Celtics Notes: Brown, Walsh, Mazzulla, Stevens
Jaylen Brown‘s already impressive season reached a new level during Saturday night’s victory over the Clippers, writes Jay King for The Athletic.
The Celtics wing scored 50 points and dished out six assists while requesting to take the Kawhi Leonard matchup defensively. King writes that the term “two-way player” means a lot to Brown, as it highlights what he believes the game to really be about.
“Y’all focus on the wrong stuff in the media,” Brown said. “Y’all focus on offense and tough shot-making. I just think that’s not basketball. I think basketball is rebounding. Basketball is defense, defensive versatility, making plays. I know it’s entertainment and that’s what we want to push, but if it comes down to this basketball s–t, I just feel like I’m one of the best.”
Brown is currently second league-wide in opponent field goal percentage, holding players to 39.4% from the field, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter). That puts him just behind Cason Wallace and just ahead of Victor Wembanyama.
Brown’s coaches and teammates were impressed by the performance, but they weren’t surprised.
“When I saw that Player of the Month (decision), with the stats (Brown posted in December), I knew what was coming,” Luka Garza said. “I’m not like LeBron, I’m not saying I knew he would have 50. I’m just saying I knew he would come out and try to prove a point.”
We have more from the Celtics:
- After having some big games earlier in the season as a starter, Jordan Walsh came off the bench for the first time since November 11 on Saturday after being benched in the second half of Thursday’s win over the Kings, writes King. “I feel like the other team has to feel me. The other staff has to feel me,” Walsh said in response to the move. “The other organization has to feel me. Every time I’m on the court, I’ve got to constantly make it hard for everybody else to kind of survive on the other team. I feel like I hadn’t been doing that. So, I’ve gotta make sure that I am doing that.” The third-year wing responded by scoring 13 points with 13 rebounds in just under 30 minutes off the bench in the win over the Clippers. “I’m no stranger to this, you know what I’m saying?” said Walsh. “I started where I had to always stay ready for my next opportunity. And if that’s the situation I’m in again now, that’s what I got to be ready for.”
- Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes that the recent stretch of play has allowed his team to find itself and understand what makes it special, Chris Mannix writes for Sports Illustrated. “We’ve developed our identity over the last month, month and a half,” Mazzulla said. “We know what it looks like and we have to be able to do it every night.” Mannix writes that what was meant to be a gap year is turning into the league’s feel-good story. “I think we’re just hungry,” said Derrick White, who scored 29 points against the Clippers. “Everybody kind of doubted [us]. We got a lot of guys that have that chip on their shoulder. Guys that have been waived haven’t really had the opportunity in the NBA and now they’re getting that chance … it’s been a lot of fun.”
- It was unclear coming into the season – and even throughout most of the fall – whether team president Brad Stevens would consider the Celtics a buyer or a seller, but this recent road trip has answered some of those questions, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Robb suggests that the Celtics have proven Stevens should be in acquisition mode rather than seeking a cost-cutting move, given the openness of the Eastern Conference. Boston is currently just a half-game out of second place.
Celtics Notes: Brown, Bench, Walsh, Roster Opening
Jaylen Brown reacted in disbelief to the NBA’s announcement that Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was selected as Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe relays in a subscriber-only piece. The Celtics star responded to the Twitter post with “Smh,” which is online shorthand for “shaking my head.”
Himmelsbach points out that Brown had better numbers during the month than Brunson, and the teams finished with similar records as Boston went 9-3 and New York was 10-4. However, the Knicks captured the NBA Cup, which may have tilted the race in Brunson’s favor.
Brown also lamented that so much of the discourse surrounding the game, especially in the media, is focused on offense. He argues that his overall value should be considered in awards balloting.
“On any given night I can pick up guys full court,” he said. “I guard a (power forward), I can guard a (small forward), I can guard a (shooting guard). And I’ve guarded (point guards), so being able to be versatile on offense but also versatile on defense. There’s not a lot of guys who are the top of our league who can do that, who is capable of even doing that. And night to night, it’s difficult.
“Any given night I can take over a game, defensively, and take over a game, offensively. We don’t measure the game like that. It’s however many points you score, how many threes you hit. I guess that’s how good you are. I think a real impact on the game of basketball is if you can dominate on both offense and defense and, any given night, I think I can do both.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Improved bench play may change the team’s outlook heading into the trade deadline, suggests Brian Robb of MassLive. Coach Joe Mazzulla relied heavily on his starters early in the season, but lately he’s been getting production throughout the lineup. Robb points out that Luka Garza, Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons all scored in double figures off the bench in Thursday’s win at Sacramento, while fellow reserve Hugo Gonzalez led the team with a +20 net rating.
