Celtics 2025-26, Season Thread – (Media Day = Sept. 29, 11:00AM)

[Hal14]

Hayden Gray actually looked pretty interesting in SL, and I'm excited to see him in Maine. His decision making was super quick on offense too, not just going for steals and deflections.

Kind of, yeah. But him and Aaron Scott were both guys who:

a) undrafted
b) were not even considered guys who could maybe get drafted
c) didn't even really get off the bench for our SL team except for like 1 or 2 games at the end of SL..and by that time most teams were resting their good players..like by that time guys like Flagg and Harper and stuff had been shut down and most teams weren't even really trying to win. Like that hawks team we played was sitting like 4 of their 5 best players

I figured it was either Gray or Scott getting waived. Neither is an NBA player imo..both just headed to g league.

yea, Gray would be considered a deep longshot to become an NBA rotation player... but in his small opportunity, he looked good, i thought ... so who knows, he probably had roughly equivalent predraft ranking as Alex Caruso ... but, I'm not predicting anything like Caruso's career, only that I am curious to see him in Maine this year

Eh..that's a stretch. Gray played 2 years of basketball at the Division 2 level (at a school that is moving down to D3 in the 28-29 season), followed by 2 years of basketball at the mid major level.

Caruso played 4 years in the SEC.

Pretty big difference.

And the the highest pre-draft ranking I found for Caruso was 54th. For Gray, the highest I could find was a source (On3) who had him 84th.

Here's a vid about Caruso as a prospect:

Watch on YouTube

[redslastlaugh]

Sure, I agree with all that. Gray, I agree, super long shot to make the NBA in any meaningful way.
I hope he shows out in Maine though, even if isn't an NBA prospect
In that Hawks game in the summer league, he looked pretty good though

While we're at, I though Isaiah Wong looked pretty good in the SL as well
I don't think he's on the Maine roster for the upcoming season though

Eh..that's a stretch. Gray played 2 years of basketball at the Division 2 level (at a school that is moving down to D3 in the 28-29 season), followed by 2 years of basketball at the mid major level.

Caruso played 4 years in the SEC.

Pretty big difference.

And the the highest pre-draft ranking I found for Caruso was 54th. For Gray, the highest I could find was a source (On3) who had him 84th.

[Parliament10]

This is a pretty random bump, but I am curious from fans who watched the team 2011-12 (I didnt watch games really this season bc of some health related stuff I was dealing with) but I don't remember why JaJuan Johnson flamed out so rapidly.

He was 6-10, athletic with nice shooting touch, and he was a 1st round pick, played one season with the Celts, got moved right after and never played in an NBA game again. WHat happened?

Here are some highlights, not a fan of the musical selection though (fair warning turn ur volume down) and he looks like at least interesting:

Watch on YouTube

I moved this Post, because we try not to Bump Threads from so long ago.
Usually after a year or so.

[Curmudgeon]

JaJuan Johnson was actually the reincarnation of Acie Earl, who, after being traded to Toronto, dropped 50 on the Celtics-- and, like Johnson, was never heard from again.

[Fierce1]

I'm rooting for Garza, but he has a chance of ending up like Acie and Jajuan.

This will be Garza's chance.

If Garza does not show anything with the Cs, he will likely not stick in the NBA.

[Curmudgeon]

I'm rooting for Garza, but he has a chance of ending up like Acie and Jajuan.

This will be Garza's chance.

If Garza does not show anything with the Cs, he will likely not stick in the NBA.

Yes, he's got to show that he can move his feet a little on defense. Otherwise it's Europe for him. But I'm hopeful. Garza rebounds and he can shoot. If Enes Kanter could play in the league, so can Garza, who is a better offensive player than Kanter (or at least he was in college).

[Fierce1]

I'm rooting for Garza, but he has a chance of ending up like Acie and Jajuan.

This will be Garza's chance.

If Garza does not show anything with the Cs, he will likely not stick in the NBA.

Yes, he's got to show that he can move his feet a little on defense. Otherwise it's Europe for him. But I'm hopeful. Garza rebounds and he can shoot. If Enes Kanter could play in the league, so can Garza, who is a better offensive player than Kanter (or at least he was in college).

Yeah, I'm rooting for him to succeed because he's really talented on offense.

If he just becomes decent on defense, he could have a long NBA career.

[Gant]

Gary Washburn had one half hearted sentence today saying the Celtics are thin up front and Thomas Bryant is still available.

me: He's functional, but elicits shoulder shrugs. They might just see what they have for now bigness-wise. If there's a need, then they can sign someone along the lines of Bryant or Bassey.

[Dogen]

I'm on the Hayden Grey Bandwagon, even if just rooting for him in the G League. We don't have enough on him to make any grand statement beyond that he had some intriguing moments during summer league garbage time, but boy, he looks fun out there. Made some nice plays, disruption on defense. Even if he becomes a fan favorite in Maine, that's a step in the right direction. Following the Caruso track is something for next year or so; he'll need to gain experience and get stronger to even be considered in the same league as Caruso, although it's in the realm of possibility, sure.

[Dogen]

Gary Washburn had one half hearted sentence today saying the Celtics are thin up front and Thomas Bryant is still available.

me: He's functional, but elicits shoulder shrugs. They might just see what they have for now bigness-wise. If there's a need, then they can sign someone along the lines of Bryant or Bassey.

So it's come to this. Sigh...

