
Even after coming off a disappointing loss in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat last season, the Boston
Celtics are a team that is considered to have one of the more complete rosters, from top to bottom, in the NBA. However,
that may not be the case for much longer.
With the likelihood that the Celtics are going give Jaylen Brown the supermax contract extension and with Jayson Tatum in
line not far after that, there’s reason to believe that Boston’s roster is going to look a lot different than it does right now. And
one of the biggest differences could be the lack of depth. That’s where the team’s developmental system should come into
play.
Heading into the season, we explore three young players the Celtics should be willing to continue developing and four young
players that they should be ready to move on from.
Young players the Boston Celtics should be willing to develop or give up on
Give up on: Luke Kormet
Luke Kormet may not be as young as some of the other prospects on this list but he just turned 28 years old and is still trying
to find his footing in the NBA. He’s spent stints with the Boston Celtics in each of the last three seasons (along with time in
Cleveland and Milwaukee). However, the hope was that he found somewhat of a home in Boston this past season. That’s far
from a certainty after the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, another player he will be stuck behind. Entering the final year of his
contract, I believe it’s time that Boston moves on from Kormet.
Kormet appeared in 69 games this past season for the Celtics, the most he’s played in a year through the first few seasons of
his career. With how stacked Boston’s frontcourt is now with Kristaps, it’s likely that he won’t even be in the rotation when
the Celtics open the regular season.
You could see the Celtics holding on to Kormet for insurance and depth purposes, but the writing seems to be on the wall for
him in Boston. It would be somewhat shocking if he was back with the team next season.
READ MORE:
Celtics Rumors: Payton Pritchard Will Be Part Of USA Select Team
The 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines is a month away, and a Boston Celtics guard reportedly was called up to help
the United States men’s basketball team train for its gold medal run.
Payton Pritchard will be part of the select team that will practice and scrimmage against Team USA, according to ESPN’s
Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
The select team will be coached by Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic and also will include players like Chet Holmgren,
Cade Cunningham and Keegan Murray, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Shams Charania on Thursday.
Pritchard was part of the USA Basketball program before when he competed in the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World
Cup. He helped Team USA win the bronze medal and was named to the All-Star Five.
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Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were on the 2019 team that finished seventh in the FIBA World Cup. Tatum
and Brown won’t be part of Team USA this year, but Kristaps Porzingis will represent Latvia.
Steve Kerr took over as Team USA head coach, and this year’s FIBA World Cup team will be led by Anthony Edwards, Jaren
Jackson Jr. and Jalen Brunson.
Pritchard’s status in Boston was up in the air this offseason, but it appears he will stay with the Celtics this season after the
backcourt opened up with the Green shipping Smart off to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The fourth-year guard will get his chance to prove to Joe Mazzulla he is deserving of more minutes if he shines against the
top young players on Team USA.
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