Here are our player scouting reports and 2015-16 projections for the Boston Celtics.
Projected starters
Marcus Smart
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Bull of a point guard who settles for 3s, but competes
+ Not a natural point guard. Disaster in transition
+ Elite defender already. Loses temper
Analysis
The most memorable moment of Smart's rookie season wasn't a good one: He was suspended for whacking Matt Bonner in the undercarriage while fighting through a screen at the top of the key. For someone who tried desperately to shed the "hothead" concerns, it was a real setback for the 20-year-old point guard. No one likes that guy.
The basketball side wasn't much better. Smart was a nominal point guard, but the playmaking duties were in Evan Turner's hands once Rajon Rondo split for Dallas. Smart isn't ready to be a distributor yet, handing out just 4.1 assists per 36 minutes, one of the worst rates for any starting point guard. His transition and pick-and-roll numbers were a complete mess. The questions about his readiness to run a team are legitimate.
But his defense makes it all worthwhile. He ranked as the sixth-most impactful defender at the point guard position in real plus-minus' (RPM) eyes thanks to his motor and strength.
Frankly, Marcus Smart plays offense as if he's being defended by Marcus Smart.
Avery Bradley
Position: Guard
Experience: 5 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Defensive-minded jump shooter, but defense has waned
+ Love affair with the top-of-the-key jumper. Doesn't pass or drive
+ Injury-riddled career, but healthy last season
Analysis
Who thought Avery Bradley would become one of the most high-volume shooters in the NBA? Bradley launched more jumpers outside of 16 feet last season than every NBA player except for Stephen Curry, James Harden, Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard. Of course, he doesn't have the skill of those four, but credit the Celtics for building up the youngster's confidence and mechanics after he came into the league with no range to speak of.
The problem is Bradley spends too much time on his midrange pullup (45.1 effective field goal percentage) rather than in the corners, where he's at his best (58.3 effective FG%). Bradley lacks the handle to get into the paint and it leaves him with one of the sorriest free throw rates at his position. If Bradley can't distribute or slash, he won't be much more than a serviceable starting 2.
Bradley has the reputation of a defensive stopper, but his statistical markers don't live up to the hype. He finished with a 0.73 defensive RPM last season, which doesn't even place him in the top 15 among shooting guards. Bradley's improvement as a shooter is admirable, but the Celtics could use another playmaker. Bradley isn't it.
Jae Crowder
Position: Forward
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Durable defense-focused wing who can guard multiple positions
+ High energy but not terribly athletic
+ Struggled with 3-point shot. Coming off ACL sprain
Analysis
Crowder, part of the haul for Rondo, enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in Boston as the former benchwarmer for Dallas started Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against Cleveland. Crowder is a handy role player who plays well with others and makes smart cuts to the rim.
He's a spot-up shooter, but Crowder really struggled to shoot from the corners, which is his primary habitat in the offense. He shot just 22.6 percent from the right corner and missed 28 of his 32 3s at the top of the key. Crowder (6-7, 240 pounds) might be undersized at his position but he's an impressive finisher around the rim who can catch and finish on the move.
Defensively, Crowder's reputation outweighs his results. He puts in good effort, but the Celtics weren't any better with him on the floor on that end and his steal rate dipped when his minutes blew up. Crowder has potential as a 3-and-D guy, but his shot needs to get sharper.
David Lee
Position: Forward
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Skilled rebounder and passer who faced mid-career crisis
+ Mobile, but targeted on defensive end. Unreliable jump shot
+ Contract year
Analysis
The former 20-and-10 big man gulped down a gallon of humble sauce last season as he was demoted to a role player off the bench for Steve Kerr's championship squad. No one expected that given his swollen salary and his eye-popping numbers, but the box score had long overrated Lee's impact on winning.
That said, the Celtics were wise to take a flier on Lee in his contract year and try to leverage his skill set with a young squad desperate for playmakers. Kerr recognized Lee was outmatched on the block, where he generated only 0.879 points per post-up in 2013-14, and made him more of an off-ball threat via duck-ins and offensive boards. Lee registered only 76 post-up plays last season after piling up 323 under Mark Jackson in 2013-14. Brad Stevens, take heed.
