Odd Man Out??? - Hunter Waived; Young Stays

[Curmudgeon]

Milwaukee needs a shooter with Middleton out. Hunter to Milwaukee is not so far fetched.

[ParticleMan]

if only hunter could actually, you know, shoot. sigh.

[celtxman]

This is interesting - but I went with the consensus -leaving Hunter and Bentil off. Since I was blacked out of the first two preseason games I went with everybody's talk about Young. Before Summer League play I would have been inclined to keep Hunter over Young, but I was really disappointed that he hadn't gotten stronger. But I may still have kept him over Young because I thought he was totally lost. Bentil didn't do much in SL to sway me. I'll be looking forward to watching everybody this afternoon.
One thing we have to consider is if there are any possible trades prior to the season, which may have an impact on who we keep depending on who is leaving and their position

[Disinformation]

Jackson's contract seems like a classic Ainge move that basically allows him to be an expiring contract (albeit a smaller one) to be included in a bigger trade. I really don't think he gets cut as part of a roster trim down.

[Parliament10]

There are so many ways that this can go. But I think that the following may be the most likely, until the injury bug hits.:

Thomas / Rozier / --------- / Jackson
Bradley / Smart / Young-Hunter
Crowder / Green / Jerebko
Johnson / Brown / Mickey
Horford / Olynyk / --------- / Zeller

[Cuban Pete]

The question on Green is how many minutes he'll be getting, not will he make the roster.

Mickey will almost surely make it due to position.

Seems like Bentil is very likely to be cut, as indicated by his lack of playing time and inability on D.


That leaves 3 guys for two spots: Jackson, Hunter, and Young.

Jackson's contract is surprisingly large. He's far from a lock but they must think a lot of him to sign him to that deal. (How much is guaranteed? Does anyone know?)
Plus, any meaningful trade would probably have a guard going out, in which case he'd fit as insurance.


If all of the above comes to be, it's Hunter vs. Young for the final spot. Young has looked better so far in the actual preseason games, but there's a lot of time to go.

It's a no-brainer. Hunter over Young.

[AlCelticFan]

I picked RJ and Bentil... the two lowest ranked in the poll so far. I'm either mad genius, or just dumb, I guess.

[return2glory]

Young is no lock to make this team. I see a lot of people saying it's Hunter and Bentil.

Gerald is making the team. I feel Mickey and Jackson make it too.

The last spot should come down between Young, Hunter and Bentil. Young and Hunter have been given chances, especially Young. Neither of them have been impressive in Boston. Bentil hasn't really had a shot yet.

It's close. Anyone one of the 3 could sneak in. And no one says we have to have 15 players. So all 3 can get cut. It's a possibility.

[Ed Pinkney]

I am surprised I feel this way, but Young should make it for me. Hunter's defence on the ball is really not up to it, he gets beat off the dribble far to easily. And I don't think he has enough in his game to compensate if he is not an above average shooter. And that is the problem with Hunter and Young, they are both shooters who are having trouble making shots. But I have seen enough glimpses from Young in the couple of preseason games so far that makes me think he is worth persisting with a bit longer, he is looking to drive more and rebounds a bit. His body and athleticism is more NBA level than Hunter.

Bentil, who knows. He did a couple of nice things when he actually got on the court in the game yesterday. As I posted in the trade thread, I would be happy to see Hunter and Jerebko get traded for whatever Danny can pull off as long as it eases the roster crunch. There must be some teams with cap space that could give up a second rounder or two or some non-guaranteed contracts out there they could flip them for?

[cl2117]

if only hunter could actually, you know, shoot. sigh.

