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Top Five Boston Celtics Players to Watch in Preseason

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Mar 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) looks to pass during the fourth quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics won the game 120-105. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Here are the five Boston Celtics players you should pay the most attention to in the preseason

While the Boston Celtics have made a lot of progress in terms of advancing the stability of their starting unit, the back end of their rotation is just as chaotic as it has ever been. The Celtics continue to have multiple fringe players that are fighting for final roster spots, and those are the ones that need to be watched closely this preseason.

The Celtics have multiple players that are looking to break out and cement themselves as top players this season, but that is not going to be accomplished in the preseason. The Celtics have enough players that do not need to worry about their preseason performance impacting their role in the regular season, but that does not go for everyone.

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The Celtics have some of their youngest players looking to get their first shot, and they have some veterans that still need to prove that they are capable of competing at a high enough level to make the roster.

The back court certainly has more stability. Other than Al Horford, there are a lot of undetermined roles in the front court and a lot of decisions needs to be made this preseason. Here are the five players that need to have the most attention paid to them in the preseason.

Sep 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard James Young (13) during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

James Young

There has already been a lot of talk about Young from the Celtics since training camp began. Young has spoken about his confidence and Jae Crowder also gave him a a solid boost. It feels as though there is hype around Young before every season, but he continues to come in more experienced and that can only benefit him.

Young does not need to prove that he has finally reached his offensive potential. He is still one of the youngest players on the team and it would be unrealistic to expect him to be fully developed by now, even if he is entering his third season with the team.

What Young needs to do is take after Marcus Smart a bit. Young needs to prove that he can contribute in different ways. He needs to prove that he can function in Stevens’ offense, and he needs to prove that he is not a liability on the defensive end.

Before this training camp the Celtics saw very little of that in Young, and that is exactly what they have been talking about. Young has spent enough time under Stevens and should have developed enough chemistry with his teammates by now that he can find ways to contribute.

The Celtics could use Young’s size and the position versatility that could bring. But they need him even more on the offensive end. Young does not have to be a knock down shooter, but they need to get some sort of contributions out of him. Young needs to help with the ball movement and he needs the aggressiveness that even the worst shooters on the team play with.

Young has an opportunity to prove that he now knows how to contribute for this team. The preseason is the best opportunity he is going to get with the core players on the team, and he cannot disappoint if he expects to avoid the Maine Red Claws this season.

Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Rozier

For Rozier, the roster spot has never been in question. Rozier has all the confidence he needs form the coaches and front office, and he has already done enough to have earned a role with the second unit. That being said, Rozier still has a lot to prove this preseason.

Rozier did a great job as a ball handler and an instigator on the offensive end in the summer league, and this is the first chance he will get to do that with all his teammates around him. Rozier is confident that he can take over Evan Turner‘s role, who was the primary ball hanlder on the second unit last year.

Perhaps even more important then being a good shooter, Rozier needs to prove that he can get the offense to play in rhythm with great ball movement, while staying aggressive at all times. Aggressiveness has never been an issue for Rozier. Even when he wasn’t a ball handler, Rozier was always in attack mode, constantly looking to make a play at any moment.

Rozier should have no problem establishing that aggressiveness and pace, but he needs to do more if he expects to have the kind of impact Turner did. Rozier needs to prove that he can have an impact on the quality of the opportunities and not just the quantity. Rozier cannot be forcing things all the time, and he is yet to prove that he can do that at the NBA level.

There is no doubting that Rozier will be able to contribute enough on the defensive end to have a secure role on the team. That being said, everything is up in the air on the offensive end. His shooting percentages were a nightmare last season, but the sample size was too small to make any definitive judgements based on that.

The preseason will be the first step for Rozier in establishing his role with the second unit. The preseason will not be enough on its own, but it can set the tone for how he will start the season out. If Rozier is not successful in the preseason as a ball handler, its hard to imagine him getting the majority of the opportunities to start out the season.

