3 Celtics who improved their stock, 3 who flopped on Abu Dhabi preseason trip

Improved stock: Xavier Tillman

Boston re-signed Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman over the summer, and so far, Tillman has looked like a steal of a contract, especially since they only traded a second-round pick for him at last year’s deadline.

Tillman’s versatile defense will get him on the court, but his three-point shooting will keep him there, and that popped up in Abu Dhabi.

He looked confident from behind the arc, and if he can keep that up during the regular season, he should be able to fill in for Al Horford at times.

Obviously, he still has plenty of room to grow, and consistency will be key, but Abu Dhabi was a great start for the 25-year-old.

Flopped: Lonnie Walker IV

The Celtics signing Lonnie Walker IV toward the end of free agency was a move that made waves across the NBA. But through two preseason games, Walker hasn’t done much.

Walker didn’t get a lot of playing time in Abu Dhabi, as he was one of the last few players off the bench in both outings.

And to make matters worse, once Walker did in the game, it was clear that he was trying to force shots up, and nothing was falling for him.

Before Abu Dhabi, Walker already had an uphill battle to make the Celtics roster. Now, it feels like he’s staring down Mt. Everest.