Summer League Wrap-up: Takeaways from the Summer Celtics

The Summer season Celtics have wrapped up play in Las Vegas. Boston completed with a 3-2 file within the desert, however Summer season League isn’t actually about wins and losses. It’s concerning the gamers and their improvement.

With that stated, right here’s some Takeaways from every of the 12 gamers who appeared in Summer season League video games for Boston. We’re going to depend them down so as of curiosity, primarily based off the not-so-scientific methodology of Twitter mentions and article feedback. Right here we go!

· Sam Hauser: Hauser began the summer time as the one rostered participant for the Celtics. He was shortly joined by J.D. Davison, however Hauser was the one we initially had our eyes on.

Summer season League was a little bit of a bust for Hauser. He performed poorly within the first sport, however then discovered his stroke within the second sport. After that, we didn’t see Hauser play.

In actuality, Summer season League isn’t the place for Hauser to shine. He’s a shooter and the glorified pickup nature of Las Vegas works extra for ballhandlers and drivers than shooters. It could have been good to see Hauser perform a little extra off-the-dribble work, however it’s what it’s. We’ll get a way of how a lot he’s improved this fall in coaching camp and preseason.

· Juhann Begarin: Begarin is available in as nonetheless considerably of a “Man of Thriller” for Boston. Begarin has been stashed in France for 2 seasons, so he’s been a little bit of out of sight, out of thoughts. However Begarin popped athletically as soon as once more in Vegas.

The 19-year-old wing was capable of overpower defenders together with his pace and energy. That combo obtained Begarin to the rim repeatedly, whereas he additionally racked up a great quantity of free throw makes an attempt too. Defensively, Begarin is a bit misplaced. However he’s very, very younger, so that can enhance in time. He has all of the bodily instruments to be a great defender.

On the draw back, Begarin didn’t present a lot as a shooter. His pullup jumper wants a number of work. He appears to be like assured capturing spot-ups, however his kind is a bit inconsistent. His proper elbow tends to fly out as he will get into his shot. He’s additionally a large number as a passer. Begarin will look higher in a structured system than one which depends on him to create a lot in transition and semi-transition.

Total, Begarin appears to be like like he’s going to be an NBA participant…finally. He’ll in all probability keep abroad for one more 12 months and get extra seasoning. That ought to bode properly for each Begarin and the Celtics.

· J.D. Davison: The 2022 second-round decide didn’t disappoint. If something, he confirmed up higher than anybody might have fairly anticipated. Davison was Boston’s different rostered participant to look in Las Vegas, after he signed a Two-Means shortly earlier than play began.

The objectives for Davison have been to indicate that he might play underneath management, run an offense and that his defensive expertise would translate to the NBA sport.

Verify. Verify. And test.

At occasions, the Alabama product overwhelmed opponents together with his pace and athleticism, however it wasn’t the one factor in his bag of tips. Davison did a pleasant job of operating the offense within the halfcourt. Sure, the turnovers have been nonetheless a bit excessive, however that’s a part of the deal in Summer season League. Much more encouraging have been the 8.2 assists per sport that Davison averaged.

On protection, Davison has all the abilities to be a pressure. He’s each fast sufficient to remain in entrance of just about everybody, but additionally robust sufficient to take contact with out getting thrown off. His instincts for steals and blocks are off the charts.

Davison must log some G League time, which is why he’s on a Two-Means. The Celtics even have nice guard depth with the massive membership. However, in time, Davison appears to be like like he’ll play himself off his Two-Means deal and onto a regular one. Subsequent up? Let’s see if the nice capturing from Summer season League interprets to the G League. If that’s the case, Boston has a possible steal of their 2022 second rounder.

· Mfiondu Kabengele: Kabengele was somebody Celtics followers have been actually enthusiastic about, and he delivered. Sufficient in order that Boston signed Kabengele to their second Two-Means spot. And that feels about proper for the place the massive man is at.

Kabengele isn’t actually a middle, however he can type of maintain his personal there. He’s far more of a stretch-4 proper now. And that’s simply positive. Kabengele confirmed a pleasant inside-outside combo on offense. He’s obtained good contact on his jumper. He’s a stable finisher, however wants a bit extra craft inside. If it’s not a catch and go straight up play, Kabengele will get himself in hassle a bit across the rim.

On protection, he’s a stable rebounder. The larger bigs have been capable of muscle Kabengele inside at occasions. He’s a great athlete with good size, so recovering for blocks was a talent, however that’s not one thing you may depend on within the NBA. One thing else to look at? Probably due to his lack of bulk, Kabengele is a foul machine. He averaged 4.4 fouls per sport in 24.5 minutes in Vegas. That should get cleaned up.

