Boston Celtics: Jabari Bird shining in Summer League
Jabari Bird could earn an NBA role with his play in the summer league for the Boston Celtics
Going into this summer league, the Boston Celtics knew they had real NBA talent on their roster. Semi Ojeleye has played a crucial role in a playoff series, Guerschon Yabusele has developed a cult following from fans, and Robert Williams is expected to have a role in his rookie season.
The Celtics have these players that are fighting for a real role on an NBA team, but someone else is stealing the show. Yabusele is playing solid and Williams got cut off by an injury, but Jabari Bird is the one that everyone is noticing.
In fact, he has been good enough to ramp up his free agency talks, and is emerging as a favorite to set himself up for a future role with what he is doing in summer league.
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Right now, Bird is doing exactly what he needs to do by making it clear that he is well above the talent level in the summer league. Bird looks like he can take control when he wants to, and his athleticism has been shining through.
He is blowing by people with great dunks, and has great overall production. There is only so much you can prove in summer league, and Bird is doing just about everything.
You can even see flashes of Terry Rozier in his play, but we are a long ways from that. The Celtics are always looking for options, and Bird is staring to look like the kind of player they know they can use. It is early, but people are not getting excited about him for no reason.
For this season, there is next to no chance that Bird has a role in the NBA. No mater what he does in summer league, there are simply too many players ahead of him. The Celtics, however, still have the future in mind while evaluating Bird, and he can certainly be relevant.
Keep in mind, there is uncertainty with both Marcus Smart and Rozier, and it is always difficult for a team to retain all of their players for a significant time.
At the very least, Bird is proving that he can provide valuable depth. It will be a process for Bird, but that is a process that has worked in the NBA before. If you look at Rozier, he joined the team at a time when there was space for a role, but still had to earn everything.
He worked his way through different levels, and made sure to capitalize on everything he was given in the NBA. The numbers work against Bird, and it is much more difficult to get those NBA opportunities on this Celtics roster.
Either way, Bird is clearly doing enough to get those next level opportunities. If it is not with the Celtics, someone out there is going to give him an opportunity. The Celtics will also be in a position to hold onto Bird and wait and see if room will open up.
Next: Smart running out of FA options beyond Celtics
The Celtics have all kinds of depth and do not have any pressing needs for that final roster spot. It is just a couple summer league games, but Bird has felt a little more special for a while. He needs to make sure he continues to capitalize on these opportunities, because Bird is looking like a player who can pay his dues, and carve out something real in the NBA.