Category: Boston Celtics Blog

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned rookies Dwight Powell and James Young to the Maine Red Claws.

Powell, a 6’11” forward out of Stanford, appeared in six contests for the Celtics during the preseason and averaged 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game over that span.

Young, a 6’6” guard/forward out of Kentucky, appeared in two games for the team during the preseason and averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal in 22.7 minutes per game. He made his NBA debut against the Houston Rockets on November 1 and has averaged 4.5 points in 4.7 minutes over his two appearances this season.

While winning their season opener tonight, Boston Celtics exercised contract options on Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, Tyler Zeller

The Boston Celtics have exercised their third-year option on forward Kelly Olynyk, and their fourth-year options on forward Jared Sullinger and center/forward Tyler Zeller.

The Celtics started their regular season in style this evening at home, beating the Brooklyn Nets 121-105. Point guard Rajon Rondo, who has some serious heal-from-injury skills, had 13 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists in the win.

Olynyk appeared in seven games for the Celtics this preseason and averaged 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 25.2 minutes per game. He is averaging 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game through 70 career contests. Olynyk was originally selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft before the Celtics acquired him in exchange for the draft rights to Lucas Nogueira and two future second round picks on June 27, 2013.

Sullinger appeared in eight preseason matchups for the team and averaged 14.9 points, including shooting 15-30 (.500) from beyond the arc, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.9 minutes per game over that span. Sullinger was selected 21st overall by the Celtics in the 2012 NBA Draft and is averaging 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.6 minutes per game over his 119 game career.

Zeller appeared in eight preseason games for the Celtics and averaged 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game off the bench. He is averaging 6.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.7 blocks in 21.0 minutes per game on his career. Zeller was originally selected 17th overall by Dallas in the 2012 NBA Draft. Boston acquired him from Cleveland as part of a three-team trade on July 10, 2014.

The Boston Celtics aren’t counting on Gerald Wallace for much this season. The veteran averaged 24.4 minutes per game last season yet scored just 5.1 points per outing. And he’ll probably play fewer minutes in 2014-15. Still, better healthy than not. Here’s ESPN Boston with an update:

Celtics veteran swingman Gerald Wallace underwent an MRI Sunday that revealed a bone bruise in his knee. After sitting out Saturday’s game against the Knicks, he’s expected to miss both of this week’s preseason games as well.

“We were going to sit him anyway on Saturday and, actually, he mentioned it to [trainer] Ed [Lacerte] in the pregame … he has a little knee swelling,” said Stevens. “So they did an MRI [Sunday], he’s got a small bone bruise. So he’s going to be out, definitely the two games this week and I think he’s looking at it week-to-week right now.”

The Celtics have been thin on available swingmen. Rookie James Young strained his left hamstring before the team’s exhibition opener and is still considered week-to-week. “James Young is the same,” said Stevens. “Progressing well, but still probably a week away.”

This is not the way the Boston Celtics wanted to start 2014-15 training camp, which begins soon.

Once again, Celtics star point guard Rajon Rondo is injured. According to the team, Rondo fell at home, and broke his hand in the process. After surgery today, he’s expected out 6-8 weeks.

A silver lining here is that the Celtics are a rebuilding team, and have plenty of young players to develop. Some of them should benefit from increased minutes due to Rondo being out, namely rookie guard Marcus Smart.

Also, the team may trade Rondo sometime this season. If he can come back, play well and look good, his trade value should remain the same.

More info on the Rondo injury is here:

http://www.insidehoops.com/rajon-rondo-hand-surgery-092614.shtml

Here’s ESPN Boston reporting on the Celtics:

What is James Young looking forward to most during his rookie season with the Boston Celtics?

“Playing with [point guard Rajon] Rondo,” Young told the team’s official website during a recent video Q&A. “He’s a player I looked up to growing up, and he sees the floor very well and has a high IQ for the game. So just getting open with him and seeing if we have can have a good connection.”

Young and Rondo are both Kentucky products and Young is clearly eager to see if Rondo’s playmaking can generate some open looks at the NBA level.

Here’s ESPN Boston looking on the bright side — entertainment-wise, at least — for the Celtics:

One prominent theme that’s emerging as the new seasons nears is a sense from Celtics players/management that some have simply forgotten what a healthy Rajon Rondo is capable of. As Celtics team president Rich Gotham noted last week, “I think a healthy Rondo is a huge difference-maker for us.” Further removed from the ACL surgery that limited him to 68 games over the past two seasons, it’ll be interesting to see if Rondo can return to All-Star form and just how much he’s able to elevate the play of a young supporting cast….

There’s maybe no bigger reason to watch this year’s team than the development of the youngest players. The Celtics have an intriguing young nucleus with players at all different stages of their development and lingering questions about just how good they can become. You’ve got someone like 23-year-old shooting guard Avery Bradley coming off his first big payday this offseason and he must prove he can be a consistent two-way threat to justify the team’s spending. Then there’s recent draftees like Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, both of whom will be expected to take the next step in their developments with potential to assert themselves as key parts of the team’s future. Then there’s rookies Marcus Smart and James Young. Even as the No. 6 overall pick, Smart has created an awful lot of buzz this offseason for both his personality and potential. The 19-year-old Young might even spend a good chunk of the season in the D-League shadows if he simply needs game reps to further his development, but there will be interest in his progress after just one season at Kentucky.

Here’s ESPN Boston reporting on a key young Celtic:

Jared Sullinger smiled wide, but wouldn’t bite when asked if he’d dropped any weight this offseason.

“Maybe,” a trimmer-looking Sullinger playfully offered Friday at the Hennigan Elementary School after leading some students through an afternoon hoops clinic as members of the Celtics organization joined more than 150 volunteers from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and City Year to revitalize the school’s grounds. “I can’t tell you everything, but maybe.”

The eye tests seems to suggest a more fit Sullinger, but the coy player only acknowledged that he’s in a better place now further removed from the back surgery that stunted his rookie season and erased the offseason before his sophomore campaign.

Earlier this offseason, Sullinger expressed a desire to improve his conditioning with the goal of maintaining his production in the fourth quarter of games. But he’s realistic when asked if he thinks that will happen this season.