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Three Summer Leaguers That Could Start for the Boston Celtics

By Joshua Bateman

Apr 8, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) celebrates a three point shot in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) celebrates a three point shot in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4), center Al Horford (42), guard Avery Bradley (0) and forward Jae Crowder (99) walk off the court after their 106-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4), center Al Horford (42), guard Avery Bradley (0) and forward Jae Crowder (99) walk off the court after their 106-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

This could be the most important summer league ever for the Boston Celtics, with three players that each have a chance to be starters this season

The Boston Celtics are going to be sending out one of the most talented summer league squads we have ever seen. The Celtics are going to see the future before their eyes, in preparation for the next season. The question remains, how soon until these young players will be dominating in the NBA. For three of them, it could be a lot quicker than most expect.

For the next few years the Celtics are going to have to find a way to balance playing the established players they have now, while making sure they do not threaten the development of what should be the most talented players on the team.

Brad Stevens has made it clear that these young players will have an opportunity, but they will have to earn every bit of playing time they want to get. This is also now an Eastern Conference Finals core, making it even harder to take minutes away from the players in their prime.

Actual minutes could depend a lot on if any trades happen. That second guard spot is exactly where two of these players would be competing for, and Avery Bradley is one of the most frequently brought up trade targets on this Celtics team.

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The front court is a diferent story, because Al Horford is the only player that can expect legitimate playing time right now. It will still have to be earned, and free agency could change a lot, but it would benefit the Celtics tremendously if they could trust one of their young bigs to start in the NBA, and improve what was a disastrous front court outside of Horford last season.

The process that Stevens takes with young players mean that these players cannot be expected to start on day one. The Celtics will be putting out a summer league team with a lot of players that have aspirations of being All Stars in the not too distant future, but these three players stand above the rest when it comes to being a starter with this current core.

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