Our young wings development and future (Gonzalez, Walsh, Minott, Scheierman)

[RodyTur10]

I figured it makes sense to make a separate topic for a discussion about our young wings, because they have been a great surprise and have filled in the minutes that became available due to the Tatum injury and departure of some key players admirably. As others have mentioned the coaching staff in particular Mazzula deserves praise as the results so far have far exceeded expectations.

Now we don't necessarily have to make short term decisions on the four guys (Gonz?lez 19, Walsh 21, Minott 23, Scheierman 25), but I do wonder who has the brightest future and who might be a good trading chip for a potential upgrade of our center position.

I think many would say Baylor Scheierman is a bit slow footed and the most disposable (I mean this in the most clinical way and not as an insult), but if there's no market for him I'd keep him as he shows improvement, versatility and cheap roster depth is important. Offensively he's barely involved (9,6 % usage rate), so I'm still skeptical about his long term offensive efficiency.

The profile of Josh Minott makes you really wonder why Minnesota let this guy rot on the bench for three years until he demanded to be released. In particular because the Wolves have lacked depth for years. Strange. This has been a great signing by Stevens. I don't think this is a mirage. For me he has the tools to be a prototype 3-and-D player with his fysical attributes and demeanor. He would not just be a throw-in to complete a deal. Or am I to cought up in the moment and should we act on his good stats, because we have two even younger wings who may be even better?

The next guy to talk about is Jordan Walsh. They're thinking about nicknames and I call him "the Mutant". He looks like some weird Gen on NBA2K. Unhumanlike. That sounds disrespectful, but we can call it positively if we just link it to his ability to move and react on the court that's remarkably impactful. So far he has been the ultimate Swiss army knife and if he can keep this up I see no reason why he wouldn't be able to play in basically any line-up combination. Where does this come from? A draft steal in hindsight? And if teams are coveting for his services should we firmly reject those or use him to get a starting center or point guard?

The rookie on the team at just 19 years of age, Hugo Gonzalez, has already gotten some valuable learning minutes in which he has shown a lot of potential. He's strong, decent leaper for rebounds or blocks, can defend and create steals, shoot and drive a bit. But of course it's all a bit rough. I think it's very hard to determine his ceiling at this point. I don't think trading makes any sense, because he doesn't have the draft hype to lend you a star. Let's see what we've got first.

At first sight none of them may look like a future All Star, but I value cheap players who can hold their own on the court and create steals, deflections or rebounds without a lot of turnovers a lot. Personally I believe the ability to add and secure possessions is generally undervalued. Which is why I've always loved White, because of his BBIQ and mentality, as a real star player.

And as a side note this might be the key to the success of the OKC Thunder. Just look at the absolutely ridiculous combination of characteristics for their leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season: USG 33% / AST 34% / TO 7% / BLK 2.1% / ST 2.1% / TS 69%.

So I find watching the Celtics this season very enjoyable and in particular this set of guys. But the focus should always be on competing for championships (now or later) and making the hard decisions to do so. A new window may have opened unexpectingly. But we know that we have to add quality and quantity at center and that Simons is not the right piece for this team as the third guard.

[jambr380]

I know your post is just about wings, but I feel like we can add in Queta so we can make it about the young guys in general.

Queta and Nair Jordan (yes, this is my favorite one) seem to be the most valuable now and in the future. Those two, along with Minott, are all signed through next year, but may command higher salaries than first thought. It'll be interesting to see if Brad can extend them this summer and what they might agree to.

Gonzalez looks like he belongs in the NBA and may have a higher ceiling than those above. Luckily we have him for 4 years and can continue to develop him like we have Queta and Walsh.

I was skeptical of the Celtics picking up Baylor's option next season, but there are worse players to have at the bottom end of your roster. He's versatile on both ends of the floor and has already beaten out some veterans for rotation minutes. Being a good ballhandler, passer, and shooter makes him a good plug-and-play guy if he can keep working hard on defense.

[jambr380]

And just to add, with so many of our young guys actually hitting as rotation pieces, it seems to me that it might actually make more sense to try and get below the tax this season.

I didn't previously think so because I figured we'd just be right over again next season, but having these guys fit into the rotation at such a low price may mean we really only need to add a back-up level big and maybe a cheap bench scorer next season.

It won't be as important to use Simons' salary slot AND KP's TPE. This might sound disappointing to fans, but as I mentioned in my above post, we might want to factor in a little room to extend Queta, Walsh, and Minott. I don't think they'll all be on minimums come 2027 if they continue their upward trajectory.

That still includes moving Simons for less salary and maybe a couple of end of the bench guys like Tillman and Boucher, but it's probably doable. I guess we just have to see how the season continues to play out and what injuries look like on other teams.

[Vermont Green]

Queta has emerged as an important piece, a starter, but this is less of a surprise to me than Walsh.  Queta to me is still kind of a fringe starter, he would probably be more ideal as a bench player on a top team, but he has shown that he can be affective as the 5th starter on a team that is very much in the mix of things.  Queta is 26 so there is some limit on his remaining ceiling.  Some additional improvement would not surprise me, but I don't see him making dramatic improvement (which is fine).

Walsh, to me, stands alone in terms of the impact he is making and how much of a surprise it is.  In Summer League, he looked like he might not even make the team.  His contract has very limited guarantees.  I would not have been shocked if he was waived.  Now he is playing as a starter and every bit up to the task.  He has gone from what I saw as a player who had NBA athleticism but not NBA touch or feel for the game, to suddenly having touch and a feel for the game, just 3 or 4 months later.  And at only 21, I suspect there is plenty of remaining ceiling.  These last 7 or so games, he has played every bit as well as Holiday did last season, a 3rd or 4th starter level.  Defenses will adjust, he may not continue to get the kind of looks other teams have been allowing him to get, so things could reset some, but I believe that for these last 7 games or so, he is the main reason BOS is playing like a top team and not just a 0.500 team.

For the rest, I have my foot on the brake for Minott, he has been a pleasant surprise for sure, but I see some consistency issues with him.  Fine for a bench player.  There could be some near term ceiling with him, we'll see.  I love Gonzalez, but feel patience is the key word with him.  I could see a Walsh-like leap from him at some point, but it could be a couple more years.  And I don't think Scheierman has much ceiling  remaining.  He is fine as a deep bench guy who can give you some scoring sometimes, but I don't see much more than that.