Celtics Off-Season News

[Goldstar88]

Walsh needs to improve drastically to be a rotation player.
Same with Queta

Don?t like the bench with KP sidelined. Need more consistent scoring.

It feels like both Walsh and Queta could improve, but they need minutes, just like PP and Sam got.   PP and Sam didn't start out being great backup rotation players, they got a lot better because they got playing time.   I think both Walsh and Queta could improve as well.   Are we able to find a center for 2.2 mil better than Queta?   I honestly don't know, but that is pretty much in the lower range for vet minimum.

Pritchard shot 41.1% from 3 as a rookie on nearly 4 attempts a game and played over 19 mpg in 66 of the 72 games. In other words, PP was a rotation level player as a rookie.  He isn't the same as Walsh and Queta who certainly were not rotation level players as rookies.

Not totally disagreeing with you, but Pritchard was a 22 year old rookie.  Walsh is only 20 now.  Walsh may be closer to a rotation level player in 2 more years, but it is doubtful he will be next season.

maybe, I was just pointing out that PP got minutes because he was a rotation level player even as a rookie.  Walsh should have stayed in school. 2nd round pick on a good team where he will never play.  Doesn't bode well for him staying in league long term.

Walsh got to play 27 G-League games (nearly 30 min per game) and put up decent G-League numbers, while getting the opportunity to be around a championship environment and play some in 9 NBA games.  I don't know if staying in college would have been better for his development or not.  It certainly would not have been better for his cash flow.  He is a prospect.  Hauser, for example was 5 years in college.  He was more NBA ready as a 23 year old rookie than 19 year old Walsh, but I am not sure there is enough basis to write off Walsh just because he came out of college early.

I think there is enough evidence to declare that he probably will not be "NBA Ready" next season either, but based on what I have seen, he could well end up a better NBA player than either Hauser or Pritchard in time.  I am not going as far as predicting that, it is impossible to tell, but he has a lot going for him.  I have not given up on him based on his one season.  On the contrary, I think there was a lot to like.

good points on walsh and i agree. the question is his 3 point shooting. if he can develop that in the next few years he will a valuable rotation player.

He already has improved significantly since college. Jordan shot 36% from 3pt with Maine last year.

[blink]

Walsh needs to improve drastically to be a rotation player.
Same with Queta

Don?t like the bench with KP sidelined. Need more consistent scoring.

It feels like both Walsh and Queta could improve, but they need minutes, just like PP and Sam got.   PP and Sam didn't start out being great backup rotation players, they got a lot better because they got playing time.   I think both Walsh and Queta could improve as well.   Are we able to find a center for 2.2 mil better than Queta?   I honestly don't know, but that is pretty much in the lower range for vet minimum.

Pritchard shot 41.1% from 3 as a rookie on nearly 4 attempts a game and played over 19 mpg in 66 of the 72 games. In other words, PP was a rotation level player as a rookie.  He isn't the same as Walsh and Queta who certainly were not rotation level players as rookies.

He was rotation worthy on a less talented team.  PP hit 1.5 threes a game as a rookie, if that is all you are basing being rotation worthy, then we completely don't agree anyways.  Walsh was never going to get the opportunity last year unless we had major injury issues, and probably won't this year either.   But PP and Sam both benefited from getting minutes, regardless of if they were 'rotation-worthy' or not.   You need to play to get better.  Queta had some really nice flashes last season, but he needs to play to get better too.   Queta has a knack for being around the ball and making things happen, keeping possessions alive, probably in a way that isn't quantifiable via +/- or PER so it probably doesn't register for you.   I agree we know less about Walsh.

[keevsnick]

Walsh needs to improve drastically to be a rotation player.
Same with Queta

Don?t like the bench with KP sidelined. Need more consistent scoring.

It feels like both Walsh and Queta could improve, but they need minutes, just like PP and Sam got.   PP and Sam didn't start out being great backup rotation players, they got a lot better because they got playing time.   I think both Walsh and Queta could improve as well.   Are we able to find a center for 2.2 mil better than Queta?   I honestly don't know, but that is pretty much in the lower range for vet minimum.

Pritchard shot 41.1% from 3 as a rookie on nearly 4 attempts a game and played over 19 mpg in 66 of the 72 games. In other words, PP was a rotation level player as a rookie.  He isn't the same as Walsh and Queta who certainly were not rotation level players as rookies.

PP was an age 22 (turned 23 in season) rookie on a 36-36 team. It's a slightly different situation than Walsh who was 19 most of the year and trying to get minutes on a title favorite.

Not saying walsh will be a rotation player, but its apple to oranges.

[Moranis]

Walsh needs to improve drastically to be a rotation player.
Same with Queta

Don?t like the bench with KP sidelined. Need more consistent scoring.

