JaJuan Johnson part of the Rotation?

[mctyson]

Agreed. Barring injury, I don't think JJJ dresses much this season.

He'll be good to have around for practice though.

If this is the case he should be traded immediately while he still has some value.  A second season of him riding the pine in a suit will destroy his value.

To the OP:  Jeff Green is our backup 3.  Since we are near certain what Green will give us, he is a lock for 20 minutes a night at the 3.  So long as Pierce doesn't get hurt, the rest of the minutes at 3 are going to the Captain.

JJJ has to get his minutes at the 4 or he won't get them at all.  He now has competition from Sullinger to boot.  Sullinger is a prototypical 4 and he will play every game next year.  KG will also play the 4.  Assuming KG gets 20 minutes at the 4 every night, and Sullinger gets 15, that leaves roughly 10 for JJJ.  

That is where he will need to make his mark next year - as a high energy 4 that changes the pace versus KG/Sullinger.

[arambone]

When Doc said JJJ might be a 3, I think that was more of a polite way of saying that JJJ is not an NBA 4, meaning JJJ was probably a bad pick.

How do you not spend whatever time is needed to learn the playbook when you are paid 7 figures?

I almost hope JJJ is working on his ball handling and perimeter defense, even if it means losing some of his very meager weight gains.

Celtics look stacked at PF with KG, Sully, and Green likely to take all minutes.

JJJ's best chance to see the court in any capacity in the NBA might come as long defensive 3 against slower opposing 3s, and he'd have some ability to spread the floor with his jumper.

That might not happen for a few years though, and might not happen at all.

[Professor of Rondology]

Agreed. Barring injury, I don't think JJJ dresses much this season.

He'll be good to have around for practice though.

If this is the case he should be traded immediately while he still has some value.  A second season of him riding the pine in a suit will destroy his value.

To the OP:  Jeff Green is our backup 3.  Since we are near certain what Green will give us, he is a lock for 20 minutes a night at the 3.  So long as Pierce doesn't get hurt, the rest of the minutes at 3 are going to the Captain.

JJJ has to get his minutes at the 4 or he won't get them at all.  He now has competition from Sullinger to boot.  Sullinger is a prototypical 4 and he will play every game next year.  KG will also play the 4.  Assuming KG gets 20 minutes at the 4 every night, and Sullinger gets 15, that leaves roughly 10 for JJJ.  

That is where he will need to make his mark next year - as a high energy 4 that changes the pace versus KG/Sullinger.

I didn't mean to say that I thought JJJ would get minutes at the 3 or 5, I was just expressing my general uneasiness with many people's claims that he will be a member of our rotation. I'll go back and change that.

[Tr1boy]

The answer is yes. Why would you draft a guy , pay him money and never give him a chance on the court.

1st year is understandable he gets nearly no minutes on the court. But after one year , he should get at least a chance.

The guy has put on 10 pounds of muscle and is really a decent player on both ends on the court. He knows how to score a variety of ways and can block shots well. His biggest obstacle is to prove he can rebound in the nba at a decent clip.

[KGs Knee]

If Bass and Green come back Johnson will be in Maine or somewhere else.  Even if only one of them comeback, this still may happen if Sullinger beats him for the spot (which will probably happen barring health).

Green will only get so many minutes behind Pierce, so he is going to have to get minutes at the 4 unless Pierce plays some at the 2.

Really no room for Johnson.

[Tr1boy]

If Bass and Green come back Johnson will be in Maine or somewhere else.  Even if only one of them comeback, this still may happen if Sullinger beats him for the spot (which will probably happen barring health).

Green will only get so many minutes behind Pierce, so he is going to have to get minutes at the 4 unless Pierce plays some at the 2.

Really no room for Johnson.

so why go out of your way to trade brooks for him? Give him guaranteed money for two years??

Celtics have only so much money to work with. And guys like Bass, Green all want lots of money. We can't bring everyone back. JJJ should get a chance at least to play every other game or so

[StartOrien]

To play devil's advocate, historically there's a much longer learning curve for an NBA big man than it is for a combo guard.

Truth.

I actually would like to see more of him this season. Mostly because i would like to see KG take either some whole games off or play only 10 minutes in some games. He is getting older and needs to rest. If we play the Bobcats or another bottom feeder I would love to see JJJ and Sullinger gets some bigger minutes. Especially since if they prove useful they are bigger trade chips as well.

An idea I was mulling over is this: for the first half of the season limit KG, Paul and Ray to a strict 30 mpg limit (Doc can let Paul go over every once in awhile, just because PP would freak out otherwise).  Along with that, rest KG for every 4th or 5th game.  Further limiting KG's court time by resting him for entire games does several things- it reduces risk of injury and gives us a fresher KG for the 2nd half + playoffs, it gives KG a ton more time/energy to use instructing the young guys, AND it gives those young guys a chance to get some meaningful minutes they might otherwise not get all year.  And then for the 2nd half of the year revert to a more playoff-like rotation so that everybody get's into their rhythm for the playoffs.  Seems like a classic win-win to me, especially since we have no shot whatsoever of getting one of the top 2 seeds.

