Celtics Depth Chart 2021-2022 season

[pearljammer10]

Schroeder 28/Smart 20/Dunn

Brown 16/Pritchard 16/Dunn 10/Smart 6

Richardson 24/Brown 18/Neismith 6

Tatum 36/Parker 12/GWilliams

Horford 28/Williams 20/Kanter

[Who]

I wonder about starting lineup choices:

Best 5 players

G: Schroder
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Move Smart to the bench to re-take role as 6th man

G: Schroder
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

A lower usage more off-ball shooter in Nesmith with both Smart and J-Rich in key bench roles

G: Schroder
G: Jaylen
F: Nesmith
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Best defensive unit with Schroder as bench scorer

G: Smart
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder as bench scorer next to J-Rich. Move Pritchard into the starting lineup for his shooting and ball-handling.

G: Pritchard
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder & Smart in bench roles

G: Pritchard
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder, Smart & J-Rich on bench to provide veteran influence in the second unit along with Rob Williams forming one of the top benches in the league.

G: Pritchard
G: Jaylen
F: Nesmith
F: Tatum
C: Horford


So many options ...

[Goldstar88]

IMO this is how Celtics management views their roster depth rotations:

Guards: Smart, Schroder, Pritchard, Edwards

Wings: Tatum, Brown, Richardson, Nesmith, Langford

Bigs: Horford, Williams III, Willams, Kanter

I agree with that. Where do you put Parker? Feel like he’s more of a wing. Grant just doesn’t fit in as a big.

[jay]

So who is the main 9 man rotation?

Schröder
Pritchard
Smart
Richardson
Brown
Nesmith
Tatum
Horford
Williams

Outside looking in: Grant, Parker, Romeo, Kanter, Dunn

Probably on bench: Fernando, Edwards

According to Spotrac, the Celtics are $6,608,558 in the Luxury Tax and I have heard multiple reports that Dunn may be moved on and I'd say Parker & Fernando may be cut or traded as well.

I could see Parker waived and They try to get someone to take Dunn for nothing.  That would leave 14. Then would they have any kind of way to bring in a vet minimum PF without getting back in tax?

[gouki88]

I wonder about starting lineup choices:

Best 5 players

G: Schroder
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Move Smart to the bench to re-take role as 6th man

G: Schroder
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

A lower usage more off-ball shooter in Nesmith with both Smart and J-Rich in key bench roles

G: Schroder
G: Jaylen
F: Nesmith
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Best defensive unit with Schroder as bench scorer

G: Smart
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder as bench scorer next to J-Rich. Move Pritchard into the starting lineup for his shooting and ball-handling.

G: Pritchard
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder & Smart in bench roles

G: Pritchard
G: Josh Richardson
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Horford

Keep Schroder, Smart & J-Rich on bench to provide veteran influence in the second unit along with Rob Williams forming one of the top benches in the league.

G: Pritchard
G: Jaylen
F: Nesmith
F: Tatum
C: Horford


So many options ...

Ime has his hands full!

[#1P4P]

Practice will be brutal and opposing teams are going to be intimidated by the defensive intensity we’re bringing every night. The depth chart is subject to change.

Schroeder  Pritchard      Dunn
Smart        Nesmith       Edwards
Brown        Richardson   Langford
Tatum        GWilliams     Parker
Horford      RWilliams     Kanter/Fernando

If Udoka is as flexible with his positions as Stevens, we’re going to see an array of lineups. Starting with Tatum and Brown playing the majority of minutes at the 4, multiple 3-guard lineups, Horford-Williams at the 4-5 against big lineups; a highly competitive, aggressive, versatile team anchored by a great defense.

Stevens bailed on matching the Nets firepower and embraced assembling a defensive dream team that will be a nightmare to play against.

[Goldstar88]

A. Sherrod Blakely: Ime Udoka also said we’ll likely see the ball in Marcus Smart’s hands more this season. “He’s kind of asked for that. He’ll be a great facilitator as well.” 2 hours ago – via Twitter ASherrodblakely


Hope you’re right, Ime. More passing, less shooting...Please.

[Jvalin]

A lower usage more off-ball shooter in Nesmith with both Smart and J-Rich in key bench roles

G: Schroder
G: Jaylen
F: Nesmith
F: Tatum
C: Horford

This would be my choice. I reckon we could have a use for an off-ball specialist alongside Tatum, Brown and Schroder. That said, I expect us to start JRich or Smart over Nesmith.

As things stand right now, we have 16 players under contract. Wouldn't be against declining Jabari's team option. I'd rather we dump one of Dunn/Edwards/Fernando/Grant, but we might have to sacrifice a second rounder in the process.