It feels like both Walsh and Queta could improve, but they need minutes, just like PP and Sam got.   PP and Sam didn't start out being great backup rotation players, they got a lot better because they got playing time.   I think both Walsh and Queta could improve as well.   Are we able to find a center for 2.2 mil better than Queta?   I honestly don't know, but that is pretty much in the lower range for vet minimum.

Pritchard shot 41.1% from 3 as a rookie on nearly 4 attempts a game and played over 19 mpg in 66 of the 72 games. In other words, PP was a rotation level player as a rookie.  He isn't the same as Walsh and Queta who certainly were not rotation level players as rookies.

He was rotation worthy on a less talented team.  PP hit 1.5 threes a game as a rookie, if that is all you are basing being rotation worthy, then we completely don't agree anyways.  Walsh was never going to get the opportunity last year unless we had major injury issues, and probably won't this year either.   But PP and Sam both benefited from getting minutes, regardless of if they were 'rotation-worthy' or not.   You need to play to get better.  Queta had some really nice flashes last season, but he needs to play to get better too.   Queta has a knack for being around the ball and making things happen, keeping possessions alive, probably in a way that isn't quantifiable via +/- or PER so it probably doesn't register for you.   I agree we know less about Walsh.

Hauser played 158 minutes as a rookie. TOTAL. He wasn't rotation worthy so he didn't play.  He improved and entered the rotation in his 2nd year getting 16.1 mpg. He bumped up to 22 mpg last year in his 3rd year.

[celticinorlando]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

[Celtics2021]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

I think we don?t see him until 2025.

[hpantazo]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

That is nowhere near the typical timeline for the reported injury. I wonder if they found something else when they went in there, or are being extra cautious and putting him on a lower body strengthening program before he returns.

[celticinorlando]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

I think we don?t see him until 2025.

I am going to say Christmas Day game. But it is now vital Boston signs at least 2 bigs to go with Al. Tillman, Kornet, Queta or some other players that can hold the fort.

[Roy H.]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

I think we don?t see him until 2025.

I am going to say Christmas Day game. But it is now vital Boston signs at least 2 bigs to go with Al. Tillman, Kornet, Queta or some other players that can hold the fort.

Keep him on ice until March, and then play him twice per week until the playoffs, haha.

[celticinorlando]

First few months might be rough...

Championship hangover
KP out
Tatum and Jrue coming off the Olympics
Played deep into June

Just going to need to survive until the start of 2025. Just make the playoffs really.

[Vermont Green]

There you go. No KP to probably November:

The Celtics just announced that Kristaps Porzingis has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to play in 5-6 months, which would put an expected return date right around the holidays in November-December.

I think we don?t see him until 2025.

I am going to say Christmas Day game. But it is now vital Boston signs at least 2 bigs to go with Al. Tillman, Kornet, Queta or some other players that can hold the fort.

Keep him on ice until March, and then play him twice per week until the playoffs, haha.

Projecting out 5-6 months is way to far in the future to be very specific.  But in general, coming back in December or January would be fine.  We can still win enough regular season games without him.  It is not like we are going to miss the playoffs.  But it is going to take some time for him to get back in playing shape and rhythm.  To me, 50-ish games seems like a good target.  He should be able to hold up for that many games.

We saw how important playoff seeding can be.  We don't want to take this too far.  Shortening Porzingis season makes sense, it is the smart thing to do, this injury forces that.   But there will be a sweet spot.

[Phantom255x]

I mean, the C's went 16-3 in the postseason with KP only playing like 7 games (and 4 of them were either in limited roles or the game he got hurt against Miami).

I'm not gonna worry about the beginning of the season. What really matters is health in April and beyond. I expect them to keep 1 of Tillman/Kornet, and even someone like Kornet can bridge the gap in the regular season. If they need a little more, CBS can deal a few 2nd rounders at the deadline again.

I do think the Celtics are hoping Queta can take a similar step as Hauser. A full offseason of work and gaining more experience early next year in hopes he can carve out a decent bench role. Springer/Walsh feel two years away, but Queta could find a slightly bigger role next season IMO. Tillman as well if they keep him. 

[Birdman]

Like I said before I wouldn?t play porzingis until January at the latest & wouldn?t let him play a lot of minutes then

[hpantazo]

Who picks up the slack while KP is out? We don't want to wear out Horford either. I am hoping we sign Theis to the vet min.

[Roy H.]

Who picks up the slack while KP is out? We don't want to wear out Horford either. I am hoping we sign Theis to the vet min.

Yeah, if we're looking outside the organization, the injury news could actually help us look more attractive too a free agent.  I'd target Theis or Saric.