Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, Yam Madar unlikely to debut this season

Those hoping that the Boston Celtics would unleash their 2020 and 2021 second-round international rookies this season must temper their expectations. Juhann Begarin and Yam Madar are not coming stateside during the 2021-22 season.

President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens certainly created the roster space during the February 10th NBA trade deadline. That said, the young guns from Guadeloupe and Israel won’t be occupying those extra spots.

MassLive’s Brian Robb dished out that roster dirt answering a fan’s question during his latest Boston Celtics Mailbag.

A focus on development and maximizing their rookie rights is the primary reason why according to Robb:

"I don’t see it happening this year. Neither has developed well enough just yet where signing them in the present would help the team in the present. Since Boston owns their rights for the foreseeable future, there’s no need to waste a year of their rookie deals in just a half season. I would assume both will get a look for an NBA deal or two-way slot next season after NBA Summer League but patience might be the play for both players if Celtics find better options for those slots in the short-term."

The Boston Celtics won’t be signing Isaiah Thomas with the roster space either

For Cs fans alternatively hoping that Isaiah Thomas would be an option with the roster space, well, don’t hold your breath on that Cs reunion coming to fruition.

If anything, Brad Wanamaker would be the former Celtic floor general the front office would consider. Wanamaker has kept busy since leaving Boston and has also played alongside both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. IT and Tatum’s paths never crossed, though their knack for taking over games most certainly do in theory.

Youth will be the focus for Stevens and co., but Begarin and Madar aren’t the youth for the short-term. Instead, they would likely be offered long-term deals in the offseason when the team could guarantee full seasons under the terms of their contracts.

The pair should be expected at the Las Vegas Summer League again this coming summer after being present for the 2021 edition. That said, the jury is out for whether they’ll actually end up in uniform considering how much Stevens loves to wheel and deal.