The Boston Celtics have been dealing with multiple injuries this year and while R.J Hunter is next on the list, it is a short term deal. Hunter avoided any kind of serious damage and should avoid missing any kind of serious time with a shoulder injury. Hunter will need to be reevaluated but early indications are that Hunter will rest up and be good to go in no time.
The Celtics are working Marcus Smart back into the lineup so being without Hunter for even a short period of time will open up the rotation for Smart. The problem will then be what happens to Hunter when he returns. Even in the absence of Smart, Hunter could not get consistent minutes.
Hunter still has a lot of room to improve shooting the three ball but he has been a smart and effective all around player for the Celtics, much better on the defensive end than expected. His biggest problem is playing under 12 minutes per game, with a lot of those minutes being in garbage time.
Hunter is still at the head of the rookie pack. Neither Jordan Mickey nor Terry Rozier get any kind of significant playing time but they have been stealer in the D League with Maine, and that may be where Hunter is bound to go when he returns.
Smart will be gradually be getting more and more minutes and while the main rotation guys like Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Evan Turner are not likely to be sacrificing many minutes, it will be Hunter that sacrifices for the sake of Smart.
Hunter can remain a legitimate option for the Celtics off the bench but if there is no defined role for him on the Celtics he may be better off with his fellow rookies creating a deadly big three in the D League.
Hunter has made it clear that he is capable of contributing for the Celtics. He has held his own on defense and has been much more of a dynamic play maker than what was initially expected. Right now, there are too many players ahead of Hunter on the depth chart for him to trust that he can reliably receive minutes.
Hunter will not get the same kind of competition or chemistry with his teammates in the D League but it will allow him to get more comfortable in general game flow, it will allow him to find his shooting stroke and find his stride. Hunter will not be doing much good playing garbage time minutes for the Celtics. He can remain useful for moments but Brad Stevens can simply call him back up for the games that he believes he will be needed.
Hunter has an opportunity to be a great part of the Celtics’ future and he is already ahead of where most late first round picks would have been, Hunter landed on a great team to develop with and part of that development is their phenomenal use of the Maine Red Claws. Brad Stevens understands the situation of the team better than anyone and it would be a shock if he did not try to keep Hunter more active in the D League when he returns form his injury.
The Celtics have looked to ease back their injured players this season and Hunter will have a much easier transition in the D League, even if his injury is inly going to sideline him for a minor period of time.
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Hunter’s development could be a crucial key to the Celtics in the future and making sure the transition back from any injury is handled properly is going to be key. With Smart back in the lineup there is no reason to force anything upon Hunter and they must allow him to have the best possible transition back into game form.