Last season, the Boston Celtics made it to three of the last five Eastern Conference Finals. However, they lost each time at this stage, and have not made it to the finals since 2010. He eventually won last season, taking down the Brooklyn Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat along the way.
With a 2-1 lead over Golden State Warriors in the final, it looks like they could win their 18th record-breaking championship. Instead, his inability to handle the ball caught up with him, and he lost the next three games and suffered a heartbreaking defeat.
As impressive as the Celtics were last season, it was clear in the finals that they needed to improve their depth. That’s how Brad Stevens saw things and solved the problem by signing Danilo Galinari and trading for Malcolm Brogden shortly after the free agency began.
The Celtics are now planning to become one of the deepest teams in the league, and their rotation is largely set. They didn’t even have a first-round pick this year, all of which means it’s not going to be the most exciting or exciting situation in the Summer League. Still, there are some players to look at both the present and the future. Here’s everything you need to know:
Celtics Summer League schedule
All games can be streamed live on NBA TV, ESPN and ESPN2. fuboTV (Try for free).
- Saturday, July 9: Celtics vs. Miami Heat, 5:30 p.m. ET – NBA TV
- Monday, July 11: Celtics vs. Milwaukee Box, 8pm ET – NBA TV
- Tuesday, July 12: Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, 8pm ET – ESPN2
- Thursday, July 14: Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 3:30 pm ET – NBA TV
- TBD
Roster
|
Johan Begrin |
Guard / Forward |
19 |
2021: No. 45 overall |
|
Jordan bone |
Guard |
24 |
2019: No. 57 overall |
|
JD Dawson |
Guard |
19 |
2022: No. 53 overall |
|
Sam Hozer |
Forward |
24 |
Unmade |
|
Jericho helmets |
Forward |
22 |
Unmade |
|
Brighton Hobbes |
Guard |
30 |
Unmade |
|
Mfiondu Kabengele |
Center |
24 |
2019: No. 27 in total |
|
AJ Reeves |
Guard |
23 |
Unmade |
|
Matt Ryan |
Forward |
25 |
Unmade |
|
Broderick Thomas |
Guard |
25 |
Unmade |
|
Trevon Williams |
Center |
21 |
Unmade |
Players to watch
- Sam Hozer: In the midst of the Celtics’ move this summer, Hozer’s signing of a three-year deal may not have caught the attention of most casual observers. However, he will be the best and most important player of the Summer Celtics. An elite shooter who made 43.3% of his nine attempts per game in the G-League, the team has high hopes that he can become a rotation player this season. Giving him a long-term guarantee deal (even on a low annual salary) was a sign of his faith.
- Johan Begrin: Late last year in the second round selection, Begrin was a draft and Stash player who spent the previous season in his native France. Still only 19 years old, he will likely return abroad again, especially given the new depths of the Celtics. Still, he’s a player to watch this summer, if only to see his progress. He is an exceptional athlete and if his game progresses he could one day give the Celtics some extra depth on the wing.
- JD Dawson: The Celtics traded their first-round pick in the Derrick White trade this year to the San Antonio Spurs, leaving a lone second-round pick in the draft. They used it to get Dawson out of Alabama. The 19-year-old is quite raw, but there is another outstanding athlete who has repeatedly insisted in a recent interview that he wants to be a “dog” on the court. It’s going to be a long-term project, but it’ll be interesting to see what he can do in his debut.
- Trevion Williams / Mfiondu Kabengele: We’re going to put them both together because they’re both big men who will fight for a place on the Celtics’ final list. After Daniel Thesis traded with the Indiana Pacers in the Malcolm Brogden trade, the Celtics need some more front court depth and Luke Cornet is the only real big roster behind Robert Williams III and El Horford. The most likely outcome is that they will sign a veteran at some point, but both Williams and Kabingale have a real chance here.