Celtics player power rankings (Orlando restart edition)

After over four months off, the dynamics of the Celtics roster have changed quite a bit amid a return to good health for several key players. Three scrimmages in Orlando plus an extended training camp created the beginning of a new hierarchy while several key question marks loom over this group. Let's take a closer look at where everyone stands in the latest edition of the Celtics player power rankings. 

17. Tacko Fall (Previous: 16): We’ve likely seen the last of the 7-foot-6 big man in Orlando unless one of the seeding games ends up meaningless for the C’s from a standings standpoint. Fall will be on the inactive roster until further notice but he did get a chance to dunk on Jeff Green a couple of times on Tuesday night. For now, count on the C’s trying to sign him to another two-way deal this offseason.

16. Vincent Poirier (Previous: 13): The one mistake signing for the Celtics offseason remains fourth on the team’s depth chart. Can’t really fault the front office for giving him a shot given the team’s uncertainty at center (they struck gold with Daniel Theis two years earlier overseas) but Poirier’s game just hasn’t translated. He will be a candidate to be waived or traded this offseason but I wouldn’t expect him on the 13-man active roster for any seeding games.

15. Carsen Edwards (Previous: 12): This is arguably a little too low of a ranking for the rookie guard after scoring a team-high 19 points against the Rockets. He played well in limited minutes against the Suns as well, hopefully building some confidence for the 6-foot-3 guard after struggling with his shot over the majority of the first 65 games. However, Edwards remains a defensive liability at this point and he didn’t do enough in camp to threaten Brad Wanamaker’s spot in the rotation as a secondary backup guard. The guess here is he will be left inactive for most games as Stevens opts for more seasoned depth for the end of his bench. At least he added to his highlight reel with the dunk on Harden.

14. Tremont Waters (Previous: 15): We saw the best and worst of Waters during the scrimmage games. He served as a bright spot against the Thunder with his passing ability but his shooting limitations were apparent against the Rockets (3-of-13) along with some questionable decision making at times (6 turnovers). While he’s definitely a better pure passer than Wanamaker, the C’s coaching staff like Wanamaker’s size and reliability. Waters will push hard for a roster spot next season but he’s on the outside when it comes to playing time when this roster is healthy.

13. Javonte Green (Previous: 12): The 26-year-old rookie has been a bit of an afterthought in Orlando given all the attention on the younger rookies on the roster. Green is clearly out of the rotation now for the wing rotation based on Stevens subbing patterns but he did show off some timely outside shooting (3-of-3 from 3-point range) against the Rockets. That’s a positive sign for his long-term NBA potential since a more reliable jump shot could make him a rotation staple. For now, he makes the cut for the active 13-man roster thanks to his ability to get to the rhythm and get into people defensively. He’s a change of pace option for Brad Stevens on nights the C’s bench unit is looking flat.

12. Rob Williams (Previous: NR/injured): It’s probably unfair to call his three scrimmages in Orlando disappointing but he was outshined by some of his younger teammates. More importantly, Williams didn’t play with the regular rotation during the first two games, an indicator he’s potentially No. 4 in the center depth chart right now behind Theis, Kanter and G. Williams. The second-year center will be an option as a rim-running big against traditional centers but his defense isn’t on par with Grant Williams yet in the middle and that makes the C’s vulnerable to breakdowns with him on the court. Look for spot minutes here and there from him if Kanter is getting lit up defensively but the chance for him to earn a regular spot in the rotation this year appears to have come and gone.

11. Romeo Langford (Previous: 11): A stomach illness kept him out of Friday’s scrimmage but the rookie swingman turned some heads with a strong two-way effort against the Thunder on Sunday. His defense has been his strength all year long but strong offensive instincts (cutting and passing) are beginning to show more as well after a long layoff. He likely won’t be a regular in the rotation but he should be a good option for the C’s against second units with plenty of speed on the wing.

