Celtics Off-Season News

[mobilija]

I'd take this comparison: 

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/7/8/24194411/anton-watson-seems-himself-as-a-young-al-horford-boston-celtics-brad-stevens-summer-league

I like Watson a lot for this team. He is a swing glue guy. He?s a smart player. Moves to the right spots on offense, he helps other players generate assists by moving into open spots. He has some ability to create his own shot but gets most of his points by staying active and away from defenders. The high IQ also shows up on defense, perhaps more so. If his shooting efficiency can be good to very good, he?ll get minutes.

[The Oracle]

As someone who has watched Anton Watson his entire career at Gonzaga I see more Kyle Anderson (Slo Mo) than Horford. 

[Goldstar88]

As someone who has watched Anton Watson his entire career at Gonzaga I see more Kyle Anderson (Slo Mo) than Horford.

Seems like a better athlete than Kyle Anderson, no?

[The Oracle]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

[mobilija]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

Yeah, the Al Horford comparison is lazy, everyone is looking for the replacement. But sign me up for faster Kyle Anderson w shooting potential! He?s not gonna be a star or anything but I think he can fit in really well as a role player on this team. Agree he is a 4.

Anyway we can put Quetta and Watson into Jeff Goldblums ?The Fly? machine? Combine them to one player?

[Surferdad]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

Yeah, the Al Horford comparison is lazy, everyone is looking for the replacement. But sign me up for faster Kyle Anderson w shooting potential! He?s not gonna be a star or anything but I think he can fit in really well as a role player on this team. Agree he is a 4.

Anyway we can put Quetta and Watson into Jeff Goldblums ?The Fly? machine? Combine them to one player?

Watson himself said that.

[mobilija]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

Yeah, the Al Horford comparison is lazy, everyone is looking for the replacement. But sign me up for faster Kyle Anderson w shooting potential! He?s not gonna be a star or anything but I think he can fit in really well as a role player on this team. Agree he is a 4.

Anyway we can put Quetta and Watson into Jeff Goldblums ?The Fly? machine? Combine them to one player?

Watson himself said that.

Sort of?  He says Kind of like the Al Horford role. The article and the poster that shared the article emphasized the comparison. It?s a pretty common narrative among Celtics fans and media to find the Al Horford replacement so it?s a bit of chicken or the egg thing. But regardless it?s still a sort of lazy sound bite regardless of who started it or who said it.

[No Nickname]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

This is interesting, as Brad said he wants Watson to let it fly, and that he may not realize how good of a shooter he is/can become.

This is what's so great about the G-League.  Those games don't matter when it comes to wins and losses.  It's a place to get live-game action and put your practice habits to work. 

When Watson is in Maine they should set a goal that he shoots at least six three-pointers per game, so that he gets comfortable with just shooting that much (let alone making a fair percent).

[BitterJim]

He is a faster Kyle Anderson without the completely broken jumper.  He has very good defensive skills on the perimeter (great hands and reads passing lanes very well), solid positional defender that is switchable but unlike Horford he is not going to ever defend big centers like he does nor is he a good rim protector.  If you are going to trap ball handlers Watson would almost always be your 1st choice to do so.  Offensively he is a reluctant scorer that will often turn down open jumpers, he is a solid passer, decision maker and ball handler.  If he gets a foot in the door in the NBA he will be playing the 4.

Yeah, the Al Horford comparison is lazy, everyone is looking for the replacement. But sign me up for faster Kyle Anderson w shooting potential! He?s not gonna be a star or anything but I think he can fit in really well as a role player on this team. Agree he is a 4.

Anyway we can put Quetta and Watson into Jeff Goldblums ?The Fly? machine? Combine them to one player?

Whoops, we now have a player with Watson's size and Queta's skill. Danny Ainge wants to sign him to a 4 year contract.

[Roy H.]

ClutchPoints: Jayson Tatum and A?ja Wilson on being on the cover of NBA 2K25: JT: ?I kind of cried a little bit? something I dreamed about came true.? AW: ?I don?t play video games and I might start now because my face is on the cover.? (via @OldManAndThree) pic.twitter.com/QUqVIIxXva

[Who]

Watching Bill Simmons recent video "six major things going on in basketball". He is a bit bothered about the Jaylen comments on D White and Team USA spot. Not massively bothered but a bit bothered. He doesn't think anyone on the Celtics would have made a comment like that last summer.

