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Boston Celtics: 3 potential surprise starters for 2021-22 Cs

By Chris Conte

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Juancho Hernangomez #41 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a three-point shot over Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on April 21, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Juancho Hernangomez #41 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a three-point shot over Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on April 21, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have sent out and brought in more names than the NBA’s media group has given them credit for. The 2018-19 team is no more than a skeleton, and last season’s team has departed for the most part.

Considering how the Cs’ season ended, it’s understandable why Brad Stevens brought about so many changes. The Celts needed a change of culture in their locker room and some on the court tweaks that bled through all of their losses last season.

Boston lost a lot of starting caliber pieces this offseason. Between Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Tristan Thompson, Semi Ojeleye, and more, there is a lot of room for the pieces Stevens added to blossom, and that includes in the starting lineup.

Some will find more success coming off the bench as Dennis Schroder did in OKC, but others will be better suited in the starting lineup like Robert Williams. The starting five will undoubtedly consist of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, but the other two starters and five guys in the rotation behind them are entirely up in the air.

We won’t know who those seven guys will be until the season starts, but we can speculate in the meantime.

Today, we’re going to take a look at three potential wild-card starters we could see this upcoming season. Some new faces will be introduced and some familiar names we’ve already seen inserted into the starting five in previous seasons.

Boston Celtics SG/SF Aaron Nesmith

Heading off the list of potential starters is Aaron Nesmith. Although he wasn’t one of the Boston Celtics’ offseason additions, the Cs’ season will heavily depend on Nesmith’s growth. The 14th overall pick in last year’s draft came out of the gates in rough shape but sprinted across the finish line towards the latter part of the season.

Nesmith showed heart and the will to learn on the fly, two things Brad Stevens values heavily. However, as great of an ending to the 2020-21 season as Nesmith had, he still has a lot of room to grow.

The Boston Celtics did not add any movement shooting this season outside of Sam Hauser, whose role is still unknown. That means most of the Celtics relocation and off-the-catch shooting will fall on Jaylen Brown and Aaron Nesmith.

We know Jaylen Brown is capable of knocking down every open three the Celtics can get him, but it remains to be seen whether or not Nesmith can do so throughout an entire season and into the playoffs.

If Nesmith can show Ime Udoka he’s capable of carrying the Celts’ shooting load in training camp; he might be able to earn himself a spot in the Boston Celtics starting five this upcoming season.

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