The Summer time Celtics have wrapped up play in Las Vegas. Boston completed with a 3-2 document within the desert, however Summer time League isn’t actually about wins and losses. It’s in regards to the gamers and their growth.
With that stated, right here’s some Takeaways from every of the 12 gamers who appeared in Summer time League video games for Boston. We’re going to depend them down so as of curiosity, primarily based off the not-so-scientific technique of Twitter mentions and article feedback. Right here we go!
· Sam Hauser: Hauser began the summer time as the one rostered participant for the Celtics. He was rapidly joined by J.D. Davison, however Hauser was the one we initially had our eyes on.
Summer time League was a little bit of a bust for Hauser. He performed poorly within the first recreation, however then discovered his stroke within the second recreation. After that, we didn’t see Hauser play.
In actuality, Summer time League isn’t the place for Hauser to shine. He’s a shooter and the glorified pickup nature of Las Vegas works extra for ballhandlers and drivers than shooters. It could have been good to see Hauser do some extra off-the-dribble work, however it’s what it’s. We’ll get a way of how a lot he’s improved this fall in coaching camp and preseason.
· Juhann Begarin: Begarin is available in as nonetheless considerably of a “Man of Thriller” for Boston. Begarin has been stashed in France for 2 seasons, so he’s been a little bit of out of sight, out of thoughts. However Begarin popped athletically as soon as once more in Vegas.
The 19-year-old wing was in a position to overpower defenders together with his velocity and energy. That combo received Begarin to the rim repeatedly, whereas he additionally racked up a superb quantity of free throw makes an attempt too. Defensively, Begarin is a bit misplaced. However he’s very, very younger, so that can enhance in time. He has all of the bodily instruments to be a superb defender.
On the draw back, Begarin didn’t present a lot as a shooter. His pullup jumper wants quite a lot of work. He appears assured capturing spot-ups, however his type is a bit inconsistent. His proper elbow tends to fly out as he will get into his shot. He’s additionally a large number as a passer. Begarin will look higher in a structured system than one which depends on him to create a lot in transition and semi-transition.
Total, Begarin appears like he’s going to be an NBA participant…ultimately. He’ll most likely keep abroad for one more yr and get extra seasoning. That ought to bode properly for each Begarin and the Celtics.
· J.D. Davison: The 2022 second-round choose didn’t disappoint. If something, he confirmed up higher than anybody might have fairly anticipated. Davison was Boston’s different rostered participant to look in Las Vegas, after he signed a Two-Manner shortly earlier than play began.
The targets for Davison had been to indicate that he might play beneath management, run an offense and that his defensive expertise would translate to the NBA recreation.
Verify. Verify. And verify.
At instances, the Alabama product overwhelmed opponents together with his velocity and athleticism, however it wasn’t the one factor in his bag of tips. Davison did a pleasant job of working the offense within the halfcourt. Sure, the turnovers had been nonetheless a bit excessive, however that’s a part of the deal in Summer time League. Much more encouraging had been the 8.2 assists per recreation that Davison averaged.
On protection, Davison has all the talents to be a drive. He’s each fast sufficient to remain in entrance of just about everybody, but in addition robust sufficient to take contact with out getting thrown off. His instincts for steals and blocks are off the charts.
Davison must log some G League time, which is why he’s on a Two-Manner. The Celtics even have nice guard depth with the large membership. However, in time, Davison appears like he’ll play himself off his Two-Manner deal and onto a typical one. Subsequent up? Let’s see if the nice capturing from Summer time League interprets to the G League. In that case, Boston has a possible steal of their 2022 second rounder.
· Mfiondu Kabengele: Kabengele was somebody Celtics followers had been actually enthusiastic about, and he delivered. Sufficient in order that Boston signed Kabengele to their second Two-Manner spot. And that feels about proper for the place the large man is at.
Kabengele isn’t actually a middle, however he can kind of maintain his personal there. He’s far more of a stretch-4 proper now. And that’s simply advantageous. Kabengele confirmed a pleasant inside-outside combo on offense. He’s received good contact on his jumper. He’s a stable finisher, however wants a bit extra craft inside. If it’s not a catch and go straight up play, Kabengele will get himself in bother a bit across the rim.
On protection, he’s a stable rebounder. The larger bigs had been in a position to muscle Kabengele inside at instances. He’s a superb athlete with good size, so recovering for blocks was a talent, however that’s not one thing you’ll be able to depend on within the NBA. One thing else to look at? Presumably due to his lack of bulk, Kabengele is a foul machine. He averaged 4.4 fouls per recreation in 24.5 minutes in Vegas. That should get cleaned up.
