Celtics' rookies are turning heads at training camp

Out of the 20 bodies at Celtics’ training camp this week, nearly half (nine) are rookies. A handful (Tacko Fall, Javonte Green, Tremont Waters, Max Strus) are in competition for the final 15-man roster spot but there is a large collection of names that are hoping to push their way into the Celtics rotation in the coming weeks on the heels of impressive summer league stints.

Grant Williams probably has the easiest path towards opportunity in a revamped frontcourt as he fights for minutes at both power forward and center. He’s received rave reviews for his ongoing personality and energy behind the scenes from the Celtics staff and that positive vibe has translated on the floor for the 20-year-old rookie early in camp.

“It’s really good,” Brad Stevens said of Williams’ on-court IQ. “Like any other young player he has a lot to learn about the NBA, the night-in, night-out challenges and all that comes with playing each team. As far as coming in and doing things and picking things up quick, from a strategy standpoint and also from an intuitive standpoint, he’s pretty impressive.”

Williams has perhaps the most versatile skillset out of any big left on the Celtics roster for the time being. His ability to pass, shoot, screen and defend (despite his modest 6-foot-7 frame) makes him a player that could fit into a lot of different jobs on the floor for Stevens.

“He is not a subdued guy and that’s good,” Stevens said of Williams. “You want all these guys to feel comfortable being themselves, lending their thoughts and working together. He has a bright future. He’s going to be an NBA player for a long, long time. He’s really smart.”

It’s not just Williams who has turned heads early either. Romeo Langford remains a mystery to Celtics fans after sitting out the summer league as he recovered from thumb surgery. A tweaked groin has sidelined him from live scrimmaging during the first few days of camp but Stevens doesn’t think it will inhibit his progress.

“I’m guessing he’ll either be cleared tomorrow to play live or the next day. He’s been around so much, this won’t set him back at all,” Stevens said.

Langford spent the majority of his summer in Boston revamping his jump shot as he got a chance to put in workout time alongside his rookie teammates and more seasoned veterans like Gordon Hayward.

"In the summer, it was good working with him,” Hayward said of Williams. "I didn’t get a chance to see him too much at [Indiana], but certainly he’s got the NBA size, and to me, he reads the pick-and-rolls a lot better than I thought a younger player would be at reading pick-and-rolls. He was really good at holding his man off, had a good feel for the timing of it…He hasn’t played live yet at training camp … but in the summer he was kind of a heady player.”

Fan favorite Tacko Fall remains a long shot to make the final roster but it showing glimpses of NBA potential with his teammates.

“He gets up and down the floor well,” Semi Ojeleye said. “He moves laterally a lot better than people think. A lot of people just think of blocked shots. I think that his conditioning is getting better too. Al the things that people questioned, he’s proven that he can be an advantage in this league.”

A two-way contract might remain the best-case scenario for Fall if Waters or Strus get promoted but the big man is just one of several rookies (including second-round pick Carsen Edwards) who have been singled out by the coaching staff for some steady play in camp.

“I’ve seen a lot of good things,” Stevens declared of the rookies. “They’ve added a bunch. Carsen hit a bunch of shots in the scrimmages the last two days, Grant’s been very solid. I think all those guys – Romeo, Tacko, Tremont, Max – they’ve all done good things. Probably not as advanced as our older guys, as you would expect, but the first two days have shown a lot of real promise. Those guys have worked hard in our small group work to get ready to practice before the season. Hopefully, that pays off when you get out here with an NBA team.”

Stevens has notoriously been tough on giving rookies opportunities during his tenure in Boston but the C’s roster complexion this year should give him some additional flexibility on that front. With some seasoned performers in the mix with Edwards/Williams, this is a contingent that will get a chance to make an impact in the coming weeks, perhaps sooner than anticipated.