- The bench production resulted in a five-minute night for Jordan Walsh, who started the game but didn’t return after being subbed out, notes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Walsh has played well since assuming a starting role, and Mazzulla emphasized that he didn’t do anything wrong. “It’s just we can go to so many different things,” Mazzulla said. “I think you saw what Sam was able to do in the first half. Coming out of halftime and making a change I think can throw a team off to start a game. … It’s really just taking any advantage we can with the entire roster that we have, and just trying to win segments of the game and kind of go runs and catch opponents off-guard with different matchups and different opportunities there.”
- In a mailbag column, Robb speculates that the Celtics won’t fill their open roster spot until very late in the regular season. He adds that the move will be determined by injuries or need. If they’re short on big men, Robb sees two-way player Amari Williams as the favorite if the team decides to promote from within. Otherwise, it could be Ron Harper Jr., who already has three years of NBA experience.
Celtics Notes: Hauser, Tatum, Brown, Walsh, Queta
Sam Hauser rediscovering his long-distance shot could have a bigger impact on the Celtics than any potential trade before the deadline, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. After struggling from three-point range for most of the season, Hauser drilled 5-of-6 attempts in Friday’s win over Miami.
“It’s great to see it go down,” Hauser said. “Always. It’s just kind of the way the year’s been so far, but I’ve started like this before in past seasons. So, I’m pretty confident on getting back to where I know I can get to.”
A 42% three-point shooter throughout his career, Hauser was languishing at 34% for the season coming into Friday. Terada points out that Hauser has experienced hot-and-cold stretches before, including a year ago when he shot poorly from beyond the arc for the first month and a half, then topped 42.6% each month for the rest of the season.
“I feel like sometimes shot-making is contagious,” Hauser said. “And once you see a couple guys make a couple, then you make a couple. Then it’s like you just feed off each other’s energy. And sometimes you have quarters like that where it’s just an explosion.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Count Jaylen Brown among the believers that Jayson Tatum will return from his Achilles tear and play at some point this season. Brown expressed confidence in his teammate’s recuperative powers in a stream this week with DDG, Terada relays in a separate story. “JT just always recovers,” Brown said. “He always recovers. … He’ll probably break the record for fastest recovery in Achilles history or some (expletive). I wouldn’t put it past him.”
- Brown was held out of Saturday’s game at Toronto with a non-COVID illness, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Brown had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 35 minutes on Friday, but he wasn’t available to talk to the media after the game.
- Strong starts to the season by Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta could cause the Celtics to consider extensions with both players, Robb states in a mailbag column. The team holds a $2.4MM option on Walsh for next season, but that could be declined in favor of a long-term deal that would prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. Queta won’t become eligible until next season, but Robb believes an extension is possible if he sustains his current level of play.
- Walsh played fewer than 13 minutes on Saturday, but coach Joe Mazzulla explained that it was due to an illness he was experiencing before the game, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Celtics Notes: Queta, Tatum, Walsh, Trade Options
Neemias Queta has solved the Celtics‘ center problems this season, but he has been disappointed with his free throw shooting, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. There were concerns about what Boston would do in the middle after trading Kristaps Porzingis and seeing Al Horford and Luke Kornet leave in free agency, but Queta stepped into the starting role and has provided consistent scoring, rebounding and defense. However, he’s connecting at just 61.2% from the foul stripe after being a 71.3% career shooter coming into the season.
“I can get better,” Queta said. “It’s been a tough year for me at the line. I usually feel pretty confident when I’m out there. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe it’s repetition or maybe it’s just getting my legs under it. But something I need to get better at, most definitely, because that’s unacceptable. … I’m too good of a shooter to shoot that bad.”
Terada adds that Queta’s breakout season has been massive considering that backup big men Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman have both dropped out of the rotation. Coach Joe Mazzulla has gone with smaller lineups when Queta rests, using Josh Minott and other players in the middle.
There’s more from Boston:
- Jayson Tatum posted several lengthy workout videos to his Instagram account this week, but Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (subscription required) cautions that doesn’t mean the All-Star forward will be returning soon. It’s been seven months since Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon, and Himmelsbach states that he continues to remind team officials that he wants to play this season. However, a league source tells Himmelsbach that Tatum still has to reach several milestones in the recovery process before that can be considered.
- Doc Rivers is the latest opposing coach to be impressed by Jordan Walsh, Himmelsbach adds in the same piece. The third-year forward has established himself as an elite defender this season, and his shooting has been outrageous lately as he’s 30-of-37 from the field and 9-of-12 from three-point range in December. “It seems like they just put him on anybody to pressure,” Rivers said of Walsh after Thursday’s game in Milwaukee. “His energy is infectious, man. If you don’t want to play hard when you’re watching him play, then there’s something wrong with you.”
