Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Hunter showed promise as a rookie, but the Celtics have 16 players with guaranteed contracts and has to get rid of at least one. Of course they would love to make a trade and not take back any players in return, but if that doesn’t happen then they must waive someone.
It’s the kind of thing that could easily wear on the mind of a player, particularly one who is so young.
On the court, Hunter says it’s not an issue.
But when he’s not playing, he admits that his thoughts do turn towards his future.
“Naturally, as human beings, we’re always worried about what’s next,” Hunter said.
CSNNE – Celtics’ Hunter Tries To Make The Most Of His Minutes
There’s an old story about two hikers – we’ll call them Bill and Bob – who are in the woods and suddenly come face-to-face with a bear. Bill takes off running in the opposite direction. Bob chases after him, yelling: “Where are you going? We can’t outrun a bear!” To which Bill answers: “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you!”
Apply this tale to the Celtics training camp and the two hikers are R.J. Hunter and James Young. Maybe you could put Demetrius Jackson in there, too, but more likely the last roster spot is coming down to one of the two young wings.
In the first two preseason games, James played reasonably well while showing more aggressiveness, driving instead of settling for the three, and scrapping a bit on defense. R.J. had his best game on Saturday, with 10 points and five assists.
To be truly effective, both of them need to hit the three-point shot, and therein lies the problem: they’ve both struggled from the arc. Last year R.J. shot just 30.2% from deep and James was even worse at 23.1%. Ugh. Their difficulties are compounded by limited and sporadic playing time, but then again if they could make more shots they would get more minutes.
Maybe these guys are impressive in practice, but just based on what we’ve seen in games I’m predicting Young is going to draw the short straw. Hunter has more court awareness, is a better passer and ball handler, and appears to have more potential to contribute on the NBA level. Young is often tentative or one step behind where he should be. Although he’s confident in Maine (15.3 PPG and 35.0% from deep in 28.3 MPG for the Red Claws last season), he shrinks when playing in Boston. There are no signs of that changing, and with just four preseason games remaining, Young is running out of time.
Unfortunately, Bill Simmons’ fist pump on draft night in 2014 might be the most notable highlight of Young’s pro career.
On Page 2: Keep your shirt on, J.R. Smith isn’t coming to Boston
Hmm, according to a writer in the New York Daily News, the Celtics want to sign the free agent three-point shooter from Cleveland.
It is likely that Smith, a one-time Sixth Man of the Year with the Knicks, will re-sign with Cleveland but there are several teams that have interest in the shooting guard. One team is the Boston Celtics, whose second unit could certainly use a little scoring punch.
Barring a trade to clear cap space, the Celtics have approximately $9 million to sign Smith. He’s looking for a bigger payday, somewhere in the $15 million per season range. The Cavs are currently offering between $10 and $11 million annually. The Celtics would have to get close to $15 million for Smith to want to leave Cleveland to be a back-up to Avery Bradley.
We never know what Danny Ainge has cooking, but his judgment is better than this. Sure, J.R. has a ring and he’s got the outside shooting (40% from the arc last season) that Boston needs. But he’s a loose cannon with a history of sketchy behavior, suspensions and stupidity. He’s also hated here for cheap shots delivered on Jason Terry and Jae Crowder. Although Brad Stevens can get the best from anyone, it doesn’t seem like J.R.’s erratic personality would fit very well on this focused Celtics roster.
Put another way: he’s an a-hole. Celtics fans in general, I’ve observed, prefer to root for players who are not a-holes.
Fortunately, it seems like this report is just speculation thrown together by someone who needed to fill out his column. Other writers who are much more informed about the salary cap assure us the signing is not possible, and that the Daily News guy basically doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
The Celtics are over the cap and have 16 guaranteed contracts on the books (can only carry 15). So how exactly do they sign J.R. Smith?
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) October 9, 2016
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@MichaelVPina in what world do the Celtics have that much money to spend?
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) October 9, 2016
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Makes no sense. Celtics only have a $2.8 mill room exception left & no roster spots. Don’t know where $9 million came from https://t.co/YnxZ7s0D77
— John Karalis (@RedsArmy_John) October 9, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSo, even though this imaginary story has been picked up by every media outlet that covers the Celtics, don’t expect it to happen.
Related: CSNNE – Celtics Interested In Signing J.R. Smith? | NBC Sports – Report: Celtics have interest in J.R. Smith (but they will not sign him)
On Page 3: Ugh, no game until Thursday
Having played three games in five days, this past week was similar to the kind of schedule Boston will have once the regular season arrives. That can only help the adjustment period that all the players – not just the rookies and new guys – are going through.
Without a game until Thursday at Brooklyn, Boston will have lots of time to use the past three games as tools to learn from, in addition to steadily improving the team’s overall conditioning through practice.
There were certainly things that Boston could take away from its most recent matchup, a 104-86 win over Charlotte at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday afternoon.
But more important is what can they do in the coming days to get better.
CSNNE – Five Takeaways: Needed Preseason Break For Celtics
This isn’t fair – we all just want to watch Celtics basketball – but, yes, it will help Stevens as he continues to shape the team. And Isaiah’s sore wrist could use the rest. All right, we’ll allow it.
And, finally: Zizic!
Insane output by Boston Celtics stash Ante Zizic tonight with 37 points, 20 rebounds, 56 (!) index ratinghttps://t.co/RaDYKouAgM pic.twitter.com/LBO80c5Yqn
— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) October 9, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAnte Zizic is only 19, but he can play. He shot 14/19 from the field and 9/10 at the line, and whatever that index rating means it was impressive enough to earn an exclamation point in the tweet. Obviously, him tearing it up over there bodes well for becoming a future contributor in Boston.
The Rest of the Links:
Herald – Early on, Celtics impress rivals
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