He relates it back to Pat Riley's Disease of Me. After winning a title, everyone wants more. More playing time. More shots. More money. More recognition. Bill Simmons worries this is an early sign of that from Jaylen. He wishes Jaylen took a more diplomatic with praising D-White or congratulating him while also making his own claim.

I put it down to clumsy public speech from Jaylen than selfish but it is an interesting perspective. Something to keep an eye on if we see more signs of that Disease of Me from Jaylen or others entering the season.

[Roy H.]

Watching Bill Simmons recent video "six major things going on in basketball". He is a bit bothered about the Jaylen comments on D White and Team USA spot. Not massively bothered but a bit bothered. He doesn't think anyone on the Celtics would have made a comment like that last summer.

He relates it back to Pat Riley's Disease of Me. After winning a title, everyone wants more. More playing time. More shots. More money. More recognition. Bill Simmons worries this is an early sign of that from Jaylen. He wishes Jaylen took a more diplomatic with praising D-White or congratulating him while also making his own claim.

I put it down to clumsy public speech from Jaylen than selfish but it is an interesting perspective. Something to keep an eye on if we see more signs of that Disease of Me from Jaylen or others entering the season.

My guess is that JB would have made the same statement last summer.  Maybe he feels extra-slighted after being named Finals MVP, but I think he would have still complained on social media.

[Neurotic Guy]

Watching Bill Simmons recent video "six major things going on in basketball". He is a bit bothered about the Jaylen comments on D White and Team USA spot. Not massively bothered but a bit bothered. He doesn't think anyone on the Celtics would have made a comment like that last summer.

He relates it back to Pat Riley's Disease of Me. After winning a title, everyone wants more. More playing time. More shots. More money. More recognition. Bill Simmons worries this is an early sign of that from Jaylen. He wishes Jaylen took a more diplomatic with praising D-White or congratulating him while also making his own claim.

I put it down to clumsy public speech from Jaylen than selfish but it is an interesting perspective. Something to keep an eye on if we see more signs of that Disease of Me from Jaylen or others entering the season.

I agree with you - clumsy public speech with a pinch of 2024 social media culture.   Honestly, I feel completely lost around the culture of tic-toc, X, etc.  What is socially expected or acceptable is different than I?m used to and it?s easy to be judgmental.   I assume Bill Simmons understands it better than I do but he?s also not a mid-twenties contemporary.

[Goldstar88]

BOSTON, MA The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed forward Sam Hauser to a contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

You can count on Sam. He comes to work every single day with the right mindset and attitude,said Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations. His shooting gets most of the attention but his feel for the game, defensive versatility, and his consistency as a teammate have allowed him to impact our team in the biggest of moments. We are excited Sam has decided to extend his contract with the Celtics.

Hauser has appeared in 185 career games (21 starts) with the Celtics over the last three years, averaging 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game since originally signing to a two-way contract in August 2021. Hauser owns the best three-point shooting percentage in Celtics history at 42.2 percent (min. 150 3FG) while his 356 career makes ranks 15th in Celtics history. The Wisconsin native is one of only five Celtics in franchise history to register at least 400 rebounds, 270 three-pointers, and 115 assists off the bench.

During the 2023-24 season, Hauser appeared in 79 games (13 starts) and averaged career-highs across the board with 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. Hauser played in all 19 playoff games during the Celtics championship run and averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor. Hauser scored a playoff career-high 17 points on 5-of-8 made three-pointers and recorded five rebounds in the Celtics 118-84 win over Miami on May 1.

Hauser knocked down a career-best 197 three-point field goals last season, becoming the first undrafted player in Celtics history to register at least 160 threes in a single season. On February 13, he scored his 1,000th career point on a catch-and-shoot three against Brooklyn, becoming the 11th Celtic to score at least 1,000 points off the bench since 2006.

The Virginia product scored a career-high 30 points on a career-best 10-of-13 made three-point field goals and grabbed six rebounds at Washington on March 17, 2024. Hauser?s 10 threes in 22:49 minutes of action is the fewest minutes played in a 10-three game in NBA history and he tied Jaylen Brown for the second-most made threes in a game in Celtics history.
NBA.com

[celticinorlando]

Sounds like the Celtics will open and raise the banner vs Miami.