Welcome to Boston, Hugo Gonzalez!

[Hal14]

The only question here will Joe even play him?
I saw him brick 3s all season long which does not bode well.
I am not impressed by anything he does but he plays hard. Can be our Josh Hart in about 5-6 years if he develops

Brad seems to want to emphasize movement and cutting. If Joe is not on board with that I don't think his tenure here will be long. I think we are going to see more diversity on offense next year, yes it will be 3-heavy but less 5 guys standing around the arc waiting for the ball.

And a 6-6 Josh Hart would be a helluva get for a #28 pick.

Well the guy we had recently who was a very limited shooter but was very good at bringing energy, cutting, hustling, crashing the boards and defending was Oshae Brissett.

Brissett was a solid 9th/10th man for a team that won the NBA title. Yes, he was 25 and Hugo is only 19. But there's less pressure, less expectations on this year's celtics team with all of the payroll cuts, dipping under apron, Tatum injury's etc.

So perhaps Hugo is a guy you throw in there in an environment with less pressure, less expectations. So he can learn, develop and get better in year 1, then in years 2/3 when Tatum is back healthy and we're ready to chase titles again, maybe by that time you've got a guy who can be that Brissett type (or even like a Christian Braun, obi toppin, josh hart type) on a contender..

[Curmudgeon]

So long as he's not the new Jiri Welsch.

[Shak_Celts]

The only question here will Joe even play him?
I saw him brick 3s all season long which does not bode well.
I am not impressed by anything he does but he plays hard. Can be our Josh Hart in about 5-6 years if he develops

Brad seems to want to emphasize movement and cutting. If Joe is not on board with that I don't think his tenure here will be long. I think we are going to see more diversity on offense next year, yes it will be 3-heavy but less 5 guys standing around the arc waiting for the ball.

And a 6-6 Josh Hart would be a helluva get for a #28 pick.

Well the guy we had recently who was a very limited shooter but was very good at bringing energy, cutting, hustling, crashing the boards and defending was Oshae Brissett.

Brissett was a solid 9th/10th man for a team that won the NBA title. Y

es, he was 25 and Hugo is only 19. But there's less pressure, less expectations on this year's celtics team with all of the payroll cuts, dipping under apron, Tatum injury's etc.

So perhaps Hugo is a guy you throw in there in an environment with less pressure, less expectations. So he can learn, develop and get better in year 1, then in years 2/3 when Tatum is back healthy and we're ready to chase titles again, maybe by that time you've got a guy who can be that Brissett type (or even like a Christian Braun, obi toppin, josh hart type) on a contender..

When I watch those guys, I’m always surprised when their shot goes in. Hugo doesn’t look like that, if I didn’t go in knowing how poorly he does as a shooter, there are many times I would be shocked that it didn’t go in. He looks like he can shoot the ball. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they have him shooting league average by the end of the season. Whether that’s the G or with the big guys. Wasn’t the league average from three like 34% last season? Yeah I believe they can get him up seven percent. Celtics do make better shooters. JB needs to stop working with lethal shooter and get back with Celtics shooting coaches. I think Walsh looks better, he just didn’t get consistent minutes, that people say is needed but knock him even though he doesn’t.

[Hal14]

Brad seems to want to emphasize movement and cutting. If Joe is not on board with that I don't think his tenure here will be long. I think we are going to see more diversity on offense next year, yes it will be 3-heavy but less 5 guys standing around the arc waiting for the ball.

And a 6-6 Josh Hart would be a helluva get for a #28 pick.

Well the guy we had recently who was a very limited shooter but was very good at bringing energy, cutting, hustling, crashing the boards and defending was Oshae Brissett.

Brissett was a solid 9th/10th man for a team that won the NBA title. Y

es, he was 25 and Hugo is only 19. But there's less pressure, less expectations on this year's celtics team with all of the payroll cuts, dipping under apron, Tatum injury's etc.

