Nik Stauskas, a 3-point specialist whose basketball profession has taken him from being the eighth choose within the 2014 draft to seven NBA cities and overseas, is reportedly signing a two-year take care of the Boston Celtics. The second season is non-guaranteed in 2022-2023.
Whereas it’s fairly unlikely Stauskas can maintain his scoring common of fifty factors per recreation from this previous week within the G-League, he’s somebody who’s proven the power to catch fireplace and lightweight it up from downtown.
Ime Udoka usually likes to play the eight guys he trusts essentially the most, however with Jaylen Brown and Aaron Nesmith out, Stauskas has not less than a shot to earn some taking part in time within the brief run. Right here’s a better have a look at how he may slot in with the Celtics:
He’s streaky, however he can flat out shoot it
Don’t anticipate Stauskas to come back in and be a constant double-digit scoring man off the bench. He’s by no means averaged in double figures in his profession – partially as a consequence of lack of alternative – and is a streaky participant by nature.
Do, nonetheless, anticipate him to offer immediate power at any time when he will get some run, assist Boston area the ground much more, and infrequently get scorching from distance. He’s averaging extra 3-point area targets per recreation than 2-point area targets over the course of his NBA profession, and his 35.4 p.c clip from downtown is stable contemplating groups know that’s what he’ll be doing most of the time.
Stauskas shot 40.4 p.c from 3 in 41 video games with the Nets in 2017-18 and 42.9 p.c in 24 video games with the Cavaliers in 2018-19. He appeared in two video games with the Warmth earlier this season and shot 50 p.c from 3 in a really small pattern measurement.
The Celtics are presently twelfth in 3-pointers tried however simply twenty second in 3-point share (34.5), and Stauskas has the chance to assist fill a void.
He meshes properly with the core
Stauskas ought to slot in properly with the items round him. Marcus Sensible and Derrick White will get him the ball in his spots, Jayson Tatum and Brown (when wholesome) will make his life an entire lot simpler. Robert Williams, Al Horford and Daniel Theis will display away from the ball to assist him get open.
Groups gained’t have the ability to over-help on Tatum and Brown as a lot, as a result of in the event that they do, Stauskas will make them pay.
Time will inform what number of minutes Stauskas will get, and he might solely be an end-of-the-bench man. He does, nonetheless, have an opportunity to see some taking part in time – significantly within the brief time period, with the accidents to fellow wings Brown and Nesmith.
At 28, Stauskas has been round and is aware of higher than most how to slot in with a brand new group and mesh with what’s already there.
Don’t get too excited, although
All of it sounds rosy in idea, however Stauskas has his limitations. He’s a below-average on-ball defender, is usually a bit predictable and is far more of a spot-up shooter than an off-the-dribble man.
The Celtics have been arguably the perfect defensive group within the NBA of late, and it is going to be intriguing to see whether or not Stauskas units them again in that regard in any respect. He ought to be positive, with such elite defenders round him, however it’s probably groups will assault him and attempt to exploit mismatches.
With a hypothetical Sensible-White-Stauskas-Tatum-Williams lineup, although, his teammates ought to have the ability to choose up any slack. General, it’s a stable pickup for the Celtics, as they discovered a participant who has an opportunity to offer immediate offense and make groups choose their poison much more.
It’s actually potential he gained’t see a lot motion, however there’s additionally an opportunity he’ll be precisely what they want.
