New Celtics player could replace Kristaps Porzingis and Robert Williams

As the Boston Celtics look to restructure their roster heading into next season, Josh Minott has a chance to play a very unique role. When Kristaps Porzingis and Robert Williams were in town, they were masters of help-over defense from the corner. If Minott can prove worthy of consistent playing time, he should be able to fill that role beautifully.

What made the position work so well for Porzingis and Williams was Al Horford. Since Horford was there to actually guard the centers (Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, etc.), Porzingis and Williams were free to play off the ball and help over into the paint. But now, Neemias Queta will have to step up in that regard.

If he can do that, Minott could become a crucial cog in the Celtics’ new-look defense.

How could Josh Minott help the Celtics?

Minott is a freak athlete, and at just 22, he still has plenty of room to grow, especially after barely seeing the floor in Minnesota. The Celtics could give him a new lease on his NBA life, and this defensive role may be his ticket.

Despite his limited minutes on the Wolves, Minott flashed the very skills he needs to thrive as a help-over defender. Rudy Gobert is one of the best one-on-one big man defenders in the NBA, so it freed up Minott to play off the ball, much like Horford did for Porzingis and Williams.

And though that certainly helped Minott’s ability to protect the rim to a degree, his impact was undeniable last season. When Minott was on the court (in his limited minutes), opponents shot 8.6% worse at the rim. That ranked in the 98th percentile of players at his position.

The biggest problem the Celtics would face if Minott were to take over the free safety role is keeping him on the floor on the offensive end. He’s not the best three-point shooter, so he would have to contribute with off-ball cuts, screens, and offensive rebounding (though his frame may not lend itself to the former two skills).

Minott is a strong perimeter defender, and if Queta can effectively guard centers, he could be a perfect off-ball defender, too. Chris Boucher could also fill the role, but having an athlete as impressive as Minott could mimic the Celtics’ success with Williams in place.

As Joe Mazzulla looks to maximize the potential of every player on his roster, especially the new guys, Minott could find a home as a free safety on defense.