I emphasized Javonte because I thought others might be able to comment on potential growth vs more rookies
I can’t say I’ve got any kind of handle on the incoming rookie class. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Celtics weren’t interested in drafting anyone at all this year.
You take on a rookie, invest a lot of coaching time, putting up with the breakdowns and mistakes and uncertainties, with the hope that a useful player will develop. Even the best rookies are usually a net negative in the actual games, but you put them in as an investment in the future.
At some point, the future arrives, though.
Looks to me like Boston had an excellent draft last year on top of a roster that was already young, in addition to adding a couple of undrafted players with real NBA potential. There’s a limit to how long you keep adding players for their potential.
Carsen Edwards intense and driven another short guy but has 6-6 wingspan and a motor I figure he had so much on his plate defensively it effected his shooting .Coming in as a offensive sparkplug cold takes a special type of shooter-is he one.
Also, he’s 200 lbs. Also, he’s got burst - very quick off the floor. Those plus his bulldog mentality suggest he’ll be a plus defender.
They gave him a four-year deal at good money - they believe in his potential. We should, too.
Shooting %s will come around, his mechanics and touch are really good, and he was shooting a lot of those off the dribble. Keep the sample size in mind - two more makes and he’d have been at .334 for threes. 9/15 from long midrange; if that’s real he’s one of the rare players you want taking those shots.
Good handles going either way (ZERO lost-ball turnovers), but the real deficiency is finishing at the rim. The outside shots will open up if they have to guard him for the drive.
The other big growth area is creating shots for teammates.