Langford and Nesmith roles with the team

[Atzar]

I like Nesmith.  His role is an off-ball shooter who needs his teammates to commit to looking for him in order to get the most out of his offensive abilities.  I think he has enough of a handle to attack closeouts, but not enough to create in isolation.  Finishes reasonably well in the paint and can occasionally make simple-but-effective passes out of a drive.  Brings hustle and a nose for the ball that the team often lacks, and will put his body on the line when asked to switch into the paint on defense.  Willing defender, but it takes max effort to get him to average-ish at this point in his career.  Fouls too much.  Keep refining that shot, get more comfortable on defense, and perhaps most importantly, learn to protect yourself.  All of that hustle doesn't help if you're laid up on the couch wearing a cast.  Next year, I want him to be a fixture in the rotation, and occasionally one of the guys who closes the game on the nights when he's particularly effective. 

Romeo's role, in an ideal world, is as a secondary ball-handler who can create offense for himself and for teammates by driving and dishing.  The rub is that he's not actually good at any of that at this point in his career.  The finishing ability he displayed in college has not translated to the NBA yet.  Jumpshot is a project, but a vital one - he won't see lanes to the paint if nobody respects him from outside.  Solid defender with quickness and length, but not good enough to keep him in the league on its own - that offensive game must improve.  Was unimpressed with him this season, but I do acknowledge that it's hard to work on your game when you're out injured.  What he really needs is a healthy off-season or two where he can spend a lot of time in the gym working.  I think Romeo's potential is high if everything pans out for him, but he's a long, long way away.  Next year, I think he's a situational guy who probably doesn't play every night, but he's also a wildcard - he could make himself very valuable if he shows life offensively. 

A caveat to all of this:  it wouldn't surprise me to see one or both of these guys traded in the offseason. 

[mr. dee]

What do expect from each going forward?

I must admit that their shooting or lack of accuracy has been a disappointment. 

Nesmith is only a rookie but was considered the best shooter of the draft.  Hasnt looked consistent. Missing wide open 3s

Not sure how he shot so well in college, but his jump shot needs work imo. Its like a laser.  Like shotput style shooting

Not even sure what to say about Langford shooting..

Do you have faith that these two former lotto picks will be consistent contributers off the bench?

I have never been a fan of the Nesmith pick. Pre draft I didnt think he had the lateral quickness to defend wings and was 2-3" to short to defend up. I still think this is true but his hustle has been endearing. His effort and length have allowed him to become passable on D and his vertical explosiveness helps him contesting around the rim. On offense he really needs to just get more consistent and have motion sets called for him. I don't see him as having a starting level ceiling on a playoff team (unless he becomes top 10% 3pt shooters in league) but he should be a valuable role player. 

Langford I have always been high on but I have grown very concerned with his offense. I am fine with him being a work in progress shooting the ball but he needs to show more off the dribble getting his own offense. His calling card was supposed to be sell creation but when given the opportunity he really seems to lack the confidence to attack and the ability to get separation/angles to the rim. I am still holding out hope that he becomes a Kent Bazemore level NBA wing but I'm growing more skeptical.

Romeo's problem is lack of opportunity. Even when he's on the court, he's paired with ball-handlers like Waters, Pritchard and Edwards, preventing him from getting opportunity on creating his own shots.

I can see Langford as a potential scorer with the ball on his hands to be effective. He never have that opportunity yet neither in the G-league last year when he was still hurt.

[PAOBoston]

Their roles are trade bait for the next star player Cs trade for.

[celts55]

It’s hard to say. I don’t think Young players are given a great opportunity in Boston. They lack a pass first point guard, so most of the time the ball is in Tatum, Brown or Walkers hands. None of which are known for giving up the ball. Even Smart goes iso when on the court with these guys.
I think Nesmith and probably Langford would be much better offensively on a team that moved the ball, and gave everyone an opportunity. Might also help if Stevens gave them consistent playing time. Can’t be easy playing 20 minutes one game, 5 the next, not at all for 3 or 4.

[tstorey_97]

Every player has a different approach and Nesmith has jumped crashed and smashed his way to minutes.

Nesmith is an excellent shooter and, I'd say, year after next, he'll have starter's minutes.

This year and next he's Avery Bradley, but the year after that, he could be the 6th man.

Langford needs minutes and Stevens will give them to him.

[gouki88]

?? Aaron Nesmith shot 37% on the season and over 40% over the last two months from 3, as well as 50% from the field. Overreacting to a bad playoff game is unfair on a rookie, especially in such a lopsided series.

Langford, however, I am unsure about. I'd pretty happily trade him for a veteran if we could

[Kuberski33]

Too soon to tell with Nesmith, but he shows some promise of developing into a very good NBA player.  Whether he gets there or not, who knows but he has a chance.  Langford will be out of the league in about 2 years.

[Walker Wiggle]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GdT8deDDQZQ

Just a reminder about Romeo, here are his highlights from this past regular season, in which he missed nearly the whole season with a combination of his wrist surgery recovery and COVID.

This is already a plus wing defender in the league at age 21, with the possibility to become a great defender down the line, and he’s got the beginnings of a 3-point shot and some ability as a pick and roll ball handler.

Let these kids develop and have patience.

[hwangjini_1]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GdT8deDDQZQ

Just a reminder about Romeo, here are his highlights from this past regular season, in which he missed nearly the whole season with a combination of his wrist surgery recovery and COVID.

This is already a plus wing defender in the league at age 21, with the possibility to become a great defender down the line, and he’s got the beginnings of a 3-point shot and some ability as a pick and roll ball handler.

Let these kids develop and have patience.

while much of langford's future worth rests upon him developing a credible jump shot, if he does do it he has a much higher ceiling than nesmith.

langford is a very good defender already. he is very talented driving to the basket. and CBS believes he can be a ball handler in the offense. add the jump shot and he is very valuable.

without a good jumpshot is a role player. not bad for the 14th pick, but he has a lot of potential.

[Celtics4ever]

Romeo, here are his highlights

Highlight tapes are so misleading.   Most of the time he is just normal Romeo.   A guy who can defend, drive a bit and not shoot.

[Roy H.]

Romeo has a long way to go offensively.  He shot 6-for-35  when 5+ feet from the basket.  That’s not good.

[wdleehi]

Langford needs to become a respectable shooter this offseason.   Not someone you want to take a lot of outside shots but decent enough that defenses have to respect him out there.   The sooner that happens, the sooner he can be a constantly useful bench player.

[gouki88]

Romeo has a long way to go offensively.  He shot 6-for-35  when 5+ feet from the basket.  That’s not good.

It's pretty astounding. For all the jumpshot rebuilding we've done he can't hit the ocean

[Ogaju]

Langford needs to become a respectable shooter this offseason.   Not someone you want to take a lot of outside shots but decent enough that defenses have to respect him out there.   The sooner that happens, the sooner he can be a constantly useful bench player.

lol...cut bait.

[Tr1boy]

Romeo has a long way to go offensively.  He shot 6-for-35  when 5+ feet from the basket.  That’s not good.

It's pretty astounding. For all the jumpshot rebuilding we've done he can't hit the ocean

He heard you and hit two 3s