So perhaps Hugo is a guy you throw in there in an environment with less pressure, less expectations. So he can learn, develop and get better in year 1, then in years 2/3 when Tatum is back healthy and we're ready to chase titles again, maybe by that time you've got a guy who can be that Brissett type (or even like a Christian Braun, obi toppin, josh hart type) on a contender..

When I watch those guys, I’m always surprised when their shot goes in. Hugo doesn’t look like that, if I didn’t go in knowing how poorly he does as a shooter, there are many times I would be shocked that it didn’t go in. He looks like he can shoot the ball. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they have him shooting league average by the end of the season. Whether that’s the G or with the big guys. Wasn’t the league average from three like 34% last season? Yeah I believe they can get him up seven percent. Celtics do make better shooters. JB needs to stop working with lethal shooter and get back with Celtics shooting coaches. I think Walsh looks better, he just didn’t get consistent minutes, that people say is needed but knock him even though he doesn’t.

I get what you mean to some extent.

Overall, his mechanics are good. And on tape, he does look pretty good shooting from deep..shoots it with a decent amount of confidence.

But his touch is a bit hit or miss (some that go softly in but quite a few that slam hard off the rim/backboard). And some minor things to clean up with the mechanics which this guy touches on in this vid..overall he thinks these things are pretty easy to cleanup, especially for a kid who's still so young and early in his development:

Watch on YouTube

;t=1669s

Like, if you compare the way his shot looks (and the confidence with which they shoot it) to someone like Walsh or Springer, it's night and day. Hugo's shot at age 19 looks WAY better and he shoots it with WAY more confidence than Walsh or Springer. It looks physically painful the way Walsh/Springer shoot the ball from deep. Looks more free/easy/smooth for Hugo.

[BleedGreen1989]

I’m sure he spends a lot of time in Portland.

[Hal14]

I’m sure he spends a lot of time in Portland.

Maybe. But next season is looking like a bridge year, where we're not going to be contending.

JB coming off knee surgery. Tatum out for possibly the whole season. Hauser is likely next to get traded. There could be a good amount of wing mins available for guys like Hugo (defense) and Baylor (offense). Especially if Walsh is either waived or traded (only $200K of his deal is guaranteed).

[FlyBono]

color=#0000FF]Uhh please don't bait people into a fight by calling us all swinging dicks. -b[/color][/quote]

Who are you the forum police with above statement? Tell you what, if u can’t handle the post don’t read it, now go have your glass of cookies and milk!

Poster has given a time out for insulting a mod after being warned for insulting posters. -b

[ThePigeon]

I’m sure he spends a lot of time in Portland.

Maybe. But next season is looking like a bridge year, where we're not going to be contending.

JB coming off knee surgery. Tatum out for possibly the whole season. Hauser is likely next to get traded. There could be a good amount of wing mins available for guys like Hugo (defense) and Baylor (offense). Especially if Walsh is either waived or traded (only $200K of his deal is guaranteed).

I think next season is the season where Brown will show the league he can lead a team, be the first option etc.
He will need a functioning team to show it, with some talent

This is the year where Joe will need to show he is real coach and actually able to develop players and win while he doesn't have the most talented team in the league (Brad was an overachiever coach).

This year will be the make or break for JD, Walsh, Queta (Peterson and other two-ways if they are signed)

Not a typical bridge year

[Hal14]

I’m sure he spends a lot of time in Portland.

Maybe. But next season is looking like a bridge year, where we're not going to be contending.

JB coming off knee surgery. Tatum out for possibly the whole season. Hauser is likely next to get traded. There could be a good amount of wing mins available for guys like Hugo (defense) and Baylor (offense). Especially if Walsh is either waived or traded (only $200K of his deal is guaranteed).

I think next season is the season where Brown will show the league he can lead a team, be the first option etc.
He will need a functioning team to show it, with some talent

This is the year where Joe will need to show he is real coach and actually able to develop players and win while he doesn't have the most talented team in the league (Brad was an overachiever coach).

This year will be the make or break for JD, Walsh, Queta (Peterson and other two-ways if they are signed)

Not a typical bridge year

Why does JB need to show that? Maybe for personal, selfish reasons. That might help JB.

