Ramp to Camp: Who will emerge as Celtics’ tenth man this season?

Ramp to Camp: Who will emerge as Celtics’ tenth man this season? initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston

The Boston Celtics are bringing again their high 9 rotation gamers from final season’s NBA title crew, a gaggle that accounted for greater than 90 p.c of the crew’s complete minutes.

What’s extra, the Celtics misplaced solely two roster gamers from final season in Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk, a duo that mixed for little greater than 1,000 complete regular-season minutes. On paper, there’s not a whole lot of room for somebody to pry their solution to heavy rotation minutes.

Nonetheless, these departures, coupled with Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined to begin the season and a common need to tread cautiously with veteran legs, there’s seemingly a chance for at the least one different roster participant to vault right into a constant rotation presence.

So who would possibly emerge?

For the seven installment of our Ramp to Camp sequence, we requested our NBC Sports activities Boston panel to undertaking the participant most probably to emerge as Boston’s tenth man throughout the crew’s title quest.

(Try the first six installments of Ramp to Camp right here.)

Let’s begin with a rundown of the candidates (not together with two-way gamers):

• Xavier Tillman:The versatile massive man logged solely 274 complete minutes after being acquired at commerce deadline final season, however head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t afraid to name his quantity in key spots within the postseason.

• Neemias Queta: The 7-foot massive man helped patch big-man minutes at occasions final season and earned an improve to the mum or dad roster after beginning the season on a two-way deal.

• Jaden Springer: The commerce deadline acquisition is coming into his fourth season however nonetheless solely 21 years outdated. Springer has excessive defensive upside however should present progress on the offensive finish.

• Lonnie Walker IV: A shock late-summer addition who will head to camp seeking to earn a spot on the mum or dad roster. Not like some on the again finish of Boston’s roster, Walker IV has confirmed he could be a regular NBA position participant, although there’s nonetheless room to develop, significantly together with his defensive potential.

• Baylor Scheierman: The 23-year-old rookie confirmed spectacular vary in faculty however must show he can constantly knock down that shot on the professional stage.

• Jordan Walsh: Walsh logged solely 83 minutes over 9 NBA appearances as a 19-year-old rookie. He has all of the instruments to evolve right into a 3-and-D risk however the shot defied him at Summer season :eague this 12 months and he’ll must show he’s made strides from 12 months 1.

Springer ought to get each alternative to point out what he can do early within the season. He’s set to be the eighth-highest paid participant on the roster and is extension eligible. The Celtics must determine pretty shortly if they’re dedicated to his growth, or whether or not they want to lean on a extra veteran candidate like Walker IV. Springer regarded sharp in a short Summer season League cameo.

Tillman feels just like the participant most probably to see a minutes spike. After having to leap in midstream final season, he’ll get a full coaching camp with the Celtics and may really feel extra comfy in his position. Mazzulla can confidently throw him on the market to defend gamers of all styles and sizes.

Tillman’s protection will earn him time, however discovering a solution to evolve his offense might be the important thing to a constant position. He’s a profession 28.6 p.c 3-point shooter however has labored on that shot. He by no means averaged increased than seven factors per sport in his time in Memphis.

Walker IV’s wingspan offers him an opportunity to basically be this 12 months’s Brissett and an additional bench scoring choice might be an excellent factor for Boston. It’s only a matter of how Walker IV matches right here and whether or not he can push Tillman for these rotation minutes.

Listed here are our panel’s picks:

John Tomase, Columnist: Baylor Scheierman

Scheierman wasn’t only a four-year faculty participant — he put in 5. He is solely two years youthful than Jayson Tatum. That type of expertise, plus his skill to shoot and rebound, ought to at the least get him Oshae minutes.

Tom Giles, Multi-platform host: Lonnie Walker IV

Lonnie Walker IV, and never simply due to recency bias. He is a confirmed veteran who can defend and get sizzling on offense.

Max Lederman, Multi-platform producer: Baylor Scheierman

Is that this the season Brad Stevens locations the ultimate infinity stone within the gauntlet by hitting on a draft choose? It is the one space he hasn’t been elite at, however that is about to vary when Scheierman turns into the tenth man for the Celtics this season.

Scheierman’s capturing and passing ought to match proper in with Mazzulla Ball, and if he can maintain his personal on protection, look out.

Mark Hazlett, Multi-platform producer: Baylor Scheierman

I feel Scheierman will pop round higher teammates (learn: non-Summer season League), and it might be a long-term profit to get him some run.

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor: Xavier Tillman

Scheierman and Walker each have good instances for taking part in time, however I will go along with the man who noticed significant minutes in an NBA Finals. Tillman’s (relative) expertise ought to earn him a task from the bounce with Porzingis sidelined whereas additionally serving to Al Horford get some additional relaxation.

Nick Goss, Internet Producer: Lonnie Walker IV

This man can rating, whether or not it is driving to the basket or capturing higher than 35 p.c from 3-point vary. He is additionally fairly athletic and performs onerous. His protection is not wonderful, however he’ll probably be on the ground with a number of different high quality defenders, so it should not be an excessive amount of of a problem.

Each crew wants a man on the bench who can are available and get sizzling. Scoring is just not an issue from the 2018 first-round choose.

Justin Leger, Internet Producer: Xavier Tillman

Tillman appears like the appropriate selection right here. He stepped up on a number of events after being acquired finally season’s commerce deadline, each throughout the common season and the playoffs. He ought to have an elevated position this season, particularly with Porzingis sidelined and Horford in his age 38 marketing campaign.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content material: Lonnie Walker IV

Could the Fourth Be With You.