The official Josh Minott thread

[Klomp]

Thought exercise:

Minott is making me sad. I think the way Finch has used him has broken the high confidence level he had coming into the season.

If that wrecks him on the basketball court, doesn't that say something about his current place in the NBA? When Jaden and NAW are struggling on one end, they bring it on the other end. Minott is a long ways away from being a true rotation player on a playoff team.

[winforlose]

Thought exercise:

Minott is making me sad. I think the way Finch has used him has broken the high confidence level he had coming into the season.

If that wrecks him on the basketball court, doesn't that say something about his current place in the NBA? When Jaden and NAW are struggling on one end, they bring it on the other end. Minott is a long ways away from being a true rotation player on a playoff team.

Minott had his worst game tonight of his professional career. No one can defend it, nor should they. That said, one terrible game does not say anything about a player, especially a young one. Minott barely played in college, he barely played the last 2 years, and this is what happens when a really rough player goes through growing pains. The game prior he had a nice steal and got a clear path. Most of Minotts games this season have had at least one nice play and positive minutes. If we want Minott to get consistently better we need patients and more minutes for him when he is having a good night. I have no problem going away from him tonight, protecting him from confidence breaking games is important coaching. So is playing him on Wednesday and making it clear to him that Finch and the team believe in him.

[TimberKat]

Thought exercise:

Minott is making me sad. I think the way Finch has used him has broken the high confidence level he had coming into the season.

If that wrecks him on the basketball court, doesn't that say something about his current place in the NBA? When Jaden and NAW are struggling on one end, they bring it on the other end. Minott is a long ways away from being a true rotation player on a playoff team.

Minott had his worst game tonight of his professional career. No one can defend it, nor should they. That said, one terrible game does not say anything about a player, especially a young one. Minott barely played in college, he barely played the last 2 years, and this is what happens when a really rough player goes through growing pains. The game prior he had a nice steal and got a clear path. Most of Minotts games this season have had at least one nice play and positive minutes. If we want Minott to get consistently better we need patients and more minutes for him when he is having a good night. I have no problem going away from him tonight, protecting him from confidence breaking games is important coaching. So is playing him on Wednesday and making it clear to him that Finch and the team believe in him.

Giving some of the last injuries - DDV, TSjr, and NAW, I don't think we have any choices. Miller and Ingles are worse.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Thought exercise:

Minott is making me sad. I think the way Finch has used him has broken the high confidence level he had coming into the season.

If that wrecks him on the basketball court, doesn't that say something about his current place in the NBA? When Jaden and NAW are struggling on one end, they bring it on the other end. Minott is a long ways away from being a true rotation player on a playoff team.

Minott had his worst game tonight of his professional career. No one can defend it, nor should they. That said, one terrible game does not say anything about a player, especially a young one. Minott barely played in college, he barely played the last 2 years, and this is what happens when a really rough player goes through growing pains. The game prior he had a nice steal and got a clear path. Most of Minotts games this season have had at least one nice play and positive minutes. If we want Minott to get consistently better we need patients and more minutes for him when he is having a good night. I have no problem going away from him tonight, protecting him from confidence breaking games is important coaching. So is playing him on Wednesday and making it clear to him that Finch and the team believe in him.

+1, One bad game does not mean anything. People on board have the tendency to overreact. 2 good games you are a starter, one bad you are trash

[_AIJ_]

I think he's gone by the deadline

[frankenwolf]

Last night there was a great example of a player not following Finch’s instructions and thriving in spite Finch. His name is Jaden McDaniels, and he scored 27 points despite shooting 1 of 5 from deep. Finch has proven he cannot get through to Ant, properly utilize Jaden, find minutes consistently for any of the development projects including Miller, and has no intention of changing his rotations until he is basically forced to (DDV to start, Randle still starting instead of Naz.) Finch is an obstacle to Minott and every other fringe rotation player.

I think you are projecting a bit here, unless you know what is going on in practice, in the locker room and conversations between the coach and said players. I cannot argue for or against your opinion, but I firmly believe there is more going on behind the scenes than we are aware of.

[winforlose]

Last night there was a great example of a player not following Finch’s instructions and thriving in spite Finch. His name is Jaden McDaniels, and he scored 27 points despite shooting 1 of 5 from deep. Finch has proven he cannot get through to Ant, properly utilize Jaden, find minutes consistently for any of the development projects including Miller, and has no intention of changing his rotations until he is basically forced to (DDV to start, Randle still starting instead of Naz.) Finch is an obstacle to Minott and every other fringe rotation player.

I think you are projecting a bit here, unless you know what is going on in practice, in the locker room and conversations between the coach and said players. I cannot argue for or against your opinion, but I firmly believe there is more going on behind the scenes than we are aware of.

Last night Finch screamed at the team, Ant laughed to the media. A few weeks back Finch was asked why he started DDV and joked that it was because everyone told him to. In reality, his method was failing and he was finally desperate enough to make a change. Miller hasn’t played outside of garbage time. Dilly and Minott get half rotations which often exclude significant 2nd half minutes. There very likely is more going on behind the scenes, but it doesn’t change the fact that on the surface Finch is having a very bad year, we are losing close games, and our players are showing the same flaws and scheme failings as last year (high turnovers, poor defensive rebounding, stagnation in the offense, and terrible individual quarters, though last year it was the 4th.)

[minimus]

Conspiracy theory? O, I love conspiracy theories!

[winforlose]

Conspiracy theory? O, I love conspiracy theories!

