Three questions the Celtics face heading into training camp
With training camp about to tip off, here’s what to watch for as your favorite team prepares for the 2015-16 season. Some of these questions will be answered quickly; others could linger into the regular season. Either way, here are three things that will define the first month of this new season:
Who won’t make the final 15-man roster?
The Boston Celtics have 16 guaranteed contracts on their books and need to shed at least one before opening night. To do so, they can make a trade or waive/buy someone out. If they choose the latter option, Perry Jones III, who’s owed “only” $2.03 million this year before entering free agency next July, is the clubhouse leader. But don’t sleep on the Celtics shopping Evan Turner’sexpiring $3.4 million contract around the league. Turner was an unexpected blessing last season, but his role is now mitigated by Isaiah Thomas’ full-time wizardry and Marcus Smart’s expected growth spurt. The Celtics no longer need Turner, but some other team might.
Which player(s) will be on the outside looking into Brad Stevens rotation?
Once Boston figures out who’s on the team, Brad Stevens must figure out who he wants to play. The Celtics lack star power but make up for it with arguably the deepest team in the Eastern Conference. That means a player who thinks he deserves at least 20 minutes every night will sometimes get zero. Will it be David Lee? The aforementioned Turner? James Young? Jonas Jerebko? This squad is too thick.
Will Isaiah Thomas start or come off the bench?
Heading into 2016, Isaiah Thomas is Boston’s best scorer by a fairly wide margin. Should he start or come off the bench, feast on opposing bench units and give the Celtics a nightly fourth-quarter boost? Stevens needs to figure this out sooner than later.