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Jaylen Brown (California) is interviewed after being selected as the number three overall pick to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown

Brown is a 19 year old unfinished product, but he still has an opportunity to have an impact on the Celtics. One thing the Celtics have been through this rebuilding process is patient. They know that Brown needs time to develop, but they also recognize that he can have an impact right now. His elite athleticism puts him in a unique position to be able to adapt to the NBA at such a young age.

The best thing Brown has going for him is his strength on defense. Brown has the versatility to guard position one through four for the Celtics, and he has the aggressiveness that is essential. Even if Brown struggles at time with NBA talent, he will find ways to have an impact. It feels like he has a simlar approach to Smart, and that will be the key to getting minutes in the regular season.

Preseason is the first time that Brown will be able to showcase how he is able to keep up with NBA players. It is nothing like the regular season, but the Celtics will have an idea of any kind of transition he may need.

The Celtics cannot expect much out of Brown on the offensive end, but they have shown a willingness to accommodate that. What Brown needs to do on the offensive end is prove that he can fit and be comfortable. Brown needs to be aggressive and he cannot be making the mistakes that disrupt the ball movement.

As long as Brown is able to establish some sort of comfort on the offensive end, while showing signs of an impact on the defensive end, he can earn himself a good role to start out the season for the Celtics. Brown’s roster spot seems secure but his role is completely undefined. The Celtics have almost no small forward depth behind Crowder, and Brown can certainly help in that area.

Sep 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Mickey (55) during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Mickey

The moment the Celtics gave Mickey the most lucrative rookie contract for a second round draft pick ever, the expectations for him sky rocketed. With the way he has blocked shots at every opportunity he has been given, fans are itching to see Mickey finally get his chance in the NBA.

The Celtics need front court depth and that is going to be the most important thing in the preseason. The Celtics need to find the final players for their roster and Kelly Olynyk is the only front court player on the second unit that can be confident in his role without anything in the preseason.

Mickey is one of the young players that has a chance to finally surpass the others. The Celtics get a huge boost to their interior defense with Horford, but the second unit has little resistance on the inside. Olynyk is capable but not great. Tyler Zeller has been disastrous, and Jonas Jerebko does not have the size to be a real rim protector. Mickey can be one of the big missing pieces to the second unit, and he could make their defense truly great.

The Celtics know they have defense in their back court with Smart and Rozier, and Mickey is the only one that has the potential to round them out and give them balance. Of course, Mickey still has not had the opportunity to prove himself in the NBA, and he needs to earn that opportunity this preseason.

If Mickey separates himself in the preseason, then the Celtics will have to give him one of those roster spots. Mickey has been in the NBA before, but has never really played much more than garbage time. The preseason may not determine the extent of his minutes, but if he fails to capitalize in the preseason, there is little chance he will get his first opportunity in the NBA.

Mar 9, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard R.J. Hunter (28) shoots for three points against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin (10) in the second half at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated Memphis 116-96. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

R.J Hunter

Hunter has been in a position similar to Mickey’s. He has spent time in the NBA, but has never been given a legitimate role. The Celtics have solid guard depth with Smart and Rozier, but Hunter has an opportunity to fit in somewhere behind them.

The Celtics need offense on the second unit, and they cannot afford to ignore Hunter if he can have an impact as a shooter. He gives them size, but that has not been quite enough on the defensive end. Hunter has looked comfortable as a passer, but has never lived up to his hype as a three point shooter.

If Hunter finds his stoke in the preseason, then he will be a great candidate for that final roster spot. Hunter can offer the Celtics something they don’t have a lot of on the second unit, but there are a lot of guards that could get the spot over him. Brown could get minutes at the two and Gerald Green is also there behind Smart and Rozier. Hunter needs to find a way to separate himself from those players, and the best way for him to do that is as a three point shooter.

The Celtics have great guard depth and it will be difficult for Hunter to break his way into the rotation, but he will get his share of opportunities in the preseason. Hunter still needs time to develop on the defensive end and that is an area he needs to contribute in if he wants to get minutes in the regular season.

His three point shooting could end up being one of the more important things to watch in the preseason. It could get him that role, but if he struggles that could guarantee him a spot on the Red Claws.

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