Former Penn State star would be the best fit for Boston Celtics roster spot

According to a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Lamar Stevens, the 26-year-old Cleveland Cavalier wing will undergo a workout with the Boston Celtics with the potential of filling a roster spot. After the departure of Justin Champagnie, who recently signed with the Miami Heat, Brad Stevens now has two vacancies within his roster. Depth behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown seems to be something the green and white are interested in adding.

The former First Team All-Big Ten player has the potential to fill that need. It always seems like the team targets players who have had some sort of successful history against the Celtics. Back in early March of last season, Stevens scored a team-high five points in overtime in Ohio to lead J. B. Bickerstaff’s team to a four-point victory over the Tatum-less Cs.

Though his offense and shot-making abilities have not stood out in the slightest in three seasons with the Cavs, that hard-nosed defensive attitude is quite evident. The 26-year-old started in 25 games for an Eastern Conference playoff team in 2022-2023.

In his limited time, the Pennsylvania native finished fourth in shots contested per game among Cleveland players. Post All-Star break, only three of his Cavs teammates amassed a higher rebounding per game total. The six-foot-seven wing is incredibly athletic, showing off his leaping ability in transition at times last season. Some may say defensive depth does not make sense with a coach like Joe Mazzulla, but this team may need that kind of stopper considering the departures so far this offseason.

For a player under the age of 30, you love to see improvements. Stevens has shown that with his three-point shot, going from 16% to over 31% between his rookie and third professional campaign. The question is if Stevens can get up to at least 34 to 35% from the great beyond; that is where he is going to need to be to thrive in this Boston Celtics offensive system that Mazzulla runs. The trends point in the direction that he could do it. There are not many concerns about the production of this ball club in the halfcourt offensively. Its toughness on the other end of the floor could be a question. The former NIT champions solve that.

Lamar Stevens’ steady improvements on top of his defensive work rate make him a solid choice for one of the Boston Celtics roster spots

An argument can be made for TJ Warren, but does Boston really need a 29-year-old score-first type of player? Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard can both create and finish plays off the bench while Sam Hauser provides that elite stroke from behind the arc. By no means is Stevens, not an intelligent offensive player. He knows when to cut, and the spaces within the halfcourt to give outlets for the stars around him.

Brogdon remembers his name well. Stevens sent his shot back rotating defensively late in a March contest in 2022. He gave the former Pacers’ No. 7 fits late in that game, forcing him into a turnover and a poor shot attempt with under a minute left. The 2016 Philadelphia Player of the Year has that edge. Sure, Warren can create his own shot. The 26-year-old is younger, hungrier, and resembles many traits of what a “Celtic” should be.