When it comes to the Boston Celtics, no one can really argue against the fact that, as currently constructed, they are one of the most well-constructed squads in the entire association and are one of the top threats to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy come the conclusion of 2023.
With top-flight players such as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart atop the pecking order and astounding role players like Al Horford, Malcolm Brogdon, and Danilo Gallinari filling in right behind them, it’s no secret that the C’s are viewed by the masses as a major threat heading into this new campaign.
However, though their “win now” talents are certainly held in high regard, when looking at those who will help lead the franchise into the future things seem to become a little bleaker.
At least, that’s what the folks at Bleacher Report seem to think, as they couldn’t name more than Boston Celtics one player on their list discussing 3 of the best young prospects found on every team.
Abiding by their grading criteria, these players must be “23 years of age or younger,” have “been in the NBA for three years or less,” and “are on a standard, guaranteed contract for the 2022-23 season.”
The Boston Celtics have a ton of things going their way right now, but they don’t have many talents who fit this bill aside from Grant Williams, thus making him the lone inclusion on writer Greg Swartz’s list.
"With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams III aging out of the prospect range, Boston trading away first-round picks in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and giving up Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith for veteran help, the Celtics don’t have much left in the truly young talent department.Grant Williams still qualifies, however, and is coming off the best season of his three-year career.He averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and shot 41.1 percent from three in 24.4 minutes as a part-time starter, giving Boston a knockdown shooter in the frontcourt.If everyone’s healthy, he’ll likely be the backup power forward to Al Horford and first big off the bench for a Celtics team with championship aspirations."
As mentioned in the excerpt, just missing the cut are the likes of Tatum (24), Brown (25), and Time Lord (24), while the unmentioned energizer bunny himself in Payton Pritchard (24) also finds himself on the outside looking in on Swartz’s index.
Perhaps in time rookie JD Davison (19) can wind up working his way into the promising young prospects conversation but, until then, the C’s find themselves linked to just one.