Celtics currently have too many bodies for training camp after recent agreements
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Danny Ainge & Brad Stevens | Photo: Christopher Evans/Boston Herald |
After former Auburn guard, Bryce Brown, signed a contract with the Boston Celtics earlier this week, the Celtics now have agreed to terms with 21 bodies for camp. The maximum slots allowed for camp are 20, so something has got to give. Camp starts on Tuesday, October 1st.
Preciate you family.💯✊🏽 https://t.co/840gPoHa1W— Bryce Brown (@Bwb_2) September 24, 2019
The signing of Brown comes on the heels of the C’s agreeing to a deal with former Heat forward, Yante Maten. As Boston.com reports, a contract has not yet been signed with Menton. Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe points out that as long as a player is on the team for a portion of camp, they can be assigned to the G-League affiliate.
The Celtics reportedly will sign former SEC Player of the Year winner Yante Maten to an Exhibit 10 contract. https://t.co/vTXMKBgodq pic.twitter.com/oXwbY6Ni2y
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) September 18, 2019
It seems as if the Celtics will do some roster maneuvering to get both of these players on the Maine Red Claws for the upcoming season. NBA teams can carry up to 15 players on their active roster plus two two-way contracts. The rest of the players in camp will be seeking employment elsewhere or can be assigned to the Celtics G-League affiliate.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the Celtics current roster, including recent camp filler spots:
Locks for big minutes:
1. Kemba Walker
2. Marcus Smart
3. Jaylen Brown
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Gordon Hayward
6. Enes Kanter
Virtual locks for the roster:
7. Robert Williams III
8. Romeo Langford
9. Grant Williams
10. Carsen Edwards
11. Daniel Theis
12. Semi Ojeleye
13. Vincent Poirier
Likely to make final roster:
14. Brad Wannamaker
Current two-way contracts:
15. Tremont Waters
16. Max Strus
Non-guaranteed or other deals:
17. Tacko Fall
18. Javonte Green
19. Bryce Brown
20. Kaiser Gates
21. Yante Maten
Right now it seems pretty clear who the first 14 players will be on the Celtics roster. Often times, teams will carry just 14 players so they have roster wiggle room, so the final spot may not be filled with a player right away.
If the C’s decide to fill that roster spot, Tacko Fall seems like a likely candidate. Javonte Green could pop in camp and provide wing depth after a nice Summer League. Another possibility is if one of the two-way contracts, like Tremont Waters, plays well and earns the final roster spot. This would then mean the C’s would sign another player to a two-way deal.
If Tacko Fall doesn't make the Celtics' opening night roster, what happens next? https://t.co/knkOuAjVfI pic.twitter.com/ji0WJCzV6N
— NESN (@NESN) September 25, 2019
Another thing to consider is that while any player is an affiliate player, they are considered a free agent and can be signed away by another team. My point here is that if the Celtics really like a player, and Fall seems like a candidate, it makes sense to protect him by giving him a roster spot or moving another player so he can assume a two-way spot.
Players listed 14-21 above aren’t likely to have an impactful NBA career, but there is a lot of value to have a good development stream. Some players are late-bloomers, but at the very least, it is always helpful to reach into the organizational depth to get the team through a week or so in an emergency.
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