But Brad and Joe aren't concerned with what helps JB..only with what benefits the organization as a whole.

I think it's clear when looking at how Brad has spoken, how Wyc has spoken over the past few months and the moves Brad has made this offseason so far and when factoring in Tatum's injury, and when looking at what media people/insiders have said recently, this is a bridge year and we are looking to trim payroll, and slowly start to build out what the roster could look like in the 2026-2027 - 2027-2030 seasons, for our next title window.

Also, Joe doesn't have anything to prove. Everything that Brad and Wyc have said in the past couple of years indicates that Joe is their guy, they believe in Joe and Joe is not going anywhere anytime soon. Joe is likely getting a contract extension this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the team's next order of business after the draft wraps up..

Sure, the young guys like JD, Hugo, and Walsh will get a chance to prove themselves. But JD's deal is non-guaranteed, only $200K of Walsh's deal is guaranteed. Both of them could get waived before opening night..if they're not traded before then. Peterson is a FA..

[Shak_Celts]

Well the guy we had recently who was a very limited shooter but was very good at bringing energy, cutting, hustling, crashing the boards and defending was Oshae Brissett.

Brissett was a solid 9th/10th man for a team that won the NBA title. Y

es, he was 25 and Hugo is only 19. But there's less pressure, less expectations on this year's celtics team with all of the payroll cuts, dipping under apron, Tatum injury's etc.

So perhaps Hugo is a guy you throw in there in an environment with less pressure, less expectations. So he can learn, develop and get better in year 1, then in years 2/3 when Tatum is back healthy and we're ready to chase titles again, maybe by that time you've got a guy who can be that Brissett type (or even like a Christian Braun, obi toppin, josh hart type) on a contender..

When I watch those guys, I’m always surprised when their shot goes in. Hugo doesn’t look like that, if I didn’t go in knowing how poorly he does as a shooter, there are many times I would be shocked that it didn’t go in. He looks like he can shoot the ball. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they have him shooting league average by the end of the season. Whether that’s the G or with the big guys. Wasn’t the league average from three like 34% last season? Yeah I believe they can get him up seven percent. Celtics do make better shooters. JB needs to stop working with lethal shooter and get back with Celtics shooting coaches. I think Walsh looks better, he just didn’t get consistent minutes, that people say is needed but knock him even though he doesn’t.

I get what you mean to some extent.

Overall, his mechanics are good. And on tape, he does look pretty good shooting from deep..shoots it with a decent amount of confidence.

But his touch is a bit hit or miss (some that go softly in but quite a few that slam hard off the rim/backboard). And some minor things to clean up with the mechanics which this guy touches on in this vid..overall he thinks these things are pretty easy to cleanup, especially for a kid who's still so young and early in his development:

Watch on YouTube

;t=1669s

Like, if you compare the way his shot looks (and the confidence with which they shoot it) to someone like Walsh or Springer, it's night and day. Hugo's shot at age 19 looks WAY better and he shoots it with WAY more confidence than Walsh or Springer. It looks physically painful the way Walsh/Springer shoot the ball from deep. Looks more free/easy/smooth for Hugo.

Oh yeah, I basically said in another post his touch isn’t touching. He’ll blow past his man and bloop, the ball hates the net. Then when he gets it right it looks easy. I dunno what to think honestly.

[djFan71]

Uhh please don't bait people into a fight by calling us all swinging dicks. -b

Who are you the forum police with above statement? Tell you what, if u can’t handle the post don’t read it, now go have your glass of cookies and milk!

Quite literally, yes. It was a mod that left that comment. Trying to be cool and not give you anything official before things escalated.

[Hal14]

When I watch those guys, I’m always surprised when their shot goes in. Hugo doesn’t look like that, if I didn’t go in knowing how poorly he does as a shooter, there are many times I would be shocked that it didn’t go in. He looks like he can shoot the ball. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they have him shooting league average by the end of the season. Whether that’s the G or with the big guys. Wasn’t the league average from three like 34% last season? Yeah I believe they can get him up seven percent. Celtics do make better shooters. JB needs to stop working with lethal shooter and get back with Celtics shooting coaches. I think Walsh looks better, he just didn’t get consistent minutes, that people say is needed but knock him even though he doesn’t.

