The Maine Celtics should be one of the top G League teams this season. A strong roster could be absolutely loaded if those currently with Boston on an Exhibit 10 deal remain in the organization after final cuts.
That's a group of reinforcements who can add to an already impressive foundation. Their head coach is a crucial pillar. In his first year in that role at any level, Phil Pressey helped lead Maine to 18 wins and a playoff berth last season.
The former Celtics guard is a coach on the rise. His first year at the helm offered valuable perspective on how to run a practice, lead a huddle, and manage a game.
Now, he gets to build on what he learned from getting thrown in the fire with an even more talented roster.
The Maine Celtics will get a boost from Chris Cenac Jr.
The Expo is an electric atmosphere to watch a basketball game. If one can make it out there, it's well worth the trip. Another incentive is that it offers the chance to keep close tabs on the growth of players who could be future contributors in Boston.
Chris Cenac Jr., the franchise's first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft, projects to spend time with the team's G League affiliate. As assistant coach Amile Jefferson, the Sin City C's bench boss at Summer League, expressed, Cenac oozes potential.
He's raw, but he's a smart player in an elite infrastructure. That will help him hone his craft. Fans should be patient with his development. With that said, as a stretch-four and small-ball five, the former Houston star offers the parent club a different profile at those spots. NBA opportunities could and probably will become available to him in his rookie campaign.
Celtics fans should buy Dillon Mitchell stock
Boston's second-round pick this year, Dillon Mitchell, will spend considerable time in Maine. Collegiately, the former St. John's captain was one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. He has tremendous instincts and excellent anticipation. That, and his elite athleticism, shone through in Las Vegas.
So did an improved ability from beyond the arc. The coaching staff worked with Mitchell on releasing the ball on the way up. The result was going from making one three in his last year in the NCAA to knocking down three on 37.5 percent shooting at Summer League.
The six-foot-eight wing has the talent, IQ, and work ethic to go from helping Maine compete for its first G League championship to making an impact in the NBA.
The Maine Celtics' roster is loaded
While Mitchell has one of Boston's two-way deals, another belongs to Amari Williams. After quietly delivering a strong showing at FIBA this summer, the seven-foot center figures to spend significant time sharpening his game with the organization's G League affiliate.
The former Kentucky standout's passing and ability to bring the ball up elevate his teammates offensively and consistently create highlight-reel plays.
Defensively, he has the length and mobility to serve as a reliable anchor who can protect the rim. At Summer League, he was more communicative and assertive, an encouraging sign for his growth.
Beyond Williams and the Celtics' draft class, Devin Carter is the favorite for the team's final two-way spot, in this author's opinion. If landing that comes with contributing in Maine, then Phil Pressey's club becomes that much more formidable.
And with Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, and Hayden Gray on Exhibit 10 deals with the Celtics, those are three more players that could help Maine have the best rotation in the G League this season. It's a championship-caliber team. Their roster is filled with players who could become future NBA contributors. And they're led by an ascending coach. The pieces are in place for something special to happen in Maine this season.
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