“One of the things that Romeo has in large doses is feel for the game,” Stevens said this week. “And he’s just kinda figuring out where his best opportunities are at this level. Then, defensively, he’s been good. He’ll be in the mix to play, certainly certain matchups and certain games for sure, already. He’s built up for that over the last year, he’s done a good job.”

10. Grant Williams (Previous: 9): The undersized power forward has been the most consistent rookie for the C’s all year long, but he has spent the majority of his time with the starters at the center spot. Boston has plenty of bigger bodies at their disposal in the middle but Williams’ defensive versatility on the perimeter makes him the best option off the bench in the middle against certain lineups.

“The hard part right now is that we have so many fives, and that doesn’t even really include Grant Williams, who we like to play at the five,” Stevens said on Tuesday. “Six of our best minutes in the last game were with Grant Williams at the five. So we’ve got a lot of guys that we can play there.”

With Semi Ojeleye getting the lion’s share of minutes at backup power forward early on, Williams looks to be getting most of his chances at center. Either way, the Tennessee product should force his way into the rotation, particularly after a strong effort against the Rockets. His plus/minus numbers with the starters have been sensational all year long and Stevens should try to use that look more on nights Theis doesn’t have it going.

9. Semi Ojeleye (Previous: 10): One source tells BSJ that the team internally is very excited about the reserve forward heading into Orlando thanks to his improved 3-point shooting (36 percent on season). While Ojeleye vs. Grant Williams was expected to be a battle for backup forward minutes, Ojeleye has had the inside track on that job during all three preseason games. He’s making 3s, taking charges and trying to stay out of the way offensively otherwise. His limited offensive upside and lack of speed defensively could cause Stevens to seek alternatives when the Celtics offense stalls but it’s evident for now that he’s going to be the first forward off the bench most nights. Langford or Grant Williams will have to deliver strong performances to displace him from that perch.

8. Brad Wanamaker (Previous: 8): The senior citizen of the Celtics roster has been locked into a reserve guard spot since training camp and nothing has changed on that front. His Orlando scrimmages have been a mixed bag so far but he’s earned the trust of the coaching staff over the past two years to retain this spot. The big question for him in the bubble is whether he can sustain some high-level 3-point shooting as an outlet option from Boston’s creators. He’s actually been at his best on the road this year (41 percent from 3) but he also significantly slumped after the All-Star Break (30 percent from 3) in the wake of a strong start to the year. With Kemba Walker on a minutes limit early on, Wanamaker could get some extended run if he plays well. Otherwise, Langford could swoop in if he has a slow start with Marcus Smart handling point for the reserves.

7. Enes Kanter (Previous: 7): The Turkish center looks far healthier than March after getting four-plus months to heal a bruised hip that slowed him down after the All-Star Break. That has allowed the veteran to reclaim his usual spot as the first big off the bench in the rotation. He showed off some good chemistry with Marcus Smart in the pick-and-roll over the first two games but his defensive pitfalls remain as evident than ever. Stevens will try to protect him against elite point guards by putting strong defenders around him but Kanter will need to provide potent offense and rebounding in order to justify his minutes on the court. Otherwise, Stevens has a long list of center alternatives (Rob Williams, Grant Williams) that he can turn to.

6. Daniel Theis (Previous: 5): The undersized center was dominated by Steven Adams in the opener but that was just as much on the players around Theis than the center himself. He’s looked spry in the early going from a physical standpoint, showing off a couple strong takes to the rim after pump fakes on the perimeter. Foul trouble is probably his biggest question heading into Orlando as he’s still not commanding a lot of respect from referees on his shot contests at the rim. If he avoids bad whistles, he has a chance to play 30 minutes a night as the postseason approaches thanks to his steady defense. So far, his 3-point shooting has not traveled on the road this year (27.9 percent) so the C’s will need to hope he gets comfortable quickly in his new home for the next couple of months.