I get what you mean to some extent.

Overall, his mechanics are good. And on tape, he does look pretty good shooting from deep..shoots it with a decent amount of confidence.

But his touch is a bit hit or miss (some that go softly in but quite a few that slam hard off the rim/backboard). And some minor things to clean up with the mechanics which this guy touches on in this vid..overall he thinks these things are pretty easy to cleanup, especially for a kid who's still so young and early in his development:

Watch on YouTube

;t=1669s

Like, if you compare the way his shot looks (and the confidence with which they shoot it) to someone like Walsh or Springer, it's night and day. Hugo's shot at age 19 looks WAY better and he shoots it with WAY more confidence than Walsh or Springer. It looks physically painful the way Walsh/Springer shoot the ball from deep. Looks more free/easy/smooth for Hugo.

Oh yeah, I basically said in another post his touch isn’t touching. He’ll blow past his man and bloop, the ball hates the net. Then when he gets it right it looks easy. I dunno what to think honestly.

Well yeah, that's why I said his touch is hit or miss. Pretty common for a player who's only 19. It was an issue for JB at that age - still is to some extent.

He's just gotta keep working on it.

Hopefully he will learn a lot from our coaches (and from the Jays) to help refine his offensive game.

[ThePigeon]

Maybe. But next season is looking like a bridge year, where we're not going to be contending.

JB coming off knee surgery. Tatum out for possibly the whole season. Hauser is likely next to get traded. There could be a good amount of wing mins available for guys like Hugo (defense) and Baylor (offense). Especially if Walsh is either waived or traded (only $200K of his deal is guaranteed).

I think next season is the season where Brown will show the league he can lead a team, be the first option etc.
He will need a functioning team to show it, with some talent

This is the year where Joe will need to show he is real coach and actually able to develop players and win while he doesn't have the most talented team in the league (Brad was an overachiever coach).

This year will be the make or break for JD, Walsh, Queta (Peterson and other two-ways if they are signed)

Not a typical bridge year

Why does JB need to show that? Maybe for personal, selfish reasons. That might help JB.

But Brad and Joe aren't concerned with what helps JB..only with what benefits the organization as a whole.

I think it's clear when looking at how Brad has spoken, how Wyc has spoken over the past few months and the moves Brad has made this offseason so far and when factoring in Tatum's injury, and when looking at what media people/insiders have said recently, this is a bridge year and we are looking to trim payroll, and slowly start to build out what the roster could look like in the 2026-2027 - 2027-2030 seasons, for our next title window.

Also, Joe doesn't have anything to prove. Everything that Brad and Wyc have said in the past couple of years indicates that Joe is their guy, they believe in Joe and Joe is not going anywhere anytime soon. Joe is likely getting a contract extension this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the team's next order of business after the draft wraps up..

Sure, the young guys like JD, Hugo, and Walsh will get a chance to prove themselves. But JD's deal is non-guaranteed, only $200K of Walsh's deal is guaranteed. Both of them could get waived before opening night..if they're not traded before then. Peterson is a FA..

I think calling it just a 'bridge year' kind of misses the point of how important this season is going to be for the actual development and evaluation of the roster.

We’ve got a legit All-NBA guy in JB who’s going to be forced to step into a leadership and offensive hub role for real and the team needs to see if he can do that (I think he can - look at the way he played game 5 against NY). Not just for his own growth, but because it directly impacts how Brad builds the team going forward. Is he a guy you can center the offense around when Tatum sits? Can he consistently create for others, or is he more of a finisher type? That’s not 'selfish JB stuff' that’s strategic clarity the front office needs to plan the next phase of this core.

Same goes for Joe. Even if Wyc and Brad are backing him (which they obviously are), next season is his first true test as a coach. Can he build a system around less talent and still be competitive? Can he get real growth out of guys like JD, Walsh, and Queta? If he is going to be the long term coach, we need to know he isn't just a crazy guy with a stacked roster. He has to be able to develop talent and show real growth as a coach.

