Boston Celtics: 3 way too early predictions for the 2020-21 season

Prediction: Tremont Waters will become C’s primary backup point guard

One of the main weak spots on the Boston Celtics’ roster in 2019-20 has been their backup point guard position. For the whole season, they’ve rolled out senior citizen sophomore Brad Wanamaker in this role and, in turn, has given no reason for the C’s decision makers to believe he has warranted a return to the position in 2020-21.

On the season, the 30-year-old point guard has put up underwhelming averages of 6.6 points, 2.5 assists and two boards a game on 43 percent shooting from the field and, yes, a respectable 36 percent shooting from deep. Seemingly lacking the ability to effectively run an offense and capped athleticism & upside, it’s likely that the impending free agent will not return to the team next season, which means Boston will be looking for his replacement this offseason.

Over the months we’ve discussed many options the C’s could look at in regard to replacing Wanamaker this offseason — suggesting the likes of Jeff Teague, Brandon Knight and various others — and, most recently we’ve been most intrigued by an option that is currently rostered by Boston: Tremont Waters.

In limited action this year, he 51st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has proven to be a solid player with promising upside as his career moves forward. Though he only saw 10 games of action, Waters’ lone game in which he saw significant minutes — a November 25th bout against the Sacramento Kings — is where a majority of our hope for the point guard derives from.

Logging 20 minutes, the rookie put up a solid stat line of seven points, three assists, two boards, a whopping two blocks (he’s stands at just 5-10) & a steal to go along with a box +/- of +20 and, in turn, led the Boston Celtics to a 103-102 victory.

A majority of his time during his first year in the league has been spent in the G-League with the Maine Red Claws, where he has received ample playing time and has impressed thoroughly. In 36 games played Waters has averaged 18 points, seven assists and three rebounds and has helped guide the team to a record of 28-14, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.

No, we have not seen enough to believe that Waters could be a legitimate starter in the league by next year. However, at the very least his play during 2019-20 has warranted him consideration to take on the role of backup point guard behind starter Kemba Walker for the 2020-21 season.

If given the opportunity, we strongly believe that the 22-year-old would thrive in the role, especially due to one major reason — he fits the mold of the typical point guard who succeeds in Brad Stevens’ system.

Throughout the years, we’ve seen that the players that thrive the most at the point guard position for Stevens have been players either with a chip on their shoulder or those eager to prove themselves: notable examples include the likes of Kemba Walker, Isaiah Thomas, Terry Rozier and Evan Turner, among others.

The one player who really never found the level of success the majority of these other aforementioned players had was Kyrie Irving.

Why?

Because, frankly, he really had neither a chip on his shoulder nor an eagerness to prove himself. The talented All-Star had already found an unbelievable amount of success prior to joining the team and even won a championship playing his style of basketball — unlike the other players mentioned — so, it is our hypothesis that he believed it to be off-putting to change his style a play that he’s been so triumphant with.

From the time he arrived in Boston to the time he left, Irving made it clear that he was comfortable with the way he played and was unwilling to change for any system, even one created by the point guard whisperer himself.

With the fact that his draft stock likely fell due to his underwhelming height — 5-10, 175 pounds), fell to the second round and has spent a majority of his first season in the G-League it would be greatly assumed that Tremont Waters is willing to change anything about his game to better fit himself in a Brad Stevens scheme.

It’s widely known that the young point guard is a hard worker and, when given more minutes, has managed to produce admirably.

With the likely scenario of the Celtics looking for a replacement for Wanamaker on the depth chart, you can bet that Tremont Waters will get a chance to compete for the vacant backup point guard spot

We’re under the belief that, not only will he get a shot for the position, he’ll take it.