Ramp to Camp: Which two-way participant will assist Celtics probably the most?

Ramp to Camp: Which two-way player will help Celtics the most? initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Even on a staff just like the Boston Celtics that’s overflowing with depth, the two-way contract generally is a priceless asset.

That pact offered the runway for Sam Hauser to latch on with Boston as an undrafted rookie in 2021 then develop right into a key rotation presence. Final season, Neemias Queta offered such regular minutes when Boston’s frontcourt depth was depleted that he got promoted from a two-way spot to the parent roster earlier than the title run.

For the eleventh installment in our Ramp to Camp sequence, we requested our NBC Sports activities Boston panel to choose the two-way participant probably to affect the Celtics throughout the 2024-25 season.

(Try the first ten installments of Ramp to Camp here.)

The Celtics’ three two-way gamers getting into camp are 2022 second-round decide JD Davison, 2024 second-round decide Anton Watson, and undrafted Drew Peterson, who latched on with the staff on a two-way deal final December. All three will spend a lot of their time with the Maine Celtics, however who’s probably to sneak onto the courtroom throughout their visits to Boston?

Davison has proven intriguing flashes in his first two seasons with the Celtics and his pace is simple, however a loaded guard depth chart on the dad or mum roster clogs any pathway to constant enjoying time. He’s nonetheless solely 21 however the clock is ticking a bit getting into Yr 3.

Peterson shot 36.9 % on 6.1 3-point makes an attempt per sport final season in Maine, and whereas he wants to indicate he could make the identical strides that Hauser did defensively, there’s hope that the 6-foot-9 wing can finally observe a Hauser-like plan. He’ll flip 25 early within the new season.

However Boston’s potential want for frontcourt depth makes Watson our decide for the probably to get thrown into the NBA hearth throughout the 2024-25 season.

We don’t wish to overreact to Summer season League however Watson showed some encouraging versatility in Vegas. He offers dimension and may defend a number of positions. He shot a stable 35 % on 4 3-point makes an attempt per sport at Summer season League and averaged 11.8 factors and 5.2 rebounds over 24.4 minutes per sport.

The Celtics have to put Watson within the movie room with Al Horford and have the veteran massive man load him up with information. Watson will flip 24 earlier than the beginning of the common season, and with 5 years of faculty play at Gonzaga, may very well be somewhat extra NBA prepared than most draftees.

When wholesome, Boston has a agency high 9. Queta has confirmed he can present stable minutes, too, whereas Xavier Tillman needs to be extra comfy after latching on midstream final season. Lonnie Walker IV has confirmed he generally is a dependable scorer off the bench on the NBA degree if he latches onto a roster spot.

Jaden Springer, Jordan Walsh, and rookie Baylor Scheierman all will probably be trying to carve out roles on the dad or mum roster, too, which may restrict the chance for Boston’s two-way gamers.

Here is who our panel picked for the two-way participant probably to make an affect:

John Tomase, Columnist: Drew Peterson

He considers Derrick White an inspiration and is following the Sam Hauser path to Boston, so let’s go along with Peterson, an undrafted 6-9 bomber who lit it up at Maine final yr.

Tom Giles, Multi-platform host: JD Davison

I’ve to offer the nod to Davison primarily based on expertise. We have seen a lot of gamers make regular enhancements, and if Davison can do the identical, he may discover his method onto the ground.

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor: Anton Watson

The 23-year-old is a flexible defender with an enormous body (6-foot-8, 225 kilos) and a powerful exterior shot (41.2 % from 3-point vary with Gonzaga final season). That is a priceless ability set for Joe Mazzulla, who may use Watson as an enormous in some small-ball lineups.

Nick Goss, Net Producer: Drew Peterson

Peterson has a pair benefits. For starters, he is a reasonably good shooter. He hit 36.7 % of his 3-pointers with the Maine Celtics final season. Peterson can be 6-foot-9, so he offers the Celtics somewhat extra positional versatility than JD Davison (6-foot-1).

He is an effective free throw shooter (81.5 %) as properly and completed second on the Maine Celtics in rebounding (7.4 per sport) final season.

Justin Leger, Net Producer: Drew Peterson

To be clear, I do not suppose any of them make a lot of an affect. However since we’re speaking finest CHANCE, I am going to go along with Peterson. If Sam Hauser ever goes down, Peterson could be given the chance to fill his sneakers as a sharpshooter off the bench. He shot 37 % from deep final yr with Maine.

Davison is buried on the guard depth chart and Watson wants time to develop in Portland.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content material: Anton Watson

Most definitely none of them, however I am going to go along with Watson. I believe he can play an expert sport at a place the place they do not have as a lot depth.