What conspiracy? I literally talked about things currently happening. I even referenced specific events like Finch yelling at the team is on hoopshype and the Finch interview where he joked about changing the lineup because he read the paper. If you want to see guys minutes go to basketball reference and cleaning the glass. Nothing I said is even remotely controversial, much less conspiratorial

[shrink]

Conspiracy theory? O, I love conspiracy theories!

Here’s one for you.

If they aren’t forced to play them, GMs tell coaches to keep young players on the bench if they are in the final season of their contract, so that it drives down their marketability, and the cost of retaining them.

Remember, this is just a conspiracy theory …

[wolves_89]

Based on how NAW went out last night, I'm guessing he's going to miss at least a couple games. Since DiVincenzo and Shannon are both unavailable it seems that Finch is pretty much going to have to play Minott more than the 4-8 minutes he typically gets. It will be a good test for Josh to see how he handles it when he knows he'll have a bigger role going into the game.

[Klomp]

Based on how NAW went out last night, I'm guessing he's going to miss at least a couple games. Since DiVincenzo and Shannon are both unavailable it seems that Finch is pretty much going to have to play Minott more than the 4-8 minutes he typically gets. It will be a good test for Josh to see how he handles it when he knows he'll have a bigger role going into the game.

Or do we see extended run of Mike and Rob together...

Also, NAW wasn't on today's injury report.

[winforlose]

Based on how NAW went out last night, I'm guessing he's going to miss at least a couple games. Since DiVincenzo and Shannon are both unavailable it seems that Finch is pretty much going to have to play Minott more than the 4-8 minutes he typically gets. It will be a good test for Josh to see how he handles it when he knows he'll have a bigger role going into the game.

Or do we see extended run of Mike and Rob together...

Also, NAW wasn't on today's injury report.

Rob was for an illness. It would be funny if NAW plays more minutes because Dilly isn’t available, given the expectations and assumptions following NAW needing help off the court. Of course not funny HA, HA, but funny nonetheless.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Conspiracy theory? O, I love conspiracy theories!

Here’s one for you.

If they aren’t forced to play them, GMs tell coaches to keep young players on the bench if they are in the final season of their contract, so that it drives down their marketability, and the cost of retaining them.

Remember, this is just a conspiracy theory …

It's not this is fact. I know from reliable sources than once Trump send his ship to Mars, there will be a basketball league there and Finch is scared all young players prefer play in this league than the NBA one. That's the only reason not playing then who make sense

[frankenwolf]

Conspiracy theory? O, I love conspiracy theories!

Here’s one for you.

If they aren’t forced to play them, GMs tell coaches to keep young players on the bench if they are in the final season of their contract, so that it drives down their marketability, and the cost of retaining them.

Remember, this is just a conspiracy theory …

It's not this is fact. I know from reliable sources than once Trump send his ship to Mars, there will be a basketball league there and Finch is scared all young players prefer play in this league than the NBA one. That's the only reason not playing then who make sense

I do not see any conspiracy theories anywhere.
Dang, there goes bigfoot again. One of these days, I'll catch him on video.

[Biff Cooper]

Did Minott ask to get released (TO not picked up)? Garza also? It sounded like both were going to be picked up, and then they weren't.

[Krapinsky]

Did Minott ask to get released (TO not picked up)? Garza also? It sounded like both were going to be picked up, and then they weren't.

Yes, that is what Jon K has reported. Both asked that their options be declined so that they can find situations with more opportunity.

[Biff Cooper]

Thanks Krap. I thought I followed Jon K. on twitter, but maybe bot... It is too bad Finch wouldn't / couldn't give Minott a little more leeway for making mistakes. There is a lot of talent there. He needs someplace where he can make a mistake and learn from it without having to sit on the bench for a month. Hopefully, Boston is the place.

[KGdaBom]

Josh signed with Boston. 2 years $5 million. Sure beats unemployment. The Boston Celtics have reportedly agreed to sign former Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Joshua Minott, per new developments breaking via ESPN senior reporter Shams Charania. The Celtics will sign Minott to a two-year, $5 million deal worked out with Minott's agent, Aaron Turner of Verus.

In the former T-Wolves forward, Boston is getting a 22-year-old, 6-foot-8 swingman weighing in at 205 lbs. who put up 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds per game with Minnesota last season. The Boca Raton, Florida native shot 48.9% from the floor overall, 32.6% from beyond the arc, and 89.5% from the free throw line in 2024-25, appearing in 46 contests and averaging 6.0 minutes per game in them.

The move could signal other changes to Boston's roster, with the Celtics now having Georges Niang as well as Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Peterson and Miles Norris in the mix for playing time at the 3 or 4 next season.

I was surprised by his shooting %s. rounding them it's 50% 33% 3s, not good but doesn't hurt and 90% from the FT line.

[KGdaBom]

I couldn't find the Luka Garza thread, but he also signed with the Celtics. 2 years $5.5 Million

What does new Boston Celtics big man Luka Garza bring to the team? The Celtics signed the former Minnesota Timberwolves center to a two-year, $5.5 million, fully guaranteed contract fresh on the heels of losing backup big man Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs and a four-season, $41 million contract.

Garza's presence will help blunt the impact of the loss of Kornet for Boston in the coming 2025-26 NBA season, but the Celtics will likely need to keep adding bodies to play in the frontcourt. But what can Garza do to help Boston get better while they continue to retool the roster?

The hosts of the CLNS Media "How Bout Them Celtics!" podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below!


If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk