The big man training camp battle

Coaching camp could be over a month away, however the groundwork for a roster spot battle has already been put in place. Noah Vonleh, Bruno Caboclo, and Mfiondu Kabengele will probably be pitting their expertise in opposition to each other as they give the impression of being to earn one of many Celtics‘ open roster spots for the upcoming season.

Issues might have been totally different although. As a result of, at any level, Brad Stevens might have chosen to accumulate a veteran huge man within the free company market, however as a substitute, selected to accumulate some younger expertise that had beforehand struggled to make an affect on the NBA degree.

In equity, Kabengele is assured a spot with the crew through a two-way contract, and might not be seen as a direct risk to Vonleh and Caboclo’s probabilities. However, if the Summer season League standout proves himself to be the most effective candidate, his presence might actually change into a hindrance for the 2 hopeful veterans.

At this level, it’s price taking a look at what every potential huge man brings to the desk, and the way their skillset would match inside Ime Udoka’s offensive and defensive scheme.

Mfiondu Kabengele: Multidimensional Huge

In contrast to Caboclo and Vonleh, Kabengele has a number of layers to his recreation, permitting him to be a risk on either side of the ground, and from totally different spots inside the offense. To start with, as we noticed in Summer season League, the previous twenty seventh choose is a succesful rim runner, blocking photographs on protection, after which operating the ground to blow up for a lob end. Certain, the Ontario native doesn’t possess the identical sort of athleticism as Robert Williams, however who does?

Past his capabilities as a lob risk and rim protector, Kabengele can also be adept at making his presence felt each within the dunker spot and the restricted space, as he makes use of his strong body to command his area and dislodge defenders which is helpful to producing scoring alternatives, and for searching down offensive rebounds.

Nonetheless, Kabengele is greater than only a lob and putback risk — he’s additionally a succesful screener, and might create offense each as a short-roller, pick-and-popper, and conventional function man. As we noticed throughout his time in Las Vegas, Kabengele is able to extending his vary past the three-point line and has potential as a short-roll passer from the free throw line prolonged area.

Take the above play for an instance of Kabengele’s brief roll upside. We see the possession start with the massive man working because the hand-off huge in a Zoom motion earlier than he short-rolls towards the mid-post. A fast-fire entry cross catches Kabgengele barely off guard, however he nonetheless manages to swing the ball in the direction of the open man within the weakside nook, producing a simple three-point alternative.

And whereas we’re on the subject of playmaking, Kabengele can also be a prepared passer above the perimeter and has additionally flashed some upside as a mid-post facilitator — two areas through which working with Al Horford might actually assist him enhance.

It’s this sort of offensive versatility, coupled along with his defensive potential as a drop defender that satisfied Stevens to increase Kabengele a two-way contract following Summer season League. Nonetheless, we’ve seen the President of Basketball Operations convert two-way guys right into a full-time deal earlier than, and given how Stevens can be below no quick strain to take action, it will give the Celtics some further wiggle room within the coming months.

Noah Vonleh: Defensive Glass Cleaner

Earlier than agreeing to hitch the Celtics, Vonleh was plying his commerce in China. Whereas a season common of 15 factors, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per recreation is spectacular, the actual fact stays that an NBA-level expertise must be dominating to the next diploma within the Chinese language Basketball League.

That obtained me questioning what sort of function Vonleh was enjoying throughout his time overseas and whether or not that function was translatable to what Boston will probably be asking of him ought to he make the ultimate roster.

Briefly, Vonleh was the featured weapon for the Shanghai Sharks, whereas additionally being tasked as their major defender and rim protector. Briefly, his function was all-encompassing, and at instances, it regarded like he was making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.

Vonleh nonetheless over-dribbles the basketball, as he appears to be like to arrange his defenders off the bounce, reasonably than using his measurement, power, and athleticism across the rim and as a roll man.

After all, there’s nothing improper with having a giant man that’s snug placing the ball on the ground, however there needs to be a restrict on what they’re allowed to do, and when they need to look to get the rock out of their palms. That was a part of the draw back to Vonleh’s time with the New York Knicks, as far too typically, performs stagnated as soon as he obtained in possession on the perimeter or across the mid-range.

Whereas the over-dribbling might be a difficulty, Vonleh did show some spectacular development in his skill to assault area when slipping screens or rolling whereas the protection trapped, hedged, or just paid an excessive amount of consideration to the ball-handler.

Past his skill to assault the rim in area, Vonleh has improved his hook shot and has the footwork to generate some low-post offense when wanted. However most impressively, throughout his season in Shanghai, the previous lottery choose has improved his perimeter recreation, averaging 38% from deep on the season.

After all, scoring at a good clip in China doesn’t necessitate Vonleh can repeat the feat within the NBA, however the upside is intriguing sufficient to provide him a better look in coaching camp. On the defensive aspect of the ground, Vonleh was a rock as a drop defender, typically shading his man away from the rim, or forcing them into powerful, contested photographs, permitting him to scrub up their missed makes an attempt on the glass.

And that’s the place Vonleh’s true worth to an NBA crew lies, on the defensive aspect of the ground and as a defensive rebounder — two areas he has confirmed able to performing in throughout stops with different groups across the league.

Sadly for Vonleh, his offensive recreation might want to translate over throughout coaching camp, in any other case he’ll discover himself sitting behind Kabengele within the pecking order for Boston’s further huge man this season.

Bruno Caboclo: Tweener

In contrast to Vonleh and Kabengele, Caboclo is a wing with the skillset to play some small-ball 5 minutes, which means his defensive and offensive recreation isn’t positioned to be dominant across the glass, or have upside as a shot deterrent on protection.

As a substitute, Caboclo is extra of a catch-and-shoot, catch-and-drive, and transition risk on the offensive finish, whereas being a extra switchable defender than his two counterparts within the roster spot battle. After all, below Udoka, being switchable is a big plus, however you continue to must be impactful in different areas on the ground, and that’s the largest query mark hanging over Caboclo’s head proper now.

The previous Toronto Raptors draft choice has some NBA expertise, however in reality, he has struggled for enjoying time wherever he’s gone, and solely started to submit huge numbers as soon as he took his skills to Brazil.

As soon as Caboclo returned to American shores, and took half within the Las Vegas Summer League, his manufacturing slipped again all the way down to what you’ll count on from a multi-year veteran that has seldom cracked a rotation. Nonetheless, that’s to not say that Caboclo doesn’t have some untapped potential, however in actuality, he’s going to wrestle to interrupt Boston’s rotation as a wing participant — particularly given his restricted skill as a ground spacer.

Nonetheless, with versatility comes alternative, and that might be Caboclo’s saving grace, as his presence inside an NBA roster permits a number of rotation changes, counters to match-up issues, and inventive scheming all through the common season. Sadly, until Caboclo has drastically improved his three-point shot, and off-the-dribble explosiveness across the rim, he initiatives to be the almost certainly casualty inside the trio of Celtics hopefuls this summer season.

Last Ideas

General, there’s scope for every of Kabengele, Vonleh, and Caboclo to earn spots inside the rotation within the coming season, and given the range of their skillsets, you may discuss your self into every of them impressing sufficient to warrant a better look. Nonetheless, in actuality, Kabengele and Vonleh are each higher suited to creating an affect within the coming season, whereas Caboclo is extra of an insurance coverage coverage.

Nonetheless, given the direct competitors for the backup heart place, I can see the Celtics opting to maneuver ahead with Kabengele on his two-way deal and the potential to transform the contract down the road, and the flexibility that comes with a tweener akin to Caboclo. That means Vonleh might be the participant to overlook out on a return to the NBA this season.