When the February 9 commerce deadline wrapped up, the Boston Celtics, who had simply added Mike Muscala, nonetheless had an open roster spot to fill, courtesy of buying and selling away Noah Vonleh in January.
The rapid thought course of noticed somebody like Terrence Ross or Danny Inexperienced being the perfect goal, however virtually as quickly as they hit free company, one other crew swooped down and swiped them off the market. Though, Will Barton – who has been floated as a possible buyout candidate, was lately introduced out of his contract and nonetheless stays a viable choice for Boston.
In fact, whoever the Celtics select to herald with their fifteenth roster spot, the first thought is that they supply cowl for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, whereas additionally permitting Joe Mazzulla to barely cut back their minutes over the ultimate stretch of the season. Nonetheless, instantly, the buyout market is offering slim pickings for a crew that’s in want of extra wing depth, particularly while you issue within the restricted position on provide.
Throughout a latest interview on WEEI’s The Greg Hill present, Wyc Grousbeck touched on Boston’s restricted choices and even went so far as to say how such a small position may very well be limiting the Celtics’ probabilities of buying a real impact-maker, no matter having the higher hand in contract negotiations as a result of Danilo Gallinari Disabled Participant Exception.
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“I’d be very shocked if we went into the playoffs with an open roster spot, don’t assume that’s going to occur. There’s a query whether or not you signal folks to 10-day contracts to examine them out in the event that they’re prepared to simply accept a job the place the crew’s fairly deep, so there will not be quite a lot of minutes. Folks don’t essentially wish to signal for that. It may not be good for his or her profession,” Grousbeck mentioned.
So, if we function beneath the idea that Barton may even signal elsewhere and that Boston can’t see any worth within the present crop of free brokers, then maybe it’s time to look a little bit nearer to residence on the expertise that has been creating of their system all season lengthy. I’m speaking, after all, concerning the gamers presently residing with the Maine Celtics.
Let’s check out among the obtainable expertise and the way they might probably help the Celtics between now and the top of the season.
Tony Snell
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Tony Snell, 31, is probably the most skilled of the gamers presently residing in Maine, boasting 601 regular-season NBA video games and an extra 47 playoff appearances. Importantly, Snell has hung out enjoying at each the capturing guard and small ahead positions.
Is Snell an ideal match? In fact not — however relating to the ultimate roster spot on a contending crew, you don’t must be good, simply serviceable.
With a profession 39.4% three-point conversion price and sufficient expertise to not be a turnstile on protection, Snell is a ready-made end-of-bench choice for Boston and has already been getting reps of their growth system, so ought to slot seamlessly into what they’re attempting to realize schematically.
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Moreover, Snell began 12 video games final season, 10 of them coming for the Portland TrailBlazers, so there ought to be no considerations if he wants to soak up an even bigger position within the occasional recreation between now and the playoffs.
Denzel Valentine
Much like Snell, Denzel Valentine is able to enjoying each the two and the three, and has appreciable NBA expertise, racking up 256 video games and a complete of 4817 minutes on an NBA courtroom all through regular-season play. At 29 years previous, Valentine is barely youthful than Snell however is much less prolific from deep and is 2 inches shorter than his veteran counterpart.
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Nonetheless, Valentine is a profession position participant and should discover it simpler to abdomen a restricted position on the top of a crew’s bench than Snell would; the query is, would he be as dependable when known as upon? My guess is sure, offered the minutes are restricted and position is well-defined.
Luka Samanic
My private decide of the bunch, Luka Samanic, has the entire traits that you really want from a stretch-four. With a handsome three-point stroke, a dependable face-up recreation, and a creating back-to-the-basket offensive bag, Samanic has been producing for the Maine Celtics this season. Averaging 22.3 factors on 37.2% capturing from deep, Samanic may fill a catch-and-shoot or pick-and-pop position in a pinch.
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Nonetheless, it’s honest to imagine that Mike Muscala’s arrival across the commerce deadline has all however eliminated the necessity for Samanic this season, particularly as he wouldn’t present any cowl on the spots of want — capturing guard and small ahead. As such, we shouldn’t count on to see Samanic on the Celtics roster this season.
JD Davison
He may nonetheless be uncooked, however JD Davison has been creating at a fast tempo with the Maine Celtics and is arguably one of many higher playmakers within the G-League this season. Nonetheless, one factor Boston doesn’t want is one other guard. As such, if Davison was to get his shot on the NBA on a full-time deal, he must modify his position, and whereas that may very well be good for reps at the next stage, it may not be nice for his long-term growth.
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You see, Davison is smart for the Celtics if he can occupy an identical position to what Javonte Inexperienced did throughout his time with the crew. An athletic finisher who can inject explosiveness, velocity, a sprinkling of ball-handling, and an extra block menace across the rim. Davison is capturing 34.1% from three this season on simply 2.4 makes an attempt per recreation, so his restricted ground spacing may very well be a stumbling block. Nonetheless, that may very well be counteracted with some inverted display and roll actions.