Thoughts?

I agree with you and think that's a very good idea.

[arambone]

so why go out of your way to trade brooks for him? Give him guaranteed money for two years??

Danny made a mistake. He said that if size was an issue with JJJ, he wouldn't have drafted him. Well, size should have been an issue, and obviously was an issue last season, to the point that Doc questioned if JJJ was even a PF at all. With narrow shoulders and thin bones, size will always be an issue for JJJ.

Brooks was probably passed on in part because Danny wanted to see Avery Bradley play a more significant role. I know that is why Danny did not bring back Delonte.

While Brooks would be a good asset for the Celtics to have, I am pretty glad that Bradley got extended playing time that he could count on, without looking over his shoulder all the time.

We certainly didn't see Danny avoid drafting a PF this year to elevate JJJ in the rotation, so you could argue Danny had more faith in Avery Bradley developing than he does with JJJ.

JJJ's best place may be with a losing team, where he can possibly get minutes. On a championship driven team, where you got drafted doesn't matter, as Bill Belichick likes to say.

[CoachBo]

so why go out of your way to trade brooks for him? Give him guaranteed money for two years??

Danny made a mistake. He said that if size was an issue with JJJ, he wouldn't have drafted him. Well, size should have been an issue, and obviously was an issue last season, to the point that Doc questioned if JJJ was even a PF at all. With narrow shoulders and thin bones, size will always be an issue for JJJ.

Brooks was probably passed on in part because Danny wanted to see Avery Bradley play a more significant role. I know that is why Danny did not bring back Delonte.

While Brooks would be a good asset for the Celtics to have, I am pretty glad that Bradley got extended playing time that he could count on, without looking over his shoulder all the time.

We certainly didn't see Danny avoid drafting a PF this year to elevate JJJ in the rotation, so you could argue Danny had more faith in Avery Bradley developing than he does with JJJ.

JJJ's best place may be with a losing team, where he can possibly get minutes. On a championship driven team, where you got drafted doesn't matter, as Bill Belichick likes to say.

Very sensible post, one of the few here on the subject of Johnson, whose future here is quite limited, in my opinion.

Definitely see him getting traded or released, as we have drafted above him.

[kozlodoev]

JJJ's NBA level skill is his off-the-charts speed running the floor and his athleticism.  I'm really hoping that Doc can find a way to utilize his skills.  I'd like to see him in the open court with Rondo more this season.  I agree, though, that if he can't get strong enough to defend in the half court, that there's little chance we'll get to see much triple J action this season.

I'm still hoping, though.

Speed running is not a skill.

[snively]

If Bass is gone, JJJ will have a strong shot at a spot in the rotation.

Wilcox or some other veteran signing would likely take Bass' spot with the starters, but it would be a contest between JJJ and Sully for the back-up PF minutes.

I'd see it playing out very similar to the Baby/Powe tag team in 2008. Both saw a decent amount of minutes at the 4 or as the pseudo-5 alongside KG. 

 

[AshyLarry]

If JJ gets even Stiemsma minutes this year, that's be a win because that shows he can contribute. Let's hope for a Bradley esque performance.

[Celtics18]

JJJ's NBA level skill is his off-the-charts speed running the floor and his athleticism.  I'm really hoping that Doc can find a way to utilize his skills.  I'd like to see him in the open court with Rondo more this season.  I agree, though, that if he can't get strong enough to defend in the half court, that there's little chance we'll get to see much triple J action this season.

I'm still hoping, though.

Speed running is not a skill.

Call it what you will.  It's certainly a valuable asset for a basketball player to have, though.

[indeedproceed]

JJJ's NBA level skill is his off-the-charts speed running the floor and his athleticism.  I'm really hoping that Doc can find a way to utilize his skills.  I'd like to see him in the open court with Rondo more this season.  I agree, though, that if he can't get strong enough to defend in the half court, that there's little chance we'll get to see much triple J action this season.

I'm still hoping, though.

Speed running is not a skill.

Did you just call something 'speed running'?

Sprinting, right? You meant sprinting?

[CFAN38]

I expect JJJ to contribute some this season. Where an AB style jump is very unlikely I do expect him to be a contributor on night where KG gets rest.

I honestly think the lack of camp / summer league hurt him a lot. Where a player like Moore is use to playing against other athletes who are bigger and stronger then him JJJ needs some time to adjust to being on the court with fellow elite athletes. With some added lower body strength and a full off season I expect JJJ to show that he can at least be a rotational big in the future.