- The prospect of Tatum returning could prompt the Celtics to be more aggressive about finding another center at the trade deadline rather than waiting for the offseason, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. Robb responds to a question about Ivica Zubac, saying the team may be hesitant to part with multiple first-round picks for a big man and is likely to pursue minimum-salary options if a player of that caliber isn’t available.
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.
Atlantic Notes: McCain, Barlow, Walsh, Minott, Ingram
After missing nearly 11 months of action due to knee and thumb injuries, Sixers guard Jared McCain has looked shaky in his first three games back. Playing just 31 total minutes across those three outings, McCain has gone scoreless on 0-of-9 shooting.
In the hopes of getting McCain more comfortable on the court and getting him more full-speed reps, the 76ers assigned the second-year guard to the G League on Thursday, as Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports relays (Twitter links). The expectation is that he’ll suit up for the Delaware Blue Coats tonight and again on Saturday before being recalled to the NBA.
“I just really want him to get some trips up and down the court,” Nurse said (Twitter video link). “I think that’s a good little window for him, a couple home games for them. Then he’ll be right back in the swing of things. … Just get him up and down and get some conditioning. (He’s had) three really short stints in the last 11 months. This is maybe a couple of chances to have some longer stints.”
Here are a few more items of interest from around the Atlantic:
- Sixers forward Dominick Barlow, who has been out since October 25 due to a right elbow injury, has been cleared to return, Nurse told reporters today (Twitter link via Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports). Barlow was Philadelphia’s starting power forward in the two games he played, but Trendon Watford has been handling that role as of late.
- After playing crunch-time minutes in the Celtics‘ previous two games, Jordan Walsh was inserted into the starting five on Wednesday for the first time this season, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Walsh had seven points, six rebounds, and two blocks with a +19 plus/minus mark in 18 minutes of action as Boston blew out the Grizzlies. “Honestly, I just think he’s been more professional and maturing,” teammate Payton Pritchard said of Walsh, who played a limited role in each of his first two seasons. “Now, he’s ready for the moment. Just stressing him to like don’t take it for granted. Come hungry still every day and keep pushing.”
- Walsh’s promotion has come largely at the expense of Josh Minott, who played a season-low eight minutes on Tuesday and didn’t appear in the second half, then came off the bench on Wednesday after having made nine straight starts. Minott is struggling with his consistency, Robb writes, though the 6’8″ forward ended up seeing plenty of action in Wednesday’s one-sided victory, registering nine points, five rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes.
- Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, who was fined $25K for throwing a water bottle that ricocheted off the court and hit a game attendant, apologized for that incident, according to Danielle Michaud of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). “It was just the emotions of the game came out then,” Ingram said. “Like, how I was playing offensively and defensively, just frustration. I wish I wouldn’t have had anybody else involved when I did that. I apologized a bunch of times to the kid that got hit in the face with the water bottle — it wasn’t my intention at all. I was just frustrated in the midst of the game.”
Celtics Notes: Walsh, Simons, Garza, Tillman
The Celtics used unconventional lineups to close out Sunday’s win at Orlando, as Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza all saw more fourth quarter playing time than Jaylen Brown, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. All three players contributed to the 111-107 victory, but the biggest shot belonged to Walsh, who sank a three-pointer with 12.4 seconds left that gave Boston a five-point lead. Walsh, a 27.8% three-point shooter for his career, assumed Brown would take the crucial shot and was surprised to get the ball.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness,’” he said. “I didn’t even celebrate it or anything. I was just in the moment.”
With four rotation players gone from last season’s team and Jayson Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles, coach Joe Mazzulla knew coming into the season that he would have to rely on unproven talent. He has been experimenting through the first 11 games of the season, with lineups looking much different from one game to the next, and he recognizes the need to give young players a chance to succeed.
“That’s just what we have to do to build trust in those moments, and it’s a credit to those guys,” he said. “They delivered, and that’s it.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Anfernee Simons bounced back from a poor game on Friday by scoring 25 points in his first 14 minutes to help Boston build an early lead, Himmelsbach adds. Simons didn’t score in the second half, but Mazzulla said his early outburst forced Orlando to change its pick-and-roll coverage, which created better shots for other players. “He’s one of those guys when he gets in a rhythm like that, there’s nothing you can do to stop him,” Garza said. “So we’re just trying to feed him and give him actions so he can stay comfortable and stay in a rhythm.”
- Garza enjoyed his best game since joining the Celtics with season highs of 16 points and eight rebounds, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Robb notes that Garza shot just 1-of-10 in his past four games and Boston was outscored by 43 points in his 46 minutes, so he needed a good performance to ensure continued playing time. “We all want to get out there, all of us, you know, we all play this game for a reason,” he said. “We want to be on the floor and we know when we are on the floor, that to make an impact we gotta play hard. Effort is a non-negotiable, so that’s what we try to bring every time we step on the floor and do the best of what we got.”
