Boston Celtics: Can any of the new signings contribute in 2022?

Over the last week, the Boston Celtics made three signings to fulfill the team’s roster needs per league requirements.

Truthfully, none were anything remotely resembling an impact addition. But that doesn’t mean they don’t stand a chance of contributing in 2022.

Or does it?

Are these placeholder-free agents that could be dropped at a dime should a buyout market candidate become available? Perhaps, but will one even become available? Gary Harris and Mike Muscala may not be headed for buyouts after all.

Ime Udoka has enough guys for a legitimate short-rotation come postseason time, so maybe these utility players can find a role on the fringes if an injury pops up.

What role would each signing play, though?

Kelan Martin, Malik Fitts, and Matt Ryan could all be ‘shooters with size’ for the Boston Celtics.

“Shooters with size” became a commonplace phrase last season when Danny Ainge was still in charge of Boston’s front office.

Now, a trio of relative unknowns gets the chance to carve out a niche on the Celtics second unit. Romeo Langford’s departure helped enable that, as well as the salary dump deal with the Houston Rockets to shed the expiring contracts of Dennis Schroder, Enes Kanter Freedom, and Bruno Fernando in order to return Daniel Theis home.

Ryan is the best shooter of the three, and is on a two-way contract, meaning his stay could be the most permanent.

Fitts and Martin already started off their tenures with a combined 0-3 shooting night and a -3 box plus/minus. They did each grab rebounds in their three minutes of floor time.

Maybe the latter two’s roles expand, though it’s quite possible the Cs don’t have enough garbage minutes to go around for them. Ryan’s role on the floor at all for Boston is still undefined in every capacity ahead of his debut.

It’s a wait-and-see game in a season that has already been surprising in a multitude of ways.