After all the roster shuffling, it seems there could be a place for third-year forward Jordan Walsh to stake a claim for some big minutes this coming season.
After all the roster shuffling, it seems there could be a place for third-year forward Jordan Walsh to stake a claim for some big minutes this coming season.Erin Clark/Globe Staff
LAS VEGAS — There’s a consensus here at Las Vegas Summer League that the Celtics are indeed back to being one of the regular people.
There is an expectation that Boston will take not one but perhaps two steps back from its title-contending reputation as president of basketball operations Brad Stevens pares payroll, gets younger, and develops a plan of how to operate without Jayson Tatum.
But there is also a theory that the Celtics’ fortunes could improve over the next few weeks. Damian Lillard remains a free agent but is considering his options, and the Celtics are indeed one of them.
The nine-time All-Star is in no hurry to sign, but the Celtics are interested in a multi-year deal that would allow him to return fully healthy from his torn Achilles for the 2026-27 season in a Celtics uniform along with a healed Tatum for a title run.
According to NBA sources, Tatum has been active in recruiting Lillard to Boston, and the market for the point guard is limited because his injury will prevent him from likely playing most of next season. Lillard sustained his injury on April 27, 15 days prior to Tatum’s injury.
The Milwaukee Bucks waived and stretched Lillard’s contract for the purpose of signing Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. Lillard is considering his options, but the Celtics have their taxpayer mid-level contract to offer.
And the consensus from talking to league executives here in Las Vegas is the Celtics do have a chance in the Lillard sweepstakes.
As far as the summer league team, the Celtics have a lot of young and unproven talent. But the most encouraging sign from the 92-78 win over the Memphis Grizzlies was the comfortability of Jordan Walsh, the third-year swingman who needs to prove he’s capable of playing quality NBA minutes.
Walsh was taken in the second round two years ago after one season at Arkansas, and he has slowly developed in that time. Now that the roster has transformed, there is opportunity for Walsh to become part of the second unit.
He told the Globe on Saturday that coach Joe Mazzulla, after the season, told him his role is uncertain because of the uncertainty of the roster. Now that the Celtics have lost Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, and with Torrey Craig a free agent, there are available minutes for several positions, including the 3-and-D role Walsh is vying to fill.
“Now that we’re closer to the season and we know what the roster will look like, I gotta revisit that conversation to see what I can do,” Walsh told the Globe. “If there’s something open for me, how do I maximize my opportunity, get to it, and take advantage.
“I feel like [Mazzulla] has a better idea (of the roster) now, so I’m definitely going to talk to him probably after summer league, before training camp.”
Another player with an opportunity to carve a role is two-way swingman Miles Norris, who notched 8 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes Friday. There’s a reason why the Celtics kept Norris over Drew Peterson. Because of the salary cap reduction, they are going to need production from their younger and more inexpensive players.
Norris didn’t get much of an opportunity last season but, like Walsh, the opportunities for actual meaningful minutes will be there. If the Celtics do retain recently acquired Anfernee Simons, he’ll likely be in the starting lineup with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, with Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, and perhaps even Charles Bassey competing for minutes at center. As for power forward, perhaps Georges Niang fills that role, or even Josh Minott.
But the Celtics’ frontcourt is definitely thin, especially with Al Horford likely headed for Golden State.
As for Horford, his situation continues to be one of the bigger discussion topics in summer league. Golden State swingman Jonathan Kuminga continues to remain a restricted free agent with no offer sheets. He can either agree to a new deal with the Warriors, return on a qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next season, or sign with a new team under an offer sheet.
Speaking prior to the American Century Championship golf tournament, Warriors star Stephen Curry hinted the club would be signing Horford in the near future. And Stevens said a Horford return to Boston is “unlikely,” leaving a considerable hole in the paint.
Such a gap made the emergence of Bassey, a former San Antonio Spur, an interesting development. Bassey was one of the best bigs on the floor Friday, posting a double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds) and finishing with a plus-20 in his 18 minutes. Two-way center Amari Williams wasn’t shabby in his NBA debut, but he’s not likely to compete for significant minutes as the club will likely send him to Maine. Williams, however, is an imposing physical specimen and definitely a prospect.
Finally, rookie Hugo Gonzalez made a quick positive impression by scoring his first bucket on a hustle rebound and putback. He plays with relentlessness and has shooting touch. He was obviously upset with himself for missing 4 of 5 free throws but has potential to carve out minutes for his defense.
The Celtics are under the radar here in Las Vegas, another team in a rebuilding phase, but the summer league debut and the talent base was definitely encouraging.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.