Season Preview: Celtics player power rankings

With opening night looming, the time feels right to dive into the first edition of the 2018-19 season player power rankings as we preview what to expect from each player for the year ahead. We will continue to take a monthly snapshot of this group as the season progresses.

Let’s get to the rankings:

14. Robert Williams: The rookie had an impressive preseason campaign, showing glimpses of his defensive versatility by guarding smaller players on the perimeter in big spots. His athleticism and shot blocking came as advertised for the two-time SEC defensive player of the year, but his screen setting and overall offensive game will need reps all year long to turn into the center the Celtics ultimately want him to be. For now, he’s stuck at the bottom of a crowded depth chart but the guess here is that he won’t be in this spot for very long. Maine Red Claws fans should enjoy watching the strides he makes over the next few months in his stints up north.

13. Guerschon Yabusele: It was a crucial exhibition season for the second-year power forward as the clock ticks on the C’s decision to pick up his team option for 2019-20 (Oct. 31 deadline). The deck is stacked against him in getting that option picked up since the front office knows that $3 million salary will add onto a hefty tab to their luxury tax next year and it’s unlikely the Frenchman will carve out a role to justify that added expense. Still, if the C’s view him as a potential trade asset down the line, that will make their decision tougher and he did show signs of potential this preseason. His post game has improved in the paint and his defensive awareness continues to make strides. The biggest battle for him all year long though is simply trying to find opportunity. Injuries might be the best hope for him on that front.

12. Brad Wanamaker: The Philadelphia native will be the most seasoned rookie on the roster at age 29 as he gets his shot after years of play overseas. His size (6-foot-5) made him a more appealing choice over Shane Larkin from a defensive standpoint but the adjustment period for him to the NBA game remains a work in progress. He struggled with ball pressure against teams during the preseason and his jump shot (like the rest of the roster) was inconsistent thus far. He’ll remain buried on the depth chart behind the likes of Rozier and Smart until an injury pops up but he hasn’t done anything in camp that should vault him into the rotation regularly as a change of pace guy. He will eventually get his shot but he’s probably going to have to wait awhile for it.

11. Semi Ojeleye: Some promising offensive play in summer league largely dissipated this preseason as Ojeleye managed just 19 percent shooting from the field over four games, including a 17.6 percent mark from 3-point range. It was a small sample size but most of those looks were of the wide-open variety and that’s concerning for a Celtics team that needs him to be a capable shooter when he’s on the floor. Until that happens, Ojeleye will get his chances in spot matchups for defensive purposes, helping to corral the likes of Ben Simmons and Giannis Antetokounmpo in small doses off the pine. There’s no denying his value on that front but he’s going to improve upon his 32 percent 3-point shooting to push his way into more consistent minutes.

10. Daniel Theis: The German transplant was one of the biggest surprises of last season before he went down with a torn meniscus in February. He provided great energy on the defensive end and was a superb roller and finisher around the rim with the guards. That type of ability has not been evident yet this preseason, which isn’t a huge surprise given the lengthy period of recovery from his knee injury. With Baynes coming off the bench primarily this year, there will be a smaller chunk of minutes available for him and he’ll have to outplay the veteran if he wants to crack 10-15 minutes per game.

9. Aron Baynes: The Celtics finally added a bruising center to the mix in Baynes, last year and he lived up to expectations after coming over from Detroit. The Australian loves to do the dirty work, whether it’s setting mean screens, fighting for position on the glass or drawing a charge on the defensive end and those skills helped the Celtics emerge as the top defensive team in the league.He also made life much easier for Al Horford on a nightly basis by spending big minutes guarding the likes of Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond and company but he’ll be doing that in smaller doses this year off the bench. Boston’s defense will probably be at its best with him and Horford together in the frontcourt, but the opportunities for those lineups could be limited if the small ball starting five iron out their defensive issues. Expect Baynes to keep his head down and do whatever the team needs, but keep an eye on whether his 3-point shooting from last postseason managed to carry over and add more floor spacing to Boston’s dangerous offense.

