Celtics roster reset: youth movement in full effect

After today’s flurry of free agent signings, the Celtics look to be all stocked for the 2019-2020 season. With the retaining of Daniel Theis and Brad Wanaker and the signing of Vincent Poirier (and expected rookie deals for Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, and Carsen Edwards), the roster stands at 15. In Brad Stevens’ terminology:

Ball handlers: Kemba Walker ($32.7M), Marcus Smart ($12.5M), Brad Wanamaker (1.4M), Carsen Edwards (*$0.9M)

Wings: Gordon Hayward ($32.7), Jayson Tatum ($7.8M), Jaylen Brown ($6.5M), Semi Ojeleye ($1.6M), Romeo Langford (*$3.5M)

Bigs: Daniel Theis ($4.8M), Robert Williams ($1.9M), Enes Kanter ($4.8M), Vincent Poirier (*$0.9M), Grant Williams (*$2.4M), Guerschon Yabusele ($3.1M)

I’ve included their salaries (*some projected) because of a recent report from The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett claiming that Danny Ainge is not done tinkering with the roster. No deals are official yet, so theoretically, the Kemba Walker-Terry Rozier sign-and-trade could be expanded or a sign-and-trade could be worked out with the defections of Al Horford and Kyrie Irving. Something more creative would presumably cost picks, but it could open up more options for the Celtics’ front office to acquire more players.

But as it stands now however, these are your Celtics for next season. Boston is stocked around the perimeter with veterans and rookies learning on the job. The front court was beefed up on Tuesday with big men of varying skill sets; there’s no clear cut starting 5, but Stevens could decide on an opening center based on match ups. They’re a young and versatile group, but also, they’re young. Six of their fifteen players are either rookies or sophomores and a handful of them could slot into meaningful roles right after training camp. Last season, nine players averaged 15 minutes or more. A seven man rotation of Walker-Brown-Tatum-Hayward-Kanter-Smart-Theis will need to be supplemented on the back end.

Robert Williams is a likely candidate. He’s become a vocal leader for the Summer League team and impressed in the gym since the end of the season. Grant Williams has been advertised as a do-it-all teammate in the mold of Horford. Edwards could serve as instant offense off the bench. We’ll know more after the Summer Celtics get some run in Vegas over the next two weeks, but for now, barring a shake up, it doesn’t look like Boston will be making any more additions in free agency.