This is one of the few things I've clung on to for hope and a major reason why I think Young and Bentil are the obvious cuts, while Hunter stays.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/wide-open-3s-and-ranking-how-each-nba-team-fared-at-making-defenses-pay/

20. Boston Celtics
37.7 percent on wide-open 3-pointers, 35.7 percent of their 3-point attempts
Who was the most reliable guy defenses left open? The five guys on this team with the most wide-open attempts from distance shot an absurd percentage. Kelly Olynyk (42.6 percent on 136 attempts), Avery Bradley (40.5 percent on 126 attempts), Jae Crowder (39.6 percent on 91 attempts), Isaiah Thomas (43.6 percent on 78 attempts) and Jonas Jerebko (46.8 percent on 77 attempts) annihilated wide-open 3-point shots. Rookie R.J. Hunter was also good (45.8 percent on 24 attempts) but hardly shot from deep.

Who was the least reliable guy defenses left open? Everybody else. Jared Sullinger put up 30.7 percent on 75 attempts and Marcus Smart shot a putrid 25.4 percent on 67 wide-open 3-point attempts. The Celtics should've been higher in overall wide-open 3-point percentage but everybody not in the section above combined to shoot 21.7 percent.

How's it looking for next season? You're adding Al Horford in to take a lot more wide-open 3-pointers than Sullinger took. On top of that, he's a much better shooter than Sullinger was. If the top five guys can even sniff the accuracy they had a year ago, the Celtics could be one of the best in the NBA at making you pay for poor defensive rotations.

I actually think Young has more upside long-term, but he's so far away from being even an end of the bench type player for a playoff team, that I don't see him doing much on this contract. Hunter on the other hand, while he hasn't shown much more than Young, I think you can look back to last year and see some potential for him to be a scoring wing at least worthy of spot at the very end of the bench.

It's too small a sample size to really mean much, but he shot 45% from 3 on wide-open shots last year and with the emphasis for the second unit being on ball movement and getting good shots, he would hopefully get enough open looks where he could occasionally have an impact. I'm imagining a lot of kick outs from Smart/Rozier/Brown driving hard and I'd expect off of that you're going to get some good looks. I think between that and Stevens running some out of timeout/out of bounds set plays for RJ, which Brad is pretty adept at putting together, there is more potential for him to have some kind of impact than Young who I just don't see contributing in any way. Not that I'm holding my breath for Hunter to do anything meaningful, I just see more opportunity there (plus his extra year of team control is always nice).

Bentil is the other obvious cut for me. He's got some tools, but he is nowhere near NBA ready, especially on defense. I'm hoping that partial guarantee came with a nod and a wink that he's in Maine, because he does seem to have a nose for scoring.

Jackson, Mickey and Green are all locks for me. I think Green has Evan Turner-esque potential, albeit with a lot less of the ball-handling responsibility. I wouldn't be going to Gerald with 5 seconds left in the game like we did with Evan, but I think he's the type of player who gets hot in the 4th quarter and helps you carry some games (possibly in the playoffs too). Jackson looks solid. I don't know how much upside there is with him, but he controls the game well and has a lot of confidence. Mickey I think is still developing his skill-set, he's a tweener, but needs to be able to stand his ground inside for rebounds and defending the post (not just relying on blocking the shot, but making sure he doesn't give up position so easily as well). Offensively he looks talented, but still raw.

I'm ok with those cuts though, especially if Bentil ends up in Maine. Young was a good bet by Danny at the time, he just hasn't come close to rounding out his game nor has he been the kind of sharpshooter people pegged him for. I'm fine with that punt though because he seemed like he fell a bit at the time, was so young so it felt like he had a lot of room to grow and there wasn't anybody else I was crazy about still on the board. Didn't work out, but them's the breaks.

[sam_I_am]

I think Bentil and RJ are the cuts if it comes to that. Young ( the other in running for last cut ) is most likely to be traded. I wouldn't be shocked if Jerebko or Zeller get traded. With Jae and Jaylen thriving at the 4 and Olynyk coming back it seems like Jerebko is the most redundant player - even though I'd hate to see him go. Zeller is worst fit but Center position is pretty thin after Horford.

[galipeautim]

was at the game yesterday with all the starters out (less Crowder) so everybody on this list was able to play a lot of minutes. Mickey looked great on both offense and defense. Bentil also looked good offensively, but he looked visibly worse than Mickey at every aspect of the game. Bentil gets cut.

