Final Cut: Who makes the 17-man roster

[TheSundanceKid]

Not sure where this Yabu was supposed to be overseas notion comes from, other than from posters on this board. Adam Kaufman said the plan all along was to bring him over, and Austin Ainge said months ago that Yabu was playing for us this year.

It came from the difficulties we were having getting to max cap space. Also from the idea that his game is still very raw and he could probably use another year of developing elsewhere before we throw millions at him.

It just seems like a waste of a year of his contract to me. He's essentially going to replace Mickey's role as benchwarmer...

Aside from the comment Ainge made about Yab, has there been any progression on him coming over?

I don't really understand our desire to bring him over this year. He'll be buried at the bottom of the depth chart, behind Theis and Morris. It will also mean missing out on either Green or Nader/Jackson. Not a huge impact but it would be nice to keep a vet presence or develop Nader and see what we've got.

Yab would probably accept another season overseas as well given that appears to have been the plan previously. I just don't get the rush to bring him here.

I think your assumption at the end informs your opinion at the beginning.  I think we on this board assumed that was the case, but that may not have been the understanding between Yabusele and the Celtics.  The door is still open to him playing overseas another year as he hasn't signed, but it's a bit more complex than you make it out to be.

Fair enough, I suppose I got used to that assumption. As I've said to ETN though, he's a benchwarmer this year and I feel that's a bit of a waste of one of his low cost years. That's a problem for the Cs not him though.

[TheSundanceKid]

Also if Yab stayed overseas wouldn't we have the space to sign Nader and Semi to longer contracts? That would surely be beneficial to us?

[saltlover]

Also if Yab stayed overseas wouldn't we have the space to sign Nader and Semi to longer contracts? That would surely be beneficial to us?

We already have the cap space to sign one to a long-term deal, presumably Semi.  As I don't think Nader makes the roster anyway, it's moot that there won't be the room to sign him to one this year.

Essentially the choice is Yab on the Celtics and Nader on a two-way, in Maine, or overseas, or Yab overseas or in Maine, and Nader on the Celtics.  The long-term rights can be preserved of the one that isn't on the roster, and if the Celtics want to go with the guy they picked 16th over the guy they picked 58th, that doesn't seem too controversial.

[kraidstar]

Jackson should be cut IMO.

After watching him, Nader, and Yab play last year for the Claws, I think he has the lowest ceiling by far of the three.

He is a legit PG - aside from that he doesn't have much going for him. There is literally no aspect to his game that looks like it will ever be as good as an average NBA player.

He is basically Phil Pressey 2.0. We can get a replacement for him easily, the D-league is full of guys like Jackson.

I don't see us keeping him unless Brad and Danny really want another PG on the roster.

Nader, Yab, Semi, and even Bird look like they have unique skills and are just a couple steps away from being solid NBA players. All these back of the bench guys are unlikely to play much; might as well go with the guys who have upside.

[Darío SpanishFan]

Jackson should be cut IMO.

After watching him, Nader, and Yab play last year for the Claws, I think he has the lowest ceiling by far of the three.

He is a legit PG - aside from that he doesn't have much going for him. There is literally no aspect to his game that looks like it will ever be as good as an average NBA player.

He is basically Phil Pressey 2.0. We can get a replacement for him easily, the D-league is full of guys like Jackson.

I don't see us keeping him unless Brad and Danny really want another PG on the roster.

Nader, Yab, Semi, and even Bird look like they have unique skills and are just a couple steps away from being solid NBA players. All these back of the bench guys are unlikely to play much; might as well go with the guys who have upside.

Now we are on a developmental stage where we have also to look at their floors.

[kozlodoev]

The only thing that Jackson may have going for him is that he's less redundant than Nader, roster-wise. Neither of the two will ever outplay the guys ahead of them in the rotation, but Jackson has a marginally higher chance to be called into action due to injury. Not sure this will be relevant though.

[jay]

IT  Smart  Rozier  Allen
Hayward  Brown  Bird
Crowder  Tatum  Ojeleye
Morris   Yabusele 
Horford  Baynes  Theis  Zizic

That's 14 plus the two 2-way deals. I penciled in Allen and Bird.  I still think that 15th spot could go to another PF.  Nader and Jackson could end up being waived. There could even be a chance Gerald Green is brought back if they decide to go with another guard. He may be more valuable to them in a vet leadership role than having Jackson or Nader ride the bench.

[jay]

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885853754628739072

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885854031763173380

[Forza Juventus]

In
1   Baynes
2   Brown
3   Crowder
4   Hayward
5   Horford
6   Morris
7   Ojeleye
8   Rozier
9   Smart
10   Tatum
11   Thomas
12   Zizic

Bubble
13   Nader
14   Theis
15   Yabusele
   
2 Way
16   Allen
17   Bird
   
Out
   Jackson

Ojeleye has made it if you read BCS' comments about his defense. Has no problem with his NBA 3 either.

Otherwise, Jackson vs one of the 3 players I have on the bubble seems like the main issue. In favor of Jackson is that he's played a bit better, he's on a contract, and the Cs only have 3 PGs (IT, TR, MS), which is one less player who could play the position than center (AB, AH, AZ, and Theis in a pinch.)

As for the 3 on the bubble, I think they know what they have in the Euro vet Theis, but I have him on the bubble since they have not seen him play against this group and he's on a minimum contract supposedly. Cs have supposedly promised to bring over Yabu (who is not signed however). Nader has been better than Jackson and is reigning D-League ROY. Think he's the last in.

I agree with this

[kozlodoev]

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885853754628739072

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885854031763173380

His math doesn't work out. Is he not counting Theis?

[ssspence]

The only thing that Jackson may have going for him is that he's less redundant than Nader, roster-wise. Neither of the two will ever outplay the guys ahead of them in the rotation, but Jackson has a marginally higher chance to be called into action due to injury. Not sure this will be relevant though.

But if Allen is had on a two-way contract, could be not be called in due to said injury? Or we could likely sign Jackson to such a contract after we waive him?

It seems a shame to keep Jackson over Nader.

[saltlover]

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885853754628739072

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885854031763173380

His math doesn't work out. Is he not counting Theis?

Either Theis or Ojeleye.  But it's wanting all the same.

[saltlover]

The only thing that Jackson may have going for him is that he's less redundant than Nader, roster-wise. Neither of the two will ever outplay the guys ahead of them in the rotation, but Jackson has a marginally higher chance to be called into action due to injury. Not sure this will be relevant though.

But if Allen is had on a two-way contract, could be not be called in due to said injury? Or we could likely sign Jackson to such a contract after we waive him?

It seems a shame to keep Jackson over Nader.

You could also sign Nader to a two-way contract.  I personally think that is the likely outcome, and I'd expect Nader is actually on the Celtics 15-man roster more days than Jackson despite the two-way designation.

[Tr1boy]

Imo Lineup

Horford
Morris
Hayward
Smart
IT4

Baynes
Crowder
Tatum
Brown
Rozier

Reserves
Theis
Jackson
Yabu

Sent down to g league
Semi
Zizic

Two way
Bird
R. Allen

[kozlodoev]

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885853754628739072

https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/885854031763173380

His math doesn't work out. Is he not counting Theis?

Either Theis or Ojeleye.  But it's wanting all the same.

Technically,  Ojeleye doesn't have a guaranted (or any sort of) contract, really. So this makes sense. But I can't imagine the team bringing back Green over him.