If Jaylen Brown is OUT, who will replace him in Starting Lineup? – And who will come off Bench?

[Parliament10]

If Jaylen Brown is OUT, for the early part of the Season, who will replace him in the Starting Lineup?
Assume Starters (or, at least Rotation) of: Pritchard - White - ???? - Boucher - Queta

Also, who will come off the Bench? And in what order?
There are 6 Choices, out of 10 Options.


Celtics Roster (w/o Brown), 2025-26:
Starters: Pritchard - White - ???? - Boucher - Queta
Rotation: Simons - Gonzalez - Minott - Hauser - Garza
Reserves: Scheierman - Walsh - Tillman
Two-Ways: Shulga - Harper - Amari

[Triple M]

Has to be Hauser. I believe Joe trusts him to be solid. I cant really see anyone being a better option at this stage. Maybe Minott down the line but as of now Hauser should be the most ready

[31to6]

right now I'd guess that without JB the starting forwards would be Hauser and Boucher

[darrendaye]

Favorite: Hauser
Darkhorse: Simons

[Parliament10]

Has to be Hauser. I believe Joe trusts him to be solid. I cant really see anyone being a better option at this stage. Maybe Minott down the line but as of now Hauser should be the most ready

I picked Minott. But I think that you're right; the Celtics likely go with Hauser, since he has experience in our system.

[brackdan70]

Why not Minott. Hugo off the bench. I think Hauser is sort of a different role.

[Fierce1]

Doesn't matter who starts.

It's who ends the game that matters.

[doogie_hauser]

Lawnmower (Minott) would be my pick.

He has been a revelation in the pre season and deserves a chance to start if JB is out.

Joe Mazz has a reputation of being unconventional/eccentric at times, so I am hoping he goes with my suggestion, but i honestly would have no qualms with Hauser starting either.

[cl2117]

I would like for it to be Hauser at least to start.

I'm all-in on this being a developmental year and a year where we cultivate the rest of the roster around our new big 3 (Tatum, Brown, White), and to that end we have to both see if our existing guys can have hit their ceiling and give our young guys a chance to grow towards their own.

We know Hauser can be a 3&D guy who is heavy on the former and a little lighter on the latter, but overall he's an NBA rotation player that should fit like a blank scrabble square on any team. Doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective, plays solid iso and team defense, spaces the floor. Everyone needs/can use that player. But can he be more?

Personally I think this is Sam's ceiling, but why not take the opportunity to see if he's got any more room to grow with the massive hole JT has left on the wing. I'm not expecting to run the offense through Sam or see him handle the ball or anything like that, but what I would go for is letting him fire away like he's prime Klay Thompson. Run sets for him like you would for the splash brothers or any other superstar dead-eye shooter and just see if Sam can deliver the same efficiency with higher usage. If we can establish him as a bonafide weapon on the white board, it'll give even more room for the Jays to operate within sets Joe runs.

I'd also like to see Sam attempt a mid-range game as well. I'm not trying to turn him into a ball-handler, but if he could reliably put the ball on the floor off pump fakes even if just to step in for an easy 15 footer or just to attack and kick to keep the defense moving, I think it'll ultimately make a huge difference in his game.

If that doesn't work then you let him go back to his niche. If it does work out, then I think he'd elevate to the same level Pritchard did last year in terms of being an elite role player and legitimate starter for teams facing the play-in or lottery. Right now I think he's borderline with a first round pick, with just a minor upgrade I think he's easily worth a non-lotto first.

Beyond that experiment I think I'd give the minutes to Minott/ Baylor/ Hugo in that order. Minott's the most ready to try to do something with them. Baylor needs them the most to prove he's worth continuing to develop. Hugo has looked great in Summer League and Preseason but don't mind him getting his initial seasoning in on the Red Claws while we suss out if the other trio can assert themselves and claim those minutes as their own.

[playa-hater]

I expect Hauser, but would prefer Minott. Hauser used to be my Binky. He graduated. Minott is my new Binky. But either is choice is within reason for me.

[threrf23]

I'd say Hauser, but I feel like he would already be in the starting lineup (and I don't like his fit as much if Jaylen isn't there, anyways). So I voted Tillman, as a guy with something to prove before potentially being relegated to end of bench when Jaylen returns.

I view Minott as a PF, he looked good in preseason action, but IMO he didn't look as quick and versatile as given credit for. I think he is a better Boucher more than a lesser Jaylen.

[Larry_Russell]

play the youth and get them to grow fast.

Hauser is what he is, we know that.

Play Minott or Hugo....see who sinks or swims

[playa-hater]

play the youth and get them to grow fast.

Hauser is what he is, we know that.

Play Minott or Hugo....see who sinks or swims

I have always leaned on playing younger players more than most here. And this year would certainly be a great opportunity. But even as a rule, there might be a few exceptions. Sam Hauser has a good contract and perhaps if he shows well as a starter, we can move him when we need to.

[keevsnick1]

Seems like he's on track to play, went through full practice today.

I am VERY interested to see who of Hugo/Baylor/Walsh/Minott gets the first crack at the wing minutes. Right now my trust level is

Minot
Hugo
....gap....
Walsh
....GIANT GAP....
Baylor

And I liked Baylor in the draft, but with the exception of a decant run late last year he's generally sruggled.