And honestly, we are going to learn a ton about the fringe guys. JD, Walsh, Queta - all are at a point where it is either break out or get waived/traded/out of the league. Hauser put in the work and got playing time in real situations. Same opportunity is now there for someone else.

Even from Brad’s cap sheet POV, the young guys getting real reps could change how we use the cap next summer, or which bigger moves we pull the trigger on.

This isn’t a bridge year. It is a foundation year. Whether this group ends up contending again in 2026 or has to be reshaped entirely depends on what we learn this season. Every game will matter for different reasons, just not the ones we are used to. Even if it is just for us fans

[Shak_Celts]

Through rebounding and turnovers. He’s active, he’s a rebounder, he knows what he’s doing. The turnovers were mostly travels and some charges.

His passing turnovers were more trying to get it to the big and it not having enough on it or too little. Couple getting caught taking it inside and needing to find a bailout that he didn’t.

[jfs1000d]

So long as he's not the new Jiri Welsch.

Welsch was a jump shot away from being great. (IYKYK)

[Hal14]

Good stuff from Jack Simone:

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

I think next season is the season where Brown will show the league he can lead a team, be the first option etc.
He will need a functioning team to show it, with some talent

This is the year where Joe will need to show he is real coach and actually able to develop players and win while he doesn't have the most talented team in the league (Brad was an overachiever coach).

This year will be the make or break for JD, Walsh, Queta (Peterson and other two-ways if they are signed)

Not a typical bridge year

Why does JB need to show that? Maybe for personal, selfish reasons. That might help JB.

But Brad and Joe aren't concerned with what helps JB..only with what benefits the organization as a whole.

I think it's clear when looking at how Brad has spoken, how Wyc has spoken over the past few months and the moves Brad has made this offseason so far and when factoring in Tatum's injury, and when looking at what media people/insiders have said recently, this is a bridge year and we are looking to trim payroll, and slowly start to build out what the roster could look like in the 2026-2027 - 2027-2030 seasons, for our next title window.

Also, Joe doesn't have anything to prove. Everything that Brad and Wyc have said in the past couple of years indicates that Joe is their guy, they believe in Joe and Joe is not going anywhere anytime soon. Joe is likely getting a contract extension this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the team's next order of business after the draft wraps up..

Sure, the young guys like JD, Hugo, and Walsh will get a chance to prove themselves. But JD's deal is non-guaranteed, only $200K of Walsh's deal is guaranteed. Both of them could get waived before opening night..if they're not traded before then. Peterson is a FA..

I think calling it just a 'bridge year' kind of misses the point of how important this season is going to be for the actual development and evaluation of the roster.

We’ve got a legit All-NBA guy in JB who’s going to be forced to step into a leadership and offensive hub role for real and the team needs to see if he can do that (I think he can - look at the way he played game 5 against NY). Not just for his own growth, but because it directly impacts how Brad builds the team going forward. Is he a guy you can center the offense around when Tatum sits? Can he consistently create for others, or is he more of a finisher type? That’s not 'selfish JB stuff' that’s strategic clarity the front office needs to plan the next phase of this core.

Same goes for Joe. Even if Wyc and Brad are backing him (which they obviously are), next season is his first true test as a coach. Can he build a system around less talent and still be competitive? Can he get real growth out of guys like JD, Walsh, and Queta? If he is going to be the long term coach, we need to know he isn't just a crazy guy with a stacked roster. He has to be able to develop talent and show real growth as a coach.

And honestly, we are going to learn a ton about the fringe guys. JD, Walsh, Queta - all are at a point where it is either break out or get waived/traded/out of the league. Hauser put in the work and got playing time in real situations. Same opportunity is now there for someone else.

Even from Brad’s cap sheet POV, the young guys getting real reps could change how we use the cap next summer, or which bigger moves we pull the trigger on.