Kabengele ought to do properly in Maine, and that can earn him call-ups if a daily Boston large is unavailable. However he’s not fairly prepared to carry down a real backup spot but. So, the Celtics will in all probability discover a veteran large man, whereas Kabengele continues to hone his sport in Maine.

· Trevon Williams: The “different” large man was somebody a number of Boston followers needed to see. Williams flashed some expertise, however he appeared like he’s a good distance away from contributing within the NBA.

On the plus facet, Williams can actually move the ball. That’s a fantastic match for the Celtics, who prefer to run a number of offense by means of their large males. He’s additionally a reasonably robust rebounder.

On the draw back, Williams’ is floor sure. His protection is all about positioning, however he’s additionally a bit gradual afoot. If he will get a physique into somebody, they gained’t transfer him. However athletic bigs gave him some hassle.

On offense, as a result of he’s not a fantastic athlete, Williams must be higher about utilizing his energy to create house for his finishes. And his jumper wants a number of work.

Williams must log a great quantity of G League time. There’s a participant in there for certain. Boston ought to attempt to get him to camp on an Exhibit 10 deal, after which off to Maine when the preseason ends.

· Matt Ryan: Final season’s Two-Means gamers have been type of the forgotten males for the Summer season Celtics. A minimum of at first. They aren’t shiny and new, nor are they rostered gamers.

However Matt Ryan did a great job reminding everybody that he can play in a brief period of time. It was solely two video games, however Ryan was the very best participant for the Summer season Celtics. He shot the ball nice, together with a game-winner on a wild rush up the court docket.

Sadly, Ryan damage his ankle on that play and that was it for the summer time. The silver lining? Ryan was reportedly properly sufficient to play once more later in Vegas, however Boston selected to carry him out. That’s normally a great signal of issues to come back contractually.

If Ryan can maintain his personal defensively, and that’s a really actual query, he might be an NBA participant. He’s obtained the shot to earn taking part in time. Ryan does an amazing job getting himself sq. when he goes up, and he’s nice about transferring off the ball. He’s additionally a stable ball-mover.

As a result of Boston has three normal common season roster spots to fill, search for Ryan to get one among them on {a partially} assured deal. Then, he can spend the 12 months studying from Danilo Gallinari and Grant Williams play on each ends of the ground.

· Brodric Thomas: Thomas was Boston’s different Two-Means participant from final season. He was proper up there for the very best Summer season Celtics. Thomas is an NBA-level athlete and he can maintain his personal on each ends.

On offense, Thomas shot it very well. He confirmed a bit extra off-the-bounce sport than he’s proven earlier than. Thomas additionally did a great job in creating for others.

Defensively, Thomas has the dimensions and quickness at hand with most offensive gamers. A number of of the stronger gamers are capable of muscle him off pictures, however Thomas has the size to nonetheless contest towards most guys.

Familiarity and open roster spots ought to get Thomas no less than a camp contract. There’s an opportunity he makes the roster out of camp on {a partially} assured deal, as properly.

· A.J. Reeves: Most Summer season League groups usher in no less than one native child as a feel-good story. That was Reeves for Boston. He didn’t get an opportunity to play a lot. Nonetheless don’t be shocked if Reeves pops up as a short camp signing, with the concept of getting him to Maine as an Affiliate Participant. Wings with dimension which have potential are in demand, so the Celtics would do properly to maintain working with the Boston native.

· Jordan Bone: Bone was mainly in Vegas to be J.D. Davison’s backup. And Bone performed that position fairly properly. He can run an offense. He hangs in there defensively. However Bone can’t shoot. That’s finally what’s going to maintain him within the G League or taking part in abroad.

· Justin Jackson: Jackson was a late addition to the Summer season Celtics, however he made probably the most of it. Jackson is 27 years outdated and has 5 years of NBA expertise, so he ought to present up very well in Las Vegas. There’s an opportunity he will get a non-guaranteed, camp deal from Boston. You are able to do worse than including a wing with dimension to compete for a backend roster spot.

· Robert Franks: Franks was one other later addition. He’s already signed for subsequent season with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s NBL. Primarily, Franks would have wanted to dominate in Las Vegas to have an actual NBA shot. He performed positive in his restricted motion, however he’ll head off to Australia with the hopes of displaying out and incomes an NBA shot later this season or subsequent.

· Aubrey Dawkins: Dawkins was the final of the late additions. He’s obtained good dimension for a wing, however Dawkins did not shoot properly sufficient to actually pop for the Summer season Celtics.

Dawkins performed very well in Turkey final 12 months, and he’ll in all probability get a pleasant abroad provide. If not, he’s a good candidate to indicate up within the G League. At 27 years outdated, NBA alternatives are in all probability a bit fleeting for Dawkins.