- Backup center Xavier Tillman didn’t play on Sunday, but he was back on the active roster after missing Friday’s game for personal reasons, per Souichi Terada of MassLive.
Celtics Notes: Brown, White, Walsh, Simons
Jaylen Brown believes the officials are making a point against him. The Celtics forward ripped the officiating after a late no-call against Utah on Monday and he felt that played a role in Boston’s loss to Orlando on Friday.
“I think in the fourth quarter, I think the officials made their point,” Brown said, per Jay King of The Athletic. “So I get it. I’ll keep my mouth closed.”
Boston held a one-point lead midway through the fourth quarter on Friday but lost by 13. Brown finished with 32 points but only shot two free throws.
“In the fourth quarter, I missed some good looks that I could have got my feet set just a little bit more,” Brown said. “And then it compounded, turned into some turnovers, and then they scored. For our team, they probably need me to make those shots. I’m human. If I shoot a shot and I feel good about it, I feel good, but you know, I’ve got to be a little better, I guess.”
We have more on the Celtics:
- Should the Celtics have traded Derrick White instead of Jrue Holiday during their salary-shedding offseason? Brian Robb of Masslive.com tackles that question in his latest mailbag. Robb believes that Boston would have gotten a bigger haul for White but that Holiday’s contract would have still been an albatross for the organization. White’s four-year, $118MM contract extension kicked in this season; Holiday, 35, is in the second year of a four-year, $134.4MM deal that includes a player option.
- Swingman Jordan Walsh has gotten some playing time this month, averaging 6.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per contest. A 2023 second-round pick, Walsh is increasingly gaining coach Joe Mazzulla’s trust. “He just chips away at it,” Mazzulla said, per Robb. “Again, that was a high-level of professionalism to be ready, and he just every day treats it as if he’s going to play. So I think that mindset is kind of what you have to have, and he handled it well, and he’s got to keep that up. But he works at the same pace regardless of if he’s playing or not, and that says a lot.”
- Anfernee Simons, acquired from Portland in the Holiday trade, played sparingly in the first half at Orlando. Simons, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, bounced back and contributed 11 fourth-quarter points. “I thought he responded pretty well,” Mazzulla said, per Souichi Terada of Masslive.com. “I thought he was more aggressive in the second half. There was no message there. He just has an understanding of what we have to do on both ends of the floor. I thought he did a much better job of that in the second half.”
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: White, Walsh, Tatum, Simons, Luis
After achieving his dream of playing for a championship team in 2024, Celtics guard Derrick White never expected it to be torn apart so quickly. Second apron limitations and luxury tax concerns, combined with Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury, caused the organization to make several cost-cutting moves this summer. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were both traded, while Luke Kornet left in free agency and Al Horford figures to do so too.
White talked about the changes this week in an interview with Liam McKeone of Sports Illustrated.
“That is the tough part about the business,” he said. “But it is a business at the end of the day. Jrue, KP, Luke, all of them, it was definitely tough to see them leave. You wish we could play with them forever, but this is kind of the way it is. I always wish them the best. There will be a lot of fun when we see them again. and I’m just excited to play with the people we do have.”
White is expected to take on a larger leadership role as he enters his fourth full season in Boston, and he may have to provide more scoring as well. He averaged a career-high 16.4 PPG last season while still earning votes for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s obviously a different year than last year, but I think we have the same expectations and standards. So I’ve been attacking this offseason as, ‘I gotta get better.’ It’s been really fun trying to get in the gym and improve on things that I need to work on. When we get back to Boston, it’ll be a lot of fun.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Jordan Walsh is the latest person inside the organization to rave about the progress Tatum has made in his recovery, per Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston. During a recent appearance on the Celtics Talk Podcast, the third-year forward indicated that Tatum is well ahead of expectations. “We’ve seen him so often,” Walsh said. “I’ve seen him from when he messed up his Achilles to now, and it’s a big difference. He’s moving around way better. So he’s progressing well. I’m definitely happy to see him getting back healthy.”
- Anfernee Simons‘ $27.7MM contract provides the Celtics with their best chance to trade for a starting center, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He notes that Boston has been accumulating traded player exceptions, but they won’t become useful until next offseason if the team plans to move below the tax threshold. Assuming the current roster remains intact, Robb expects Neemias Queta to get the first shot at the starting job, but adds that Chris Boucher and Luka Garza are both offensive threats who fit well into coach Joe Mazzulla‘s system.
- RJ Luis was recently honored by Ecuador president Daniel Noboa for becoming the nation’s first NBA player, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. The rookie swingman, whose mother was born in Ecuador, was acquired from Utah in a trade last month after he signed a two-way contract with the Jazz.