With Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart battling injuries down the stretch last season, Terry Rozier stepped into a starting role and showed why the Celtics used their first-round pick on him in 2015. Although Rozier will return to a bench role to start the 2018/19 season, Marcus Morris tells A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston that the 24-year-old is still “a starting point guard in this league.” Meanwhile, head coach Brad Stevens acknowledges that he’ll need to try to find Rozier as many minutes as possible (link via Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston).
As Stevens and the Celtics explore how best to use Rozier on the court, the franchise will also face a looming decision on him off the court, notes Shane Rhodes of Basketball Insiders. If he doesn’t sign a new extension by October 15, Rozier will be on track for restricted free agency in 2019, and he’s not a slam dunk to be re-signed, since Boston has already committed big money to Smart and will need to re-sign Irving too. Rhodes outlines the options the C’s will have with their young point guard, which include letting him walk, matching an offer sheet, or trading him.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- The Celtics have been a popular pick to win the Eastern Conference and challenge for an NBA title in 2018/19, but – based on his team’s preseason performances – Brad Stevens wants to pump the brakes on that hype. As Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston relays, Stevens said he “couldn’t be more unimpressed” with the C’s at the moment. “We’re not as good as advertised right now,” Stevens said after a Tuesday loss to Cleveland. “So at least we know that.”
- Norman Powell has the sixth-highest cap hit on the Raptors‘ roster for the 2018/19 season, but he’ll be hard-pressed to crack the team’s rotation, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. In Smith’s view, Powell will have to recapture his 2016/17 form or “capitalize on the misfortune of others” in order to regain a significant role. Otherwise, he’ll likely remain a trade candidate.
- Sarah Todd of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines the importance of veteran guard J.J. Redick on a young Sixers team. Redick inked another one-year deal with Philadelphia as a free agent this summer.
Powell was gold in that 16-17 year, but seems to be one of those that can’t handle the burden of expectations (and a larger contract). He needs to get back to what he was initially, a great defender and slasher.
JJ is the perfect dude in PHI, he has become a pretty humble pro, who hopefully is rubbing off on dudes like embiid. Great doc out there about the guy,and his personal growth out there.
Don’t think signing Rozier is critical since the Celtics will have up to 4 1st round draft picks next season. If they get the Clippers pick, they could get Rozier’s replacement a lot cheaper.
On another note: Bleacher Report says (as have the Heat since the start) that the Heat will not include Richardson, Adebayo, or Olynyk in a deal. Says Tobias Harris probably wouldn’t be included because the Timberwolves wouldn’t want to deal with his high salary demands this summer.
scary terry’s part of the core, managing kyrie’s knees c’s need him
I love Brad, best coach in the NBA. Keeps the team humble. I see some Belichick in him