Ramp to Camp: Who will emerge as the Celtics’ 10th man this season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics brings back its top nine rotation players of last season’s NBA title team, a group that accounted for more than 90 percent of the team’s total minutes.
In addition, the Celtics lost only two roster players from last season in Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk, a duo that combined for just over 1,000 total regular-season minutes. On paper, there isn’t much room for someone to work their way into heavy rotation minutes.
However, those departures, coupled with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined to start the season and a general desire to tread carefully with veteran legs, is seemingly an opportunity for at least one other roster player to jump into a consistent rotation presence.
So who could appear?
For the seven transmission of ours Ramp to Camp series, we asked our NBC Sports Boston panel to project the player most likely to emerge as Boston’s 10th man during the team’s title quest.
(Check the first six installments of Ramp to Camp here.)
Let’s start with a summary of the candidates (not including two-way players):
Xavier Tillman: The versatile big man logged just 274 total minutes after being acquired at the trade deadline last season, but head coach Joe Mazzulla hasn’t been afraid to call his number in key spots in the postseason.
Nehemiah Ketha: The 7-foot big man helped patch in big minutes at times last season and earned an upgrade to the parent roster after starting the season on a two-way deal.
Jaden Springer: The trade deadline acquisition is entering his fourth season but still only 21 years old. Springer has high defensive upside but needs to show growth on the offensive end.
Lonnie Walker IV: A surprising late summer addition who will go to camp looking to earn a spot on the parent list. Unlike some in the back end of Boston’s roster, Walker IV has proven that he can be a consistent NBA role player, though there is still room to grow, especially with his defensive potential.
Baylor Scheierman: The 23-year-old rookie showed impressive range in college but must prove he can consistently knock down that shot at the pro level.
Jordan Walsh: Walsh logged just 83 minutes over nine NBA appearances as a 19-year-old rookie. He has all the tools to develop into a 3-and-D threat but the shot defied him at Summer :eague this year and he will have to prove that he has made strides from Year 1.
Springer should have every opportunity to show what he can do early in the season. He is set to be the eighth highest paid player on the roster and is eligible for an extension. The Celtics need to decide fairly quickly if they are committed to his development, or if they prefer to lean on a more veteran candidate like Walker IV. Springer looked sharp in a brief Summer League cameo.
Tillman feels the player will most likely see a minutes spike. After having to jump in the middle of last season, he will get a full training camp with the Celtics and should feel more comfortable in his role. Mazzulla can confidently throw him out there to defend players of all shapes and sizes.
Tillman’s defense will buy him time, but finding a way to develop his offense could be the key to a consistent role. He is a career 28.6 percent 3-point shooter but has worked on that shot. He never averaged higher than seven points per game in his time in Memphis.
Walker IV’s wingspan gives him a chance to basically be this year’s Brissett and an extra bench scoring option could be a good thing for Boston. It’s just a matter of how Walker IV fits in here and if he can push Tillman for those rotation minutes.
Here are our panel’s picks:
John ThomasColumnist: Baylor Scheierman
Scheierman wasn’t just a four-year varsity player — he put in five. He is only two years younger than Jayson Tatum. That kind of experience, in addition to his ability to shoot and rebound, should at least get him Oshae minutes.
Tom GilesMulti-platform host: Lonnie Walker IV
Lonnie Walker IV, and not just because of recent bias. He’s a proven veteran who can defend and get hot on offense.
Max LedermanMultiplatform producer: Baylor Scheierman
Is this the season Brad Stevens puts the final infinity stone in the glove hitting draft? It’s the only area he hasn’t been elite at, but that’s about to change when Scheierman becomes the 10th man for the Celtics this season.
Scheierman’s shooting and passing should fit right in with Mazzulla Ball, and if he can hold his own defense, watch out.
Mark Hazlett, Multiplatform producer: Baylor Scheierman
I think Scheierman will emerge better teammates (read: non-Summer League), and it would be a long-term benefit to get him some running.
Darren HartwellManaging Editor: Xavier Tillman
Scheierman and Walker both have good cases for playing time, but I’ll go with the guy who saw significant NBA Finals minutes. Tillman’s (relative) experience should earn him a jumpstart role with Porzingis sidelined while also helping Al Horford get some extra rest.
Nick GossOnline Producer: Lonnie Walker IV
This guy can score, whether it’s driving to the basket or shooting better than 35 percent from 3-point range. He is also quite athletic and plays hard. His defense isn’t amazing, but he’ll likely be on the floor with several other quality defenders, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Every team needs a guy on the bench who can come in and get hot. Scoring isn’t the 2018 first-round pick’s problem.
Justin LegerOnline Producer: Xavier Tillman
Tillman feels like the right choice here. He stepped up several times after being acquired at last season’s trade deadline, both during the regular season and the playoffs. He should have an increased role this season, especially with Porzingis sidelined and Horford in his age-38 campaign.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content: Lonnie Walker IV
May the Fourth Be With You.