Kabengele ought to do properly in Maine, and that can earn him call-ups if a daily Boston huge is unavailable. However he’s not fairly prepared to carry down a real backup spot but. So, the Celtics will most likely discover a veteran huge man, whereas Kabengele continues to hone his recreation in Maine.
· Trevon Williams: The “different” huge man was somebody quite a lot of Boston followers wished to see. Williams flashed some expertise, however he regarded like he’s a good distance away from contributing within the NBA.
On the plus aspect, Williams can actually go the ball. That’s an amazing match for the Celtics, who prefer to run quite a lot of offense via their huge males. He’s additionally a fairly robust rebounder.
On the draw back, Williams’ is floor certain. His protection is all about positioning, however he’s additionally a bit gradual afoot. If he will get a physique into somebody, they gained’t transfer him. However athletic bigs gave him some bother.
On offense, as a result of he’s not an amazing athlete, Williams must be higher about utilizing his energy to create house for his finishes. And his jumper wants quite a lot of work.
Williams must log a superb quantity of G League time. There’s a participant in there for certain. Boston ought to attempt to get him to camp on an Exhibit 10 deal, after which off to Maine when the preseason ends.
· Matt Ryan: Final season’s Two-Manner gamers had been type of the forgotten males for the Summer time Celtics. At the least at first. They aren’t shiny and new, nor are they rostered gamers.
However Matt Ryan did a superb job reminding everybody that he can play in a brief period of time. It was solely two video games, however Ryan was one of the best participant for the Summer time Celtics. He shot the ball nice, together with a game-winner on a wild rush up the courtroom.
Sadly, Ryan harm his ankle on that play and that was it for the summer time. The silver lining? Ryan was reportedly properly sufficient to play once more later in Vegas, however Boston selected to carry him out. That’s normally a superb signal of issues to return contractually.
If Ryan can maintain his personal defensively, and that’s a really actual query, he may very well be an NBA participant. He’s received the shot to earn taking part in time. Ryan does an incredible job getting himself sq. when he goes up, and he’s nice about shifting off the ball. He’s additionally a stable ball-mover.
As a result of Boston has three customary common season roster spots to fill, search for Ryan to get certainly one of them on {a partially} assured deal. Then, he can spend the yr studying from Danilo Gallinari and Grant Williams the best way to play on each ends of the ground.
· Brodric Thomas: Thomas was Boston’s different Two-Manner participant from final season. He was proper up there for one of the best Summer time Celtics. Thomas is an NBA-level athlete and he can maintain his personal on each ends.
On offense, Thomas shot it very well. He confirmed a bit extra off-the-bounce recreation than he’s proven earlier than. Thomas additionally did a superb job in creating for others.
Defensively, Thomas has the dimensions and quickness handy with most offensive gamers. A number of of the stronger gamers are in a position to muscle him off photographs, however Thomas has the size to nonetheless contest towards most guys.
Familiarity and open roster spots ought to get Thomas a minimum of a camp contract. There’s an opportunity he makes the roster out of camp on {a partially} assured deal, as properly.
· A.J. Reeves: Most Summer time League groups usher in a minimum of one native child as a feel-good story. That was Reeves for Boston. He didn’t get an opportunity to play a lot. Nonetheless don’t be stunned if Reeves pops up as a quick camp signing, with the concept of getting him to Maine as an Affiliate Participant. Wings with measurement which have potential are in demand, so the Celtics would do properly to maintain working with the Boston native.
· Jordan Bone: Bone was principally in Vegas to be J.D. Davison’s backup. And Bone performed that function fairly properly. He can run an offense. He hangs in there defensively. However Bone can’t shoot. That’s in the end what is going to hold him within the G League or taking part in abroad.
· Justin Jackson: Jackson was a late addition to the Summer time Celtics, however he made probably the most of it. Jackson is 27 years outdated and has 5 years of NBA expertise, so he ought to present up very well in Las Vegas. There’s an opportunity he will get a non-guaranteed, camp deal from Boston. You are able to do worse than including a wing with measurement to compete for a backend roster spot.
· Robert Franks: Franks was one other later addition. He’s already signed for subsequent season with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s NBL. Primarily, Franks would have wanted to dominate in Las Vegas to have an actual NBA shot. He performed advantageous in his restricted motion, however he’ll head off to Australia with the hopes of displaying out and incomes an NBA shot later this season or subsequent.
· Aubrey Dawkins: Dawkins was the final of the late additions. He’s received good measurement for a wing, however Dawkins did not shoot properly sufficient to actually pop for the Summer time Celtics.
Dawkins performed very well in Turkey final yr, and he’ll most likely get a pleasant abroad provide. If not, he’s an honest candidate to indicate up within the G League. At 27 years outdated, NBA alternatives are most likely a bit fleeting for Dawkins.
