Baylor Scheierman, Anton Watson, and what to watch at Celtics Summer League

Summer League might not have the same juice for Celtics fans as it did in 2017, when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown gave fans the first look at what would eventually become a championship duo. Here’s a highlight reel, in case you were feeling nostalgic for players like Ante Zizic and Abdel Nader.

Still, this year’s team does have three young players who are worth a much closer look, if you have a chance to catch a couple of their Las Vegas contests this season.

Jordan Walsh

At some point in the future, the Celtics are going to need cheap production from players they drafted – perhaps no contract in sports is more team-friendly than a player’s first deal. Walsh is under contract for the next four years, after which – if he performs well – he has every incentive in the world to re-up with the Celtics. 

Walsh drew some nice reviews after his time in Maine last season, where he shot over 36 percent from 3-point range. His height and length make him a wing, and his dogged on-ball defense make him an intriguing one. His 3-point shooting could be the swing skill that cements him as an NBA player.

Summer League is perhaps Walsh’s best chance so far to prove himself. If he performs poorly, he can certainly make up ground in training camp, but he has had a season of development in a system that develops pretty well, and he trained with a team that won the NBA Finals. Summer League should feel easy, if he is hitting targets the Celtics presumably want him to hit. 

Life in the NBA moves in dog years – a promising rookie quickly becomes an unwieldy addition to a roster in his second and third season if he doesn’t earn minutes. Ask Romeo Langford what can happen if you don’t blow away team decision-makers. Even Aaron Nesmith – who was a starter on an Eastern Conference finalist – couldn’t stick with the Celtics given their depth at the position.

Walsh needs to shoot well, and he needs to show that he can contribute to the Celtics in unique ways. They have plenty of wings. Shooting and defense are prerequisites for minutes. What can Walsh do that sets him apart? And can he start showing those attributes in Las Vegas? 

Baylor Scheierman

Scheierman has a chance to be the kind of player fans fall in love with at Summer League, especially if his shot is falling. 

At his highest potential, Scheierman is more intriguing than a player like Sam Hauser. Scheierman is a sharpshooter who uses his shooting ability to freak out the defense. That allows him to put the ball on the floor and pass with his impressive vision.

The difference between Hauser and Scheierman, of course, is that Hauser has done it at the highest level. Scheierman had a nice season at Creighton. Hauser bombed teams out of the building at times in the NBA, and he was a key contributor on a champion. The biggest difference between the two players is that one has locked himself into what will probably be a fairly lengthy NBA career and the other is trying to break through. Scheierman might have a more impressive list of attributes on a scouting report, but Hauser has a proven track record, which is far more valuable to a team like the Celtics. Don’t take the mystery box when you are already guaranteed a boat.

Still, the investment in Scheierman speaks to how highly the Celtics value his potential. They didn’t have to draft anyone, and in fact, doing so made their cap sheet a little more difficult to navigate. 

The most intriguing question Scheierman can start to answer at Summer League: What is his actual ceiling? He’s a 3-point marksman with deep range on his lefty shot, and he can shoot off the dribble, off the catch and off movement, all of which should further open up his game. 

But the Celtics thrived in part because they had no defensive holes on the floor at any time, which made attacking them a nightmarish proposition. Congratulations, you screened Jrue Holiday and got him off your primary attacking guard — enjoy going at … Jayson Tatum. 

Scheierman is 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. If he can defend, he can get on the court sooner rather than later and should have a lengthy NBA career. 

If he can’t? The shooting will probably need to be outlier great for him to get opportunities as a rookie. Summer League should offer something of a preview on both ends.

Anton Watson

Watson might not be the most talked-about prospect on the team, but he might quietly be the most interesting one. 

At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Watson has great size and length for a forward. He tested poorly at last year’s combine in vertical leap, but he’s a capable dunker.

Much more importantly, he’s really strong. Watson can get to the rim through a ton of contact, and contact doesn’t even really affect his finesse. He has great touch on his floater, and his 3-point improvements this season suggest that the touch on his floater could extend as he works on that element of his game. He should draw a lot of and-ones as well, since he can go right through teams who hit him.

For Watson, though, the defense is the big selling point. His size is perfect for the modern game, especially on a switch-happy team like the Celtics that prioritizes guarding your yard. Watson can defend smaller guards capably, and he can switch onto stronger bigs without an issue. At Gonzaga, he was competitive and feisty on the defensive end, which presumably was a big factor that piqued Brad Stevens’ interest. 

Watson is on a two-way deal, which is one of the nice things about drafting in the second round – teams can prioritize players who might accept a two-way contract without taking up an actual roster spot. 

But the Celtics only have 14 players for the time being. The door is open for Watson to make the roster if he can take advantage of early opportunities, starting in Las Vegas.

What do we want to see from Watson at Summer League? Some 3-point shooting would be nice, and versatile defense is crucial. A little passing would be nice.

But — if you’ll pardon the reductive analysis — what you really want to see from Watson is some pop. Does he draw your eyes as a defender? Is he making NBA-caliber reads as an offensive player? 

If so, the 23-year-old (who will turn 24 at the start of the year) has tools to far exceed his low draft position and claim the final roster spot. As he develops, he could blossom into an archetype the Celtics really value.