery to fix a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, leaving Brooklyn with just four healthy big men — Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Thomas Robinson and Andrea Bargnani.
- Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck told Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com that the organization has been adding the right type of players to build a winner. “I think we’ve brought in guys, just as an example, David Lee and Amir Johnson, we’re not bringing in divas,” said Grousbeck. “We’re bringing in guys who have been in the league and know how to do it right. And Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley, those guys aren’t worried about individual stats and they are not going to pout. They are going to get after you and try to strip the ball and try to pass it to somebody else.”
Celtics Rumors: Jones, Sullinger, Lee, Hunter
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.
Atlantic Notes: Reed, Sixers, Antetokounmpo
Nets big man Willie Reed underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, the team announced. Reed is one of seven Brooklyn players without a fully guaranteed deal, but the Nets would have be required pay him until he’s healthy, even if they waived him. He is expected to be out of action for a period of six to eight weeks.
Here’s more from out of the Atlantic Division:
- The Sixers’ point guard situation is unsettled, and thanks to injuries to Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten, it is likely to remain that way after the regular season tips off, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “They are a ways away” from playing in games, coach Brett Brown said. “I feel like you always get nervous about throwing out dates. I think it would be fair to say that we are not going to see Kendall for the month of October and beyond. I hope not much further beyond. And Tony [will be sidelined] further along after that, probably not until sometime in December.“
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo maintains that he won’t accept a D-League assignment from New York if he doesn’t make the Knicks‘ regular season roster, and he hopes that another NBA team will show interest if he is waived, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “First off, hopefully things works out here,’’ Antetokounmpo told Berman. “If they don’t, hopefully another NBA team. That’s the first goal. And after that, we’ll see. Hopefully everything goes well. I don’t want to think about it now. I can control what I can control — being positive and optimistic.’’ The swingman’s agents have also been in contact with overseas clubs, Berman adds.
- Amir Johnson, who inked a two year, $24MM deal with the Celtics this offseason, is impressing the team’s coaching staff with his play on both ends of the court, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders notes. “He just knows how to play both ends,” coach Brad Stevens said of Johnson. “He makes easy plays with the ball, and then on the defensive end, he makes everyone better.”