(assuming we decline Jabari's team option)

PG: Schroder - Pritchard - Dunn - Edwards
SG: Brown - Smart - Romeo
SF: Nesmith - JRich - (Hauser)
PF: Tatum - Grant - (Hauser)
C: Horford, Timelord, Kanter, Fernando

Not an ideal depth chart, but oh well. I bet we'll be going small a lot with Brown providing some cover at the 4. Per cleaningtheglass.com, he played 8% of his minutes at PF last season.

Don't like the fact that we'll be forced to play Smart off the ball once again. I mean, he's an average shooter and a reliable PnR ball hander. Imo, he's at his best when running the point. Having said that, I'd love us to use him at the 4 in small-ball lineups.

The Celtics are well-positioned to make a big move at the trade deadline. We are not hard capped, cause we signed Schroder via the taxpayer MLE. We got plenty of expirings, plus Horford whose contract is partially guaranteed for the 2022/23 season. We got all our future first-round picks intact. We even got a couple of decent prospects in Nesmith and Pritchard (I'm relatively low on Romeo). I'd love us to go after Beal/Siakam/Simmons.

[mobilija]

Well...we now have a legitimate Playoff top 8.

However that top 8 is defensive oriented, lacks high level shooting and is guard oriented, sorta unbalanced. Several players that need the ball in their hands to be effective offensively. Ime gonna need to really stress ball movement.

The rest of the bench is still youthful,  largely filled with inconsistencies and again lacks balance.

We should be better than last year. Lots of players playing for contracts, which can be good or bad depending on if Coach Ime can install a strong team culture based on passing and grinding on defense.

[OhioGreen]

My lineups are based alot on my perception of last year's play.
It seemed to me that Smart, Jaylen, and TL all really enjoyed playing with PPritchard.  Tatum, for most of the season, would hardly give him a look....even if he was wide open for a shot.  So I would probably slot those four with, perhaps Nesmith or even Fernando(for more rebounding), on the second unit. 
DShroeder said he would only sign(wanted to sign) with a team where he would start.  Fine.  Shroeder, JRich, Tatum, Horford, and Kanter on the first unit.  That would leave GWill, Dunn, Langford, Edwards, and maybe Fernando as a third unit.
Veterans on the first unit.  Guys who really enjoy playing together on the second, and guys looking to find their niche on the third.
Just an aside after seeing Fernando in SL last nite.  I think he's gonna be a factor, either at C or PF.  I know his role was really reduced last season with the Hawks, but he played significantly, and even started some his first year and actually played quite well.  So I have some real hope for him getting a new start!

[Birdman]

Hopefully we get Lauri but doubt it..Carsen, Grant, Bruno, Romeo needs to go.. go get JJ Redick for cheap or another shooting guard or forward

[michigan adam]

I believe we need a consolidation of a few of the fringe guys into one rotation guy.  On another thread I offered Parker, romeo, dunn, and edwards and a second for bagley.  Something along those lines.  Would open up the log jamb at guard and add depth to swing/PF.  We need something like that.  With dunn and romeo I think it is not just my junk for your assett...

[Quetzalcoatl]

Man, Tommy would have loved this year's team.  So much hustle

[Vermont Green]

My lineups are based alot on my perception of last year's play.
It seemed to me that Smart, Jaylen, and TL all really enjoyed playing with PPritchard.  Tatum, for most of the season, would hardly give him a look....even if he was wide open for a shot.  So I would probably slot those four with, perhaps Nesmith or even Fernando(for more rebounding), on the second unit. 
DShroeder said he would only sign(wanted to sign) with a team where he would start.  Fine.  Shroeder, JRich, Tatum, Horford, and Kanter on the first unit.  That would leave GWill, Dunn, Langford, Edwards, and maybe Fernando as a third unit.
Veterans on the first unit.  Guys who really enjoy playing together on the second, and guys looking to find their niche on the third.
Just an aside after seeing Fernando in SL last nite.  I think he's gonna be a factor, either at C or PF.  I know his role was really reduced last season with the Hawks, but he played significantly, and even started some his first year and actually played quite well.  So I have some real hope for him getting a new start!

I think you missed Brown.  He would start over Richardson but I get the idea of your starting unit.  You have two bigs, Horford and Kanter starting.  I am all for 2-big line ups but if we do have a 2-big core unit, I don't think the second big to play with Horford is currently on the roster.

[JumpingJudkins]

Really surprised at the number of these projected lineups that have Horford starting over Robert Williams. I fully expect Williams to start -- Horford is on the downside and the Celtics will need the shot-blocking, rim-running and especially the rebounding of Williams, none of which Horford provides anymore.

I like having Al back, but he would be better off the bench in a 20-minute role ...