Green looked very good yesterday. Seemed like a lock to make the roster anyway as long as he is healthy enough to play. Jackson also looked good and even though I don't think we have a need for a fourth point guard I do think he has to make the roster. Comes down to Young and Hunter. Hunter had his moments, specifically dishing the ball. Young looked as useless as always. I think we keep the player who looked better and has one extra year left on his deal (Hunter). Young finally and deservedly gets cut.

[bceltic55]

Was at the game also and Young played better defense than Hunter, not sure who to cut, neither is outplaying the other.

[165bows]

if only hunter could actually, you know, shoot. sigh.

This is one of the few things I've clung on to for hope and a major reason why I think Young and Bentil are the obvious cuts, while Hunter stays.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/wide-open-3s-and-ranking-how-each-nba-team-fared-at-making-defenses-pay/

20. Boston Celtics
37.7 percent on wide-open 3-pointers, 35.7 percent of their 3-point attempts
Who was the most reliable guy defenses left open? The five guys on this team with the most wide-open attempts from distance shot an absurd percentage. Kelly Olynyk (42.6 percent on 136 attempts), Avery Bradley (40.5 percent on 126 attempts), Jae Crowder (39.6 percent on 91 attempts), Isaiah Thomas (43.6 percent on 78 attempts) and Jonas Jerebko (46.8 percent on 77 attempts) annihilated wide-open 3-point shots. Rookie R.J. Hunter was also good (45.8 percent on 24 attempts) but hardly shot from deep.

Who was the least reliable guy defenses left open? Everybody else. Jared Sullinger put up 30.7 percent on 75 attempts and Marcus Smart shot a putrid 25.4 percent on 67 wide-open 3-point attempts. The Celtics should've been higher in overall wide-open 3-point percentage but everybody not in the section above combined to shoot 21.7 percent.

How's it looking for next season? You're adding Al Horford in to take a lot more wide-open 3-pointers than Sullinger took. On top of that, he's a much better shooter than Sullinger was. If the top five guys can even sniff the accuracy they had a year ago, the Celtics could be one of the best in the NBA at making you pay for poor defensive rotations.

I actually think Young has more upside long-term, but he's so far away from being even an end of the bench type player for a playoff team, that I don't see him doing much on this contract. Hunter on the other hand, while he hasn't shown much more than Young, I think you can look back to last year and see some potential for him to be a scoring wing at least worthy of spot at the very end of the bench.

It's too small a sample size to really mean much, but he shot 45% from 3 on wide-open shots last year and with the emphasis for the second unit being on ball movement and getting good shots, he would hopefully get enough open looks where he could occasionally have an impact. I'm imagining a lot of kick outs from Smart/Rozier/Brown driving hard and I'd expect off of that you're going to get some good looks. I think between that and Stevens running some out of timeout/out of bounds set plays for RJ, which Brad is pretty adept at putting together, there is more potential for him to have some kind of impact than Young who I just don't see contributing in any way. Not that I'm holding my breath for Hunter to do anything meaningful, I just see more opportunity there (plus his extra year of team control is always nice).

Bentil is the other obvious cut for me. He's got some tools, but he is nowhere near NBA ready, especially on defense. I'm hoping that partial guarantee came with a nod and a wink that he's in Maine, because he does seem to have a nose for scoring.

Jackson, Mickey and Green are all locks for me. I think Green has Evan Turner-esque potential, albeit with a lot less of the ball-handling responsibility. I wouldn't be going to Gerald with 5 seconds left in the game like we did with Evan, but I think he's the type of player who gets hot in the 4th quarter and helps you carry some games (possibly in the playoffs too). Jackson looks solid. I don't know how much upside there is with him, but he controls the game well and has a lot of confidence. Mickey I think is still developing his skill-set, he's a tweener, but needs to be able to stand his ground inside for rebounds and defending the post (not just relying on blocking the shot, but making sure he doesn't give up position so easily as well). Offensively he looks talented, but still raw.

