Jordan Walsh must balance his ambitions with what the Celtics need

Jordan Walsh has spent his summer working on an offensive evolution.

"The biggest thing is I'm trying to change my identity offensively," he said at Summer League in Las Vegas. "I'm trying to fit in situations that I didn't fit in last year."

Too often, the Boston Celtics' third-year wing has felt the sting of getting subbed out for an offensive upgrade, of watching a situation where his team needed a bucket from the bench.

He told his player development coach that when those moments arrive, he wants to make sure that he's the best option; that he's someone the Celtics want on the floor.

That desire has fueled an offseason spent "working on my shot, working on my handle, working on creating my own shot when I have those pockets."

The Celtics need Jordan Walsh to evolve within his role

What Boston wants from the former Arkansas Razorback is simple: knock down catch-and-shoot 3s and create extra possessions.

The former second-round pick is a handful to keep from getting offensive rebounds. He grabbed 2.5 per 36 minutes last season. He can generate as many second-chance points as he wants.

Walsh also made significant strides as a shooter. It's one of the areas he grew the most from his second season to his third. He emphasized having quick feet when getting into his jump shot. The result? He converted on 38.4 percent of the 1.8 threes he attempted.

Spacing the floor and burying shots when the ball comes his way are crucial parts of his role on that end of the floor.

What won't change about Jordan Walsh's offensive role

The Celtics won't suddenly empower him as an isolation scorer. Players like Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, who could become their second-leading scorer, and Derrick White will have the highest usage rates on the team. Paul George will also get iso opportunities.

With that said, the coaching staff won't ignore his growth. If his development in that area is consistently on display, starting at training camp, of course they'll take note.

And if he turns those situations where he gets chances to go one-on-one into points, whether that's for him or his teammates, perhaps he'll start to get more cracks at it.

His role on offense is well-defined, though. More than creating his own shot out of isolation, it's about making a play when the ball comes to him and he can't get a shot off. He must be able to attack a closeout and create something positive. That's a prime example of his growth meshing perfectly with the job Boston has for him on offense.

It reflects how there is room for Walsh's ambitions to align with what the Celtics need from him.

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