Lee isn't a doormat defensively, but he'll need to be handcuffed with Amir Johnson at all times. At 32 years old, Lee might not return to a nightly 20 and 10, but this is the East, where anything's possible. Right, KG?
Amir Johnson
Position: Center
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Analytics darling looking for a fresh start
+ Great screen-setter, pick-and-roll finisher and help defender
+ Weirdly good at 3s, but no post-up game
Analysis
Johnson isn't the star the Boston faithful have been clamoring for, but he's going to be a huge addition to a squad desperate for defensive muscle. The big man has long been a plus-minus superstar, as GM Danny Ainge stressed and stressed again in his introductory news conference, but last season was a bit of a down year. Johnson ranked 16th in RPM among all players in 2013-14, but slid to 84th this past season as the Raptors beefed up their backup core.
Johnson seems to be trying to follow in Paul Millsap's footsteps as a hidden plus-minus monster trying to add a 3-point shot. He'll be a perfect fit in Stevens' system that demands shooting from its bigs. Though Johnson is known for his athleticism, screen-setting and rim-running, he made 19 of his 46 3s last season and should see more green lights next season.
At 28 years old and still growing his game, Johnson is the perfect gamble for a young Celtics squad looking to catch the East by surprise yet again.
Reserves
Isaiah Thomas
Position: Guard
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Mini Russell Westbrook with parking-lot range
+ Masterful foul-drawer who uses size and left hand to advantage
+ Absolute zero on defense. Deadly first step
Analysis
One of the great stories in the NBA. Thomas stands just 5-foot-9 but scored a whopping 23 points every 36 minutes last season with Phoenix and Boston. Considering his crazy-good efficiency, you could argue it's the single-best scoring season of any player under 6 feet in NBA history.
Everyone wants to block Thomas and he uses that burning desire to his advantage. With a great pump-fake and fearlessness, he toed the free throw line 7.3 times per 36 minutes, giving him one of the highest rates in the league. Remarkably, he was blocked on just 6.7 percent of his field goal attempts. Incredible for someone who can't see over the scorer's table.
Thomas' bugaboo is his defense, where he gets bullied by opposing point guards. He's no Muggsy Bogues, whose size allowed him to nimbly swipe the ball; Thomas tallied just 12 steals in Boston in 21 games.
Thomas can be a bit of a black hole and defensive liability, but he was the seventh-best offensive point guard in the NBA last season per RPM. He's probably a supersub in the mold of Lou Williams, but it'd be fascinating to see if he won the starting job somewhere.
Jared Sullinger
Position: Forward
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Hefty stretch 4 with serious health questions
+ Skilled passer and rebounder despite being floor-bound
+ Solid one-on-one defender but struggles in pick-and-roll
Analysis
The Celtics have gotten great production out of their 2012 late-first-round pick, considering all the concerns that back issues would limit Sullinger's impact. Granted, he's missed over 20 games in two of his three seasons in the NBA, but he's a very productive big man who can stretch out and hit a 3 every once in a while.
Sullinger's gotten carried away with the triples, though. He shot 28.3 percent from downtown last season, which certainly doesn't justify taking 184 attempts from deep. He's a great midrange shooter, but it hasn't translated to success beyond the arc. Despite his perimeter profuseness, he gets into the paint like a bulldozer and pulls down offensive boards at a high rate.
Defensively, Sullinger is a strong on-ball defender but doesn't move laterally enough to snuff out pick-and-rolls with ease. He checks in as a below-average defender, but his offensive skills make him a solid starter if he can stay healthy. If he loses weight and sharpens his jumper, he can have a future as a Ryan Anderson lite.