I actually like the concept of Davison in a Inexperienced position, however I’m unsure what that does for the general growth of his recreation versus remaining with Maine for the rest of the season.
Conclusion
As you’ll be able to see, there are actually some precious commodities presently residing in Maine who may all step in to fill the fifteenth roster spot and supply some worth in an outlined position if and when they’re wanted.
In fact, Brad Stevens ought to proceed scouring the market earlier than turning his consideration nearer to residence, however typically, it’s higher the satan, you already know (as they are saying), particularly once we’re not speaking about seeking to purchase a major rotation man who’s going to tip the scales a technique or one other.
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Having a lot expertise in Maine is a testomony to the work being put in from each iterations of the Celtics, as lately reported by CelticsBlog’s Jack Simone, and that ought to put our minds comfortable if Stevens does determine to cherry-pick somebody out of Boston’s G-League crew.
A man died in an explosion at his home in Molunkus, Maine, Friday afternoon, fire officials said.
Kerry Holmes, 66, is believed to have died in a propane torch incident about 3 p.m. on Aroostock Road, the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office said.
The explosion took place after a propane torch Holmes was using to thaw a commercial truck’s frozen water tank went out, leading to the build-up of propane gas around the tank, officials said. It’s believed a second torch ignited the explosion.
First responders pronounced Holmes dead at the scene, officials said. The investigation was ongoing as of Friday night.
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Molunkus is a small town about an hour north of Bangor.
A recent article about the decline of youth hockey participation in Maine raised important concerns, but also overlooked key dynamics and solutions that could help the sport thrive (“Maine youth ice hockey is losing players. No one is sure how to stop it,” Jan. 10).
As the president of Midcoast Youth Hockey – Junior Polar Bears, I see a very different picture in our region. Our program experienced 146% growth last season and is approaching another 25% growth this season. These numbers paint a clear picture. The issue is not a lack of interest in hockey — it’s a lack of available ice time and modern facilities to meet growing demand.
Youth hockey programs across Maine are thriving when they have the resources and ice time to do so. The challenge isn’t that kids aren’t interested in hockey or that families can’t afford the sport — it’s that many families are forced to make difficult decisions because ice time is scarce and facilities are outdated.
In our region, competition for ice time is fierce. Every single arena is operating at or near capacity, juggling youth hockey, high school teams, clinics, camps and college programs. When rinks close or fail to modernize, the ripple effect forces players and families to drive 30 to 60 minutes — often in the early morning or late at night — to find practice and game slots. This is not sustainable. As I always say, “The only thing that could negatively impact demand for ice time is a lack of ice time.”
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The article’s focus on high school hockey teams consolidating misses a larger reality. Many players are shifting to club hockey because it offers more ice time, better coaching and higher levels of competition. This is not about cost. Families are investing more in hockey because it brings their kids joy and growth opportunities. What’s needed is a solution to make hockey accessible and sustainable for all levels of play — not just those who can afford to travel to other regions.
The closing of several rinks over the past decade, while concerning, doesn’t signal a lack of interest in hockey. It highlights the need for better-designed facilities that can meet demand and operate sustainably. Single-sheet rinks are no longer viable — they lack the capacity to host tournaments or generate the revenue needed for long-term operations.
A dual-surface facility, strategically located in Brunswick, would be a game-changer for the Midcoast region. It would not only meet the growing demand for ice time but also provide an economic boost to the community. Dual-surface facilities have the capacity to host regional tournaments, clinics and recreational leagues, generating $1.4 million to $2.2 million annually in economic activity. This model has been proven successful in other parts of the country, where public-private partnerships have enabled towns to build and operate financially viable arenas.
A new dual-surface facility in Brunswick wouldn’t just serve youth hockey. It would also support middle and high school teams, adult recreation leagues, figure skating and adaptive skating programs. Programs like adaptive skating, especially for veterans with disabilities, honor Brunswick’s military heritage while making skating more inclusive.
This type of investment solves two problems at once. It ensures local players have access to sufficient ice time, reducing the need for long drives, and it helps prevent the consolidation of high school teams by supporting feeder programs. The numbers don’t lie — when kids have the chance to play, participation grows.
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We need to stop thinking about hockey as a sport in decline and start addressing the real barriers to growth: limited ice time and outdated facilities. Rather than pulling back on investment in rinks, we need to move forward with smarter, community-driven solutions. A dual-surface arena in Brunswick is one such solution, and it’s time for government and business leaders to work together to make it happen.
The article noted a lack of a “plan to build hockey back up.” Here’s the plan: Build the infrastructure, and the players will come. Hockey isn’t fading — it’s waiting for the ice.
Chas Sharpe and Tristan Ashbrook both scored twice, and the Cincinnati Cyclones broke open a close game with four goals in the final 11 minutes as they earned a 6-1 ECHL win Friday night against the Maine Mariners in Cincinnati.
Sharpe got the go-ahead goal at 13:57 of the second.
Chase Zieky scored a power-play goal on Maine’s only shot in the second period. Cincinnati outshot the Mariners, 27-10.