I'm ok with those cuts though, especially if Bentil ends up in Maine. Young was a good bet by Danny at the time, he just hasn't come close to rounding out his game nor has he been the kind of sharpshooter people pegged him for. I'm fine with that punt though because he seemed like he fell a bit at the time, was so young so it felt like he had a lot of room to grow and there wasn't anybody else I was crazy about still on the board. Didn't work out, but them's the breaks.

Jerebko is money on wide open threes. Definitely didn't see him coming back after 2015.

As for these guys, assuming we don't know who has a better chance of developing, they each have different contractual advantages. Hunter is cheaper and under team control longer. Young has a slightly larger salary if they need bigger movable salary chunks later in the year for trades.

The success of Hunter and Jackson will be an interesting commentary on Stevens' ability to target quality players out of his old recruiting scouting lists. Will have to wait and see if 'Brad the Scout' is something that lives on or not.

[Bad-Thoma]

I think Bentil being out is a given, if it comes down to either Hunter or Young for the other spot I take Hunter in a heart beat. Young has made some progress and does have that natural stroke but R.J., at least in my eyes, has more potential to be a complete player with his passing, handle, and I think he can be a better team defender as well. The other facet is neither is likely to see the floor much if at all this year and R.J., as 165 pointed out, is under team control longer so giving him another year of D league development and gym time isn't a bad thing.

[FeedReed]

their shooting appears to be about equal, their d appears to be about equally bad, young has the athletic advantage, hunter has the IQ advantage, hunter has the passion advantage, hunter has the passing advantage by a landslide(which i'm a sucker for). i'd keep hunter

[AKFO]

I've seen enough from Young to want him to stick around more than RJ. RJ is gonna be a net-negative on defense until he can put on some weight, and we still don't know if he can yet. Young's simply putting on weight along with his improvement in knowledge of the defense makes him a guy who can switch onto 2-4. He also rebounds his position very well. Hunter is the much better passer, but Young has shown a solid inclination to keep the ball moving. I think Young, given spot minutes, could blend in on both ends right now whereas RJ would be a liability defensively.

[Ed Pinkney]

I've seen enough from Young to want him to stick around more than RJ. RJ is gonna be a net-negative on defense until he can put on some weight, and we still don't know if he can yet. Young's simply putting on weight along with his improvement in knowledge of the defense makes him a guy who can switch onto 2-4. He also rebounds his position very well. Hunter is the much better passer, but Young has shown a solid inclination to keep the ball moving. I think Young, given spot minutes, could blend in on both ends right now whereas RJ would be a liability defensively.

I don't think it is weight so much with Hunter. He gets down in what looks like a solid defensive stance when he is on the ball and then the player goes straight past him and into the paint. I have seen that happen far too often. The kid has been well coached his entire life so his fundamentals are solid, but unless he is Kyle Korver on that jump shot, the physical limitations make him a liability.

[ConstableGeneva]

What if Ainge is making his finals cuts based on these polls?? Someone better tell RJ's friends to join RealGM and vote!

[DoubleHappiness]

I've seen enough from Young to want him to stick around more than RJ. RJ is gonna be a net-negative on defense until he can put on some weight, and we still don't know if he can yet. Young's simply putting on weight along with his improvement in knowledge of the defense makes him a guy who can switch onto 2-4. He also rebounds his position very well. Hunter is the much better passer, but Young has shown a solid inclination to keep the ball moving. I think Young, given spot minutes, could blend in on both ends right now whereas RJ would be a liability defensively.

I don't think it is weight so much with Hunter. He gets down in what looks like a solid defensive stance when he is on the ball and then the player goes straight past him and into the paint. I have seen that happen far too often. The kid has been well coached his entire life so his fundamentals are solid, but unless he is Kyle Korver on that jump shot, the physical limitations make him a liability.

If only RJ could teach James some defensive fundamentals.