8. Marcus Morris: The veteran forward had visions of starting and closing games in Boston when he arrived last summer in the Avery Bradley trade. One year later, those dreams have faded following the emergence of Jayson Tatum and return of Gordon Hayward to the fold. Morris has a lot to play for this year in the midst of a contract season but his role should be limited. The C’s will be less reliant on his offensive creation with their full set of scoring options back in the fold. His best chance to carve out a bigger chunk of minutes for himself will be locking in defensively on a nightly basis and using his length and physicality to bully opposing scorers.

7. Marcus Smart: After landing a big payday, it will be intriguing to see just how the point guard changes his game (if at all) on the court. We know he’s going to remain a bulldog on the defensive end but it’s his offensive impact that I’m much more intrigued with. After four straight years of subpar 3-point shooting, the C’s really have no incentive to give him the green light as much with so many superior scoring weapons around him. As one of the best passers on the roster, Smart’s focus should remain on facilitating for the bench unit, instead of firing up five 3-point attempts per game. That type of shift should help the Celtics jump into the top 5 NBA offense this year.

6. Terry Rozier: The Celtics were unwilling to pay full freight for his extension, so the emerging guard will roll the dice with a contract year coming off the bench. The rewards outweigh the risks for Rozier on that front. He’s established himself as a energy player who has plenty of standout skills (rebounding, catch-and-shoot ability) that will still be highlighted in his reduced role. Stevens knows he needs to find him minutes and I’d expect him to contend for crunch time opportunities out of the gate, particularly if Hayward is struggling to find his rhythm early on. The biggest question for Rozier remains his finishing. He’s always been a low percentage shooter at the rim and that’s likely the final obstacle for him between a $18-20 million payday this summer.

5. Gordon Hayward: He won’t stay in this spot for long, but I’d put the lowest expectations on him right now out of the projected starting five. His timing remains a work in progress but an extra week of work after the end of the preseason schedule has made a big difference, according to his teammates and coaches. The Celtics need Hayward to be aggressive for their offense to thrive and that involves attacking the rim, both to get fouled and set up teammates. He’s arguably the best passer in the starting group and that’s a crucial ingredient for a team that had a below-average assist rate last year. He’s capable of doing the little things on both ends of the floor and the Celtics will take that right away and be patient with his shot as it rounds into form over the next month.

T-3. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: Both of these youngsters emerged with starting jobs last preseason and haven’t turned back. However, outside of Hayward’s health, they remain the two biggest wildcards for the C’s in their quest to contend this season. After exceeding expectations with their 3-point accuracy last year, they have fired away with reckless abandon this preseason, producing less than encouraging results. Tatum has added strength to his game this summer and some more challenging midrange jumpers to his shot selection and those have not produced good offense over the past month. Meanwhile, Brown’s athleticism makes him a force in the open floor but he’s been a little too reliant on his perimeter jumper this preseason, while failing to apply himself defensively while guarding the opponent’s best wing. Both of these guys have the tools to be great but they aren’t good enough yet to skip steps on either end of the floor. They need to accept reduced roles in the offense with everyone healthy and continue to work their butts off on the defensive end. If that happens, the sky is the limit for this group.

2. Al Horford: From a big-picture perspective, there are very few players around the league who can do what Horford does for this team. Outside of Anthony Davis and a couple others, finding a big man that is a high volume 40 percent 3-point shooter, has the versatility to guard multiple positions and can anchor an elite defense just isn’t possible. Even as Horford moves further away from his prime, his value to Boston will remain strong for what he can bring on the offensive end. He’s also coming to terms with playing more center with this group, knowing that unit is what unlocks Boston’s best offensive lineup. The 32-year-old has accepted his fate as a full-time center this year with open arms and that should produce an incredibly dangerous offensive attack for this group to start and close games with.

1. Kyrie Irving: The questions around the All-Star following his return from knee surgery have quickly faded to the background this preseason. His moves are back, his stamina is back and the keys to the C’s offense will be firmly in his hands starting on Tuesday night. With more weapons surrounding him on the offensive end than arguably any point in his career, the door will be open for him to set career-highs in both points and assists during his second year in green with the added floor spacing around him. With distractions eliminated after his public commitment to Boston, the only question left will be his level of engagement on the defensive end. The C’s saw him commit to it early last season and they will need him to play with that same purpose for the starting unit to be great on that end. If Irving carries his weight on that end, opponents are going to have their hands full with this group.

Not listed: Jabari Bird (away from team)