5. Marcus Smart (Previous 6): The sixth man will likely be seeing some crunch-time minutes in the early going as Kemba Walker is limited to 20 minutes in these early seeding games. While Smart failed to make a 3 during his two scrimmages in Orlando so far, he has been nearly perfect from inside the arc (7-of-8 2-pt FG), a nice sign in an area that’s been a weakness for him throughout his career. The veteran has looked at his best running the pick-and-roll so far so that should save him from jacking up too many 3s a game as a catch-and-shoot option. The Celtics will really need to have him make his presence felt on the defensive end with his voice and tenacity though in the quietness of these bubble arenas. He’s probably the most vocal defender on the roster and the team will need his energy to maintain the necessary intensity in such a unique playing situation.

4. Kemba Walker (Previous: 2): After an All-Star performance during the first half of the season, the point guard looked like a shell of himself in February and March, shooting 31 percent from the field in February and March despite long layoffs to rest his sore knee. The grind of an NBA season that dated back to the FIBA World Cup Tournament in China back in August clearly took its toll on the veteran 30-year old, who has had a history of knee woes. Walker looked good physically in his brief stint against the Thunder Sunday but the C’s will remain proactively cautious in preserving him ahead of the postseason. That means limited minutes (20 vs. Bucks in opener) and that should help lead to a limited impact for the team in the early going. The playing time should ramp up in August assuming there are no setbacks but it’s a wait and see game right now with the point guard. If he returns to early season form, the Celtics are a legitimate contender. If not, it’s going to be tough for them to make it out of the second round.

3. Gordon Hayward (Previous: 3): We saw an All-Star level Hayward in the first nine games of the regular season before a broken hand derailed that momentum. With four months of rest as well as limited concerns caused by a sore foot in training camp, there’s a reason for optimism for the 30-year-old in Orlando. He’s been at his best away from the TD Garden all year long, showing off efficient numbers and a more aggressive mentality. On top of that, sources tell BSJ that Hayward has always been a standout in a practice setting with the C’s this year, something that should be conducive for the Orlando bubble arenas. He may not be putting up big numbers every night but his versatility as a defender and playmaker will allow his teammates to play to their strengths. The C’s offense will reach a different level if he starts aggressively seeking out his own shots in stints with the bench unit as well so it’s going to be on Brad Stevens to ensure he gets those opportunities.

2. Jaylen Brown (Previous: 4): No starter has arrived in Orlando looking better than the fourth-year swingman. After spending the majority of his hiatus training with his grandfather in the Boston area, Brown has maintained the momentum from a standout 19-20 regular season so far. The degree of difficulty with his shotmaking has stood out the most as Brown has been able to keep tremendous body control in the paint while facing up against traffic. What was once ill-advised shots or bad turnovers have turned into tough buckets and that makes him a threat on any part of the court when combined with his 3-point shooting. The Celtics are going to need him to lock in on the defensive end when it comes to handling switches and getting back in transition but it’s hard to judge that too much in scrimmages.

1. Jayson Tatum (Previous: 1): After a breakout month of February, the 22-year-old begins the NBA restart in a new role as priority No. 1 for opposing defenses. Until Walker returns to form, Tatum is going to see the toughest defender every night from teams along with a parade of bodies in the paint to slow him down. He’s had to adjust to that a little bit during the scrimmages already in Orlando and better identify where to make outlet passes when traffic is ahead. He’s been incredibly adaptable throughout his career and that should not change here. He also comes south with a chip on his shoulder to try to prove his All-Star play this year was no fluke.

“I know what I’m capable of,” Tatum said earlier this month. “What I think I’m capable of and what I’m striving for. So I think that’s the edge that I have for myself is just I step on the floor and I think I’m the best player every night.”

The production and plus/minus numbers indicate that this team goes as Tatum does every night. He’s been their most consistent contributor on both ends of the floor and has added an extra layer of muscle during his time off. The Celtics will need him to be a top-10 player in this restart to be true title contenders but there is hope on that front after what we saw from him in February. The question now is whether he can sustain it.