Danny Ainge has an eye for young talent.
This offseason the Boston Celtics have worked hard to collect more youthful pieces to bolster their roster. It all started in the draft where the Celtics had four selections, three of which have turned out to be strong additions.
Terry Rozier, selected 16th overall, was a surprise pick, but he showed that he was worthy during Summer League play. Averaging 12.2 points and 4.0 assists, the rookie showcased his scoring ability, but where he shined the most was on the defensive end as he demonstrated tremendous on-ball defense.
R.J. Hunter, who dropped to 28th overall in the draft, was quite impressive as well, averaging 15.6 points per contest during Summer League. But the steal for the Celtics came in the second round when they drafted Jordan Mickey. The 21-year old showed promise, averaging 13.8 points and 9.6 rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the field during summer action.
All three rookies seem talented enough to earn some minutes in Brad Stevens’ rotation.
The C’s weren’t finished just yet. Once free agency kicked off, they made sure to retain key contributors from last season’s team, re-signing Jonas Jerebko and Jae Crowder.
Jerebko was hardly a second string player for the Detroit Pistons. But once he was acquired by the Celtics, he suddenly became a major component off the bench, flourishing under coach Stevens’ system. Recovering Crowder, however, was an even bigger move by Ainge. Crowder crawled his way into the starting lineup and played phenomenal basketball during his short stint with the Celtics.
Acquired via the Rajon Rondo trade, the three-year player out of Marquette turned out to be a huge steal in the deal. Crowder supplied the Celtics with a lot of energy and toughness and became a crucial benefactor during the playoffs, averaging 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds on 51.7 percent shooting.
Another under-the-radar move executed by the C’s this offseason was the acquisition of Perry Jones III. Stuck in a loaded frontcourt in Oklahoma City, Jones, 23, will get the opportunity to showcase his potential and skills in Boston. When given minutes, Jones could heavily produce as he validated that last season when Kevin Durant was nursing a foot injury.
The three-year man put together a 32-point performance early in the season before suffering an injury of his own couple games later. He is capable of putting up numbers with extra minutes and may become a second string player in Bean Town.
The Celtics made couple other trades during the summer, including a Gerald Wallace/David Lee swap. Wallace became useless once Crowder and Jerebko joined the team. Lee, on the other hand, may become the veteran leader the team needs while earning quality minutes off the pine. The one-time champion is an intelligent player who is an underrated mid-range shooter, rebounder, and passer.
Most recently Boston made a minor trade to acquire Zoran Dragic. This is not a move that will immensely strengthen their roster, but it certainly adds more depth at the wing position.
Lastly, the Celtics aimed for a defensive presence and snagged Amir Johnson with a two-year, $24 million deal. The contract may seem lucrative, but Johnson could provide rim protection and size in the paint. The 28-year old also tends to have high scoring outputs along with double-doubles on certain nights.
One key piece the team lost this offseason was Brandon Bass. The 10-year veteran decided to take his talents to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers. Losing an energetic, hard working player like Bass may hurt, but the Celtics' new additions could very well fill in the void. Perhaps Lee will play Bass' role from last season.
The Celtics had an enjoyable, surprisingly good season last year, and their roster looks sharper going into the upcoming season. The East looks stronger this year, but Boston does as well. Following the lead of their head coach, the Celtics will look to put together another astounding season.
Off-Season Grade: B-