This isn’t a bridge year. It is a foundation year. Whether this group ends up contending again in 2026 or has to be reshaped entirely depends on what we learn this season. Every game will matter for different reasons, just not the ones we are used to. Even if it is just for us fans

By bridge year, all I mean is bridging the gap to a season (not this one) in the future where will will be in a better situation financially, when we'll be in a better situation health-wise and with the roster to get back to title contention.

That's all I meant..

So therefore, there's less pressure, less expectations this season. The goal is simply to develop our guys, have our guys get better, improve and build towards being able to figure out what the roster will look like in future seasons when we'll get back to title contention.

Thus, a guy like Hugo is more likely to get mins in Boston and would probably get less mins in Maine than he would if we were in title contending mode this season. Which I think is how this discussion started,..

[Fencer reregistered]

So long as he's not the new Jiri Welsch.

Jiri Welsch was in essence traded for Rajon Rondo.

(He was traded for the 2007 pick the Cs sent out in the trade for Rondo's rights. The pick itself was later used on Rudy Fernandez.)

[Shak_Celts]

He reminds me of Nesmith on D. He gets touched, bumped, or stuck for a bit on every screen, but he recovers quickly. He sticks to his man like glue. If you’re his man and you’re on the court, he’s on you like a Siamese twin. Full court or half court, he’s in your jersey. He’s a gnat. He’s also good at getting weak side blocks and a few chase downs. He’s just good at blocking shots is what I’m seeing. He likes to let you get by for a poke from behind.

Sometimes he seems too aggressive and it bites him when he doesn’t poke it loose, because if you put it out near him he’s going to try and get it. Early on I did see a little ball watching, but then a switch must have flipped and he started focusing on his man. The video shows his good and bad moments in every aspect of the game.

Think he’s going to get roughed by some teams, a few hard fouls to signal “STOP that ish!” Like Nesmith, that’s not going to deter him, he’s going to keep doing it.

Energizer Bunny!

[Dogen]

Would have been nice if Hugo took the big bag that BYU offered to play with Egor last season.

I hope more of these kids come over to the states to make scouting easier.

No offense, but it's really not that hard to scout overseas players and compare them to college players if you know what you're doing.

This guy AVC has a youtube channel where he posts scouting report vids on all the top rated prospects and he actually says in a few of his vids that it's easier to evaluate overseas players than college prospects because the level of play, the spacing, the types of schemes, sets they run, etc. in the top overseas pro leagues are closer to what you see in the NBA than the college game.

https://www.youtube.com/@_AVC_

He actually pokes fun quite a bit at the NCAA game, how you will often see like 2 guys posting up in the paint at the same time in college - while a teammate is trying to drive the ball to the basket. Or like, instead of spacing out to the corner like he's supposed to, a guy will be just standing in the paint crowding the area, guys will just fall down for no reason, etc. Like he makes fun (in a joking way) at how bad some of the players are in college and how archaic some of the sets/offenses are that NCAA teams run.

A rough outline of how good the different leagues are besides the NBA:

EuroLeague
Spain ACB
Turkey
France LNB
Australia NBL
Adriatic league
G league
Italy
Greece
Germany
NCAA (high major conferences)
Israel
Serbia (KLS)
NCAA Mid major conferences

I've recently become a minor disciple of the AVC channel. I don't really have the time or inclination to go into the amount of depth of analysis that he provides, but in some cases -- like Hugo -- it's worth the deep dive since Hugo is now one of our tribe, and also there is not a vast amount of tape out there on him.

What AVC does is, insted of running some clip and saying "3-pt shot looks OK", he'll actuallly slow down the play, replaying several times to get into a frame-by-frame at times, and then say something like, "See how his left foot is facing 45 degrees away from the basket? He'll need to fix that in the NBA if he wants to get make that shot with consistency". It's little details.

And he doesn't hold back on criticism. Sometimes quite brutal but done with sharp humor. Like with the Portland pick, he's convinced Yang will need to go back to China for at least a year, and took a few digs at the Blazers FO for reaching into the mid-first for a guy they could have picked up later.