At the halfway point in the 2020-21 NBA season, it isn’t yet clear what path the Boston Celtics might take in the offseason. At 19-17, they are currently slated to have a home-field advantage during the first round of the postseason.
That said, things change very quickly in the NBA. Boston could end up figuring things out with most of the core pieces from the 2020 team that came within two games of the NBA Finals. Just as easily, they could end up losing ground in the east.
That scenario could force the team to assess the roster they have and compartmentalize who is a long-term keeper and who isn’t. It could also cause the team to look at who is in charge and wonder whether or not the man responsible for improving the roster is the best man for that job.
Either way, the 2021 NBA Draft is an important one for Boston. With only one player with starter potential drafted in the last three years (Payton Pritchard), it will be on Danny Ainge (or whoever else is in the seat should the Cs season go south) to add another player that could possibly see minutes in the postseason.
NBC Sports Network’s James Ham believes the Cs can have their next “super-sub” if a possible selection of Josh Christopher from Arizona State works out:
"Christopher walks that fine line of playing with tremendous energy while trying to stay under control. It doesn’t always work, but he’s fun to watch. He’s more of a pure scorer than a shooter, which he’ll need to work out at the next level. Can he be a super sub at the NBA level? It’s very possible.Boston has a deep team, but they need a few more players that have a fire like Christopher does. His energy is contagious and he has the raw tools for a team to take a flyer on."
If the Boston Celtics keep Kemba Walker on as the team’s starter, a bench backcourt of Pritchard and Christopher would be electric. The ASU product is a raw scorer at this point in time, but having that intangible “fire” might be more important than a ready-made NBA shot.
That could be taught. James Harden, Zach LaVine, and even Brook Lopez became deep-threats from the field. Christopher has shown flashes of having a shooting touch in Pac-12 play, though he has been inconsistent in his freshman season.
The Houdini approves. What do you guys think?