Well, Bryant had that one game in the playoffs. He's someone to root for but I don't expect he would move the needle for the Celtics, or Queta to the bench.

Bassey is similar, but has some Celtics buzz from summer league. He'd be OK to bring on at that 15th spot, but it sort of dilutes the pool at the 5 spot. I'd be OK at starting the year with seeing how the Queta/Garza/Boucher/Tillman rotation works and make changes depending on how that experiment works out.

Tillman in particular. He has an injury history like Bassey does, but has a year under his belt with the Celtics, is on a good contract, has had an "off" year to recuperate, and was a solid bench contributor earlier in his career.

[Dogen]

And if X-man can develop a new mutant power...

[Gant]

Gary Washburn had one half hearted sentence today saying the Celtics are thin up front and Thomas Bryant is still available.

me: He's functional, but elicits shoulder shrugs. They might just see what they have for now bigness-wise. If there's a need, then they can sign someone along the lines of Bryant or Bassey.

So it's come to this. Sigh...

Well, Bryant had that one game in the playoffs. He's someone to root for but I don't expect he would move the needle for the Celtics, or Queta to the bench.

Bassey is similar, but has some Celtics buzz from summer league. He'd be OK to bring on at that 15th spot, but it sort of dilutes the pool at the 5 spot. I'd be OK at starting the year with seeing how the Queta/Garza/Boucher/Tillman rotation works and make changes depending on how that experiment works out.

Tillman in particular. He has an injury history like Bassey does, but has a year under his belt with the Celtics, is on a good contract, has had an "off" year to recuperate, and was a solid bench contributor earlier in his career.

Bryant does everything ok but nothing particularly good, and is a little slow footed. Bassey does two things great, which is rebounding and shotblocking, but has offensive limitations and those injury concerns. I like Bassey better. At least he's got a reason to be on the floor.

I keep not counting Tillman until he shows he's ok to play.

[Parliament10]

And if X-man can develop a new mutant power...

Interesting. Wondering why he's practicing over at Harvard, instead of at the Auerbach Center?

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

Little pep in his step there now, huh?

[bucknersrevenge]

And if X-man can develop a new mutant power...

Interesting. Wondering why he's practicing over at Harvard, instead of at the Auerbach Center?

Would love to see Tillman on a redemption tour this season. Never looked right all last year. But in Memphis he was very versatile defender. This team is gonna need to be scrappy and more physical than last year's squad was. That works in his favor. If he can hit some shots this year and be that defensive chess piece off the bench.

Watch on YouTube

[Half-Full]

And if X-man can develop a new mutant power...

Interesting. Wondering why he's practicing over at Harvard, instead of at the Auerbach Center?

Would love to see Tillman on a redemption tour this season. Never looked right all last year. But in Memphis he was very versatile defender. This team is gonna need to be scrappy and more physical than last year's squad was. That works in his favor. If he can hit some shots this year and be that defensive chess piece off the bench.

Watch on YouTube

Great if he can hit some shots, but shooting is not his game. Don't stick him in the corner and expect him to shoot 3-pointers. Let him focus on defending and rebounding, where his strengths lie.

[bucknersrevenge]

Interesting. Wondering why he's practicing over at Harvard, instead of at the Auerbach Center?

Would love to see Tillman on a redemption tour this season. Never looked right all last year. But in Memphis he was very versatile defender. This team is gonna need to be scrappy and more physical than last year's squad was. That works in his favor. If he can hit some shots this year and be that defensive chess piece off the bench.

Watch on YouTube

Great if he can hit some shots, but shooting is not his game. Don't stick him in the corner and expect him to shoot 3-pointers. Let him focus on defending and rebounding, where his strengths lie.

Memphis used him a ton in the short roll on offense. I honestly thought that was where he worked best. But having the ability to step out and hit a few shots wouldn't be the worst thing.

[Shak_Celts]

Let me just say this, if someone loves the Celtics more than Joe they must be dead, because I haven’t seen them. I thought I was a was ride or die, I’ve seen some fanatics that are CRAZY too!

This dude Joe tho? He wore what would basically amount to his “coaching uniform” to Boucher’s baptism! Other assistants went too, they are dressed casually, but Joe deadass has on the same thing he wears during games, the Celtics shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes. Yeah he usually has on sneakers, but this must be his “Celtics fancy look.”

Does he have any non-Celtics clothes????!! He already kissed the floor when we won, like it was his new bride!! I’m have trouble remembering if I have seen him in anything other than Celtics attire. He’s the coach, not a crazed fan that gets on TV now and then, of course they wear Celtics gear all the time.

A billion years from now his coffin will be Kelly Green with Lucky on it!

He tore up his knee trying to block a shot, during a break in action (halftime?), IN A REAL NBA GAME!!

I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a Celtics tat!

I say this to say, I can’t hate Joe even when he has to be let go, because that man bleeds Celtics! You want people who truly care about the work that they do. You can tell, he’s never going to half-ass it! We may lose, but Joe is going to go out in a body bag. That’s the type of guy that people should want to follow.



(Most of this isn’t serious, him wearing it isn’t a shocker. It’s funny to me, just a little joking observation.)

[brackdan70]

Man if Tillman can give us anything it feels like a bonus now. I used to have a lot of hope in him.

[2Mas]

Same i thought when we traded for X & then resigned him for the min it was a steal.

Unfortunately i think his lower body is cooked.