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Boston Celtics Giving Rookies Their Chance

By Joshua Bateman

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Ante Zizic #54 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 11, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Ante Zizic #54 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 11, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics not hesitating to give rookies an opportunity

The Boston Celtics are at a fascinating point in their rebuild. For the current core in their prime now, this is the peak. The core centered around Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward have all their key pieces, and will not be bringing in another max free agent to take another jump.

The Celtics have built a core that is ready to contend now, and they look like they have a real chance to make the NBA finals.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have two number three overall picks sitting on the bench and two more potential top five picks coming next season. And, on top of all that, the Celtics currently have six other rookies on the team in addition to Jayson Tatum.

The Celtics finally have a core that is no longer rebuilding, and yet this might be the youngest roster in the Stevens era, and having seven rookies on a roster, even at this point, is unprecedented for even the bottom dwellers.

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The Celtics have Tatum, Ante Zizic, Semi Ojeleye, Guerschon Yabusele, Kadeem Allen, Abdel Nader and Daniel Theis.

A lot of these guys will spent time with the Maine Red Claws, and with 16 guaranteed contracts there is another chance they will be traded. That being said, the Celtics will inevitably have more invested in rookies than any contending team usually does, and they will have a huge impact on the team this season.

We know Tatum is going to have a big role off the bench. Zizic has an outside chance to start, or be the first big coming off the bench. Ojeleye and Yabusele both have the potential to play with starters in small ball situations, and all three of Allen, Bird and Theis will be fighting for a spot on the NBA roster.

One massive bonus of having so many rookies are the contracts. The Celtics get a lot of cap freedom with so many spots paying so much less on the rookie scale. The problem is that the Celtics need rookies who can contribute.

The starters will be fine, but the Celtics will not have a second unit worth anything if their rookies are not playing well. These young players will need to learn together, and they will need to make sure they can do what Stevens asks of them right out of the gate.

Even if there are risks with having so may rookies, it is hard to see this as a negative. The biggest indication is that the Celtics clearly love their young talent. Not a single player drafted this season is being seen as a disappointment of any kind right now, and the two players stashed overseas from last year are two of the most exciting rookie bigs in the league this season.

It is going to be fascinating to watch the starting core compete together with championship aspirations, while watching one of the youngest second units in the NBA try and grow from the earliest stages.

The Celtics have focused a lot on drafting during this rebuild, and this is what happens. Everyone said the Celtics had too many picks to hold onto. Instead of trading away those picks, the Celtics are redefining how many rookies are acceptable on a roster.

Fortunately, the Celtics have a phenomenal locker room, incredibly inspiring leadership, and a coach that is universally respected.

Stevens may be the biggest reason why so much is being invested in rookies. Stevens has proven that he can get positive contributions out of young players. Right now, the Celtics know they will have to play a lot of these rookies a lot of the time, and it is hard to imagine the Celtics doing that if they did not have the confidence that Stevens would make at least a few of them positive contributors in limited minutes.

Another great aspect of having so much youth is that it allows them to grow together. Whichever of these players manage to step up will be getting comfortable playing with the future core of this team.

Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft Guide

Then, once these rookies and second or third year players are ready to take over and lead a team, they will be doing it with teammates that have played alongside them since day one.

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