Tyler Zeller
Position: Center
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Efficient big man who can step out and knock down the midrange jumper
+ Dual pick-and-roll threat who plays to strengths
+ Didn't miss a game in 2014-15. Not a rim protector
Analysis
Few players from the 2012 draft have improved more than Zeller. Last season, the 25-year-old finished fifth among qualified players in field goal percentage (.549) and averaged 17.3 points per 36 minutes, the sixth-highest scoring rate among 7-footers, behind Hassan Whiteside and ahead of Jonas Valanciunas.
The biggest surprise of all was a money midrange jumper that ranked among the best in the NBA.
Zeller was one of the toughest screeners to guard in the East because of his pick-and-pop and finishing skills. No matter how you guarded him, Zeller made you pay. He finished No. 1 overall in pick-and-roll efficiency among those who had at least 150 plays. Number two on the list? Anthony Davis.
Zeller has some work to do defensively, but he keeps fouls to a minimum and holds opponents to 51.8 percent shooting at the rim when he's nearby, per NBA.com's player-tracking data. Like the rest of the Celtics frontcourt, Zeller might not be a championship anchor, but he's a great piece to have in your rotation.
Evan Turner
Position: Forward
Experience: 5 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-volume distributor with limited range and quickness
+ Solid midrange jumper, but handle needs work
+ Needs to get in better shape. Sloppy on the move
Analysis
After a horrendous pit stop in Indiana in 2013-14, Evan Turner reclaimed some of his stock last season in Boston. The Celtics felt comfortable enough by the end of the season to run their offense through Turner, who averaged 6.9 assists per game post-All-Star break.
Turner's antics, once again, were exposed in the playoffs. His slowness, coupled with his high dribble, pose serious problems on the move. Only DeMarcus Cousins had a higher turnover rate in transition than Turner, who coughed up the ball on 23 percent of his plays in the open court, per Synergy Sports. Like Cousins, Turner is a doughy talent who tries to do too much to cover up for his lack of conditioning.
Without a long-range shot or an ability to draw fouls, Turner still can't be relied upon to lead a winning team. Even after a resurgent season where he became a triple-double threat, Turner topped out at a 12.8 player efficiency rating (PER), which is in line with his overrated Philly days.
Jonas Jerebko
Position: Forward
Experience: 5 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Tall stretch 4 who made a huge impact last season
+ Smart player who keeps miscues to a minimum
+ Lethal from the corners. Not a pick-and-roll threat
Analysis
Five years after starting full-time as a rookie in Detroit, Jerebko finally put it all together as a backup and became a key under-the-radar role player for both the Pistons and Celtics. He did most of his damage in the corners, where he drained almost half of his attempts. He shot 38.6 percent from deep overall, which confirmed that his 2013-14 campaign wasn't a flash in the pan.
He understands that he has no business banging down low, but Jerebko picks his spots and stretches the floor. The Celtics were 9.7 points per 100 possessions better with Jerebko on the floor compared to when he sat, with gains on both ends of the floor. At 28 years old, Jerebko might never be a front-line starter, but he's a very useful player in today's 3-point-heavy NBA. He'll fight for minutes in a jammed frontcourt in Boston.
Kelly Olynyk
Position: Center
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Skilled scoring big man who can shoot and finish around the rim
+ Weak rebounder and rim protector. Nifty passer
+ Box score doesn't do him justice
Analysis
Olynyk began the season as the team's starting center and quickly moved to a bench role, but that understates his impact on the floor. The Celtics were vastly better with him on the court, outscoring opponents by 4.0 points every 100 possessions while he manned the center spot. He can play.
He's not strong enough to play center full-time, but he's skilled enough to outperform most backup centers. He made a healthy 34.9 percent of his 3-pointers and finished an impressive 68.6 percent of his tries at the rim. He's got great touch around the rim and can threat the needle a bit, so he's not just a spot-up shooter.
Olynyk projects to be a borderline starting center, but SCHOENE sees him delivering the third-most value on the Celtics roster next season. Even though he stood out in FIBA action for Canada this summer, Olynyk has plenty of competition in training camp.
R.J. Hunter
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Sharpshooting prospect coming off cold junior year
+ Tall for position, but plays small. Excellent free throw shooter
+ Lack of quickness and athleticism is a concern
Analysis
Hunter was perhaps the most divisive player in this year's draft. He carries a reputation as one of the top shooters of his class, but he shot just 30.5 percent from deep last season and just 39.5 percent overall. But given his previous track record of strong 3-point shooting and the fact that he's a lights-out free throw shooter, Hunter should get it back on track at the next level.
His play in Las Vegas Summer League was encouraging, as he shot 36 percent from deep on 5.3 attempts per game after a cold start. There's not much else to get excited about in his skill set, but if he can shoot, he can play. Look for Hunter to challenge Bradley for some minutes at shooting guard.
James Young
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Long spot-up shooter who struggled to adjust to NBA
+ Lefty takes care of the ball, but rarely has it
+ Just turned 20
Analysis
Young is young, so that's good. The former Kentucky Wildcat is a shooter through and through, but struggled to shoot in his rookie season. He spent 17 games in the D-League, where he shot 44.2 percent on 9.1 3-point attempts per game, but he struggled with the Celtics, shooting 25.8 percent on his 66 attempts. Young was a dreadful 1-for-17 on unguarded catch-and-shoots, according to Synergy. Yikes.
That's not nearly enough of a sample size to write off the youngster, but he doesn't have much upside beyond his shooting skills, so it raises more red flags than normal. Young needs to work on his complementary game -- defense especially -- if he wants a future in the NBA. At this point, this is another rookie season. Take two.
Perry Jones
Position: Forward
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Extremely long wing, but short on production. On-court identity TBD
+ Inconsistent. Knee issues have sapped all lift
+ Getting much-needed fresh start
Analysis
It seems like yesterday that Jones was considered a possibility at the No. 1 overall pick, but knee injuries have derailed his playing career. Jones filled in for Kevin Durant at one point, but then got buried at the end of the Thunder bench, leaving everyone to wonder if he could ever put it together.
Jones has no discernible NBA skill at this point. He can't shoot, pass or defend at even an average level. You would think at 6-foot-11 his athleticism would take him far, but then you see Bonner easily block him in transition. Jones ranked 465 among 474 qualified players last season (-5.9) in RPM.
If he couldn't take advantage of an injury-riddled roster in OKC, one has to question whether he can assert himself in Boston.
Terry Rozier
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized, tough volume shooter who doesn't distribute
+ Draws fouls, but doesn't shoot well from deep.
+ Leverages athleticism for rebounds and steals.
Analysis
The Celtics puzzled many observers by using the 16th overall pick on Terry Rozier, a guy who seems to do everything that Isaiah Thomas does, just worse. Rozier is a short point guard who only dished out three assists per game at Louisville and shot just 41.1 percent from the floor. He took a ton of pullup jumpers, but rarely converted them at a high rate. He shot just 30.6 percent from deep. There's a reason Rick Pitino told ESPN in March that last year's Cardinals were the worst shooting team he's ever coached.
Rozier shows a lot of toughness, but like elsewhere on the roster, there's a redundancy, in this case Smart. It's hard to see Rozier out-tough Smart or outscore Thomas. The Celtics didn't draft for need, that's for sure.
Jordan Mickey
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized shot-blocker with great wingspan
+ Shows promise as a shooter. Good rebounder
+ Hands aren't great. Not a scorer
Analysis
Mickey comes to the Celtics from LSU, where he led the NCAA in blocks per game (3.6) and led the SEC in rebounds per game (9.9). He stands an unassuming 6-foot-8, but he has the wingspan of a 7-footer, which he uses to swat away shots from ambitious drivers. He did well in summer league, averaging 12.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while keeping his fouls in check.
The comparisons to Taj Gibson are a good place to start with Mickey, but it will take some time and maybe a change of scenery to get anywhere close to there. With a gazillion bigs in Boston, it's hard to see where Mickey fits in this season. Look for the second-round pick to spend some time in the D-League and work on his offensive firepower.