If you read my game report, you saw me write in reference to the final spot on Boston’s roster that “no one else really separated himself. If anything, the end of bench decisions might have gotten more convoluted.”
While that’s true, that's no fun. And since the only real storyline from this game is the competition for that spot, then let’s dig into it. Let’s do this Vegas style and lay some odds on the race for 15th.
No one: +300
Let me channel the great Richard Pryor from the criminally underrated movie Brewster’s Millions...
That’s right. My vote is for none of the above.
We do the same thing every preseason and it almost never matters. The race for the final spot is something we talk about because we have time on our hands, and I’m not going to sit here and let anyone tell me that Jabari Parker is winning the Celtics any games this year.
The Celtics have a numbers crunch as it is. And with the tax situation being what it is, it makes perfect sense to just dump Parker’s salary and go into the season with 14 guaranteed contracts.
Now, if they make an unbalanced 1-for-2 trade, they can accommodate that player without having to waive someone and have dead money on the books. Or they can give Garrison Matthews or someone else the final two-way spot and if they absolutely need to, they can upgrade him or Sam Hauser to take that spot later and find another two-way player.
It just makes too much sense from the basketball and the business side. I mean, did we already forget how much Brad Stevens loved flexibility?
Jabari Parker: +700
If they have to keep someone, then I’m guessing Parker is probably the guy. I still think they can stash their shooters as two-ways and upgrade them later if necessary, so there’s no need to waste the $100,000 they already guaranteed Parker by giving guaranteed money to someone else.
If nothing else, Parker is a known entity. The last thing a team wants when they’re in a situation dire enough where the last guy on the bench is getting real minutes is a wild card. As flawed as Parker is, he does have some skill, and everyone knows what’s coming.
“Well Jabari is obviously a veteran who has been around for a long time ... we know what we have with Jabari,” Ime Udoka said. “He's a spark plug that comes off the bench, plays multiple positions, and defends multiple positions. A guy that we feel on a night like tonight with guys sitting out can provide instant offense ... a guy has been around and done it.”
Basically, Parker is a McDonald’s in the middle of nowhere when you’re hungry. You know it’s not good for you but you’re kind of stuck and at least you know what you’re getting when you order that Big Mac.
Sam Hauser: +800
It’s possible the Celtics desire to add as much shooting as possible leads them to waive Parker, upgrade Hauser, and add another shooter as a two-way guy along with Matthews. Hauser has shown an ability to come off the bench and score, a critical skill that Stevens has spoken glowingly of in the past.
Stevens respects the hell out of guys who can come in cold and hit shots. If he wants spot-up guys off the bench and one falls victim to a numbers crunch somewhere, I can completely see this move happening.
Garrison Matthews: +800
I’m very obviously stuck on this dude as a two-way player, but his experience in the league and history as 40% 3-point shooter makes him a good candidate for a guaranteed deal. I think he and Hauser will ultimately be very similar, so I’m putting them at the same odds.
Theo Pinson: +2500
He showed some serious poise against Orlando and he’s been a joy on the sidelines. He could sneak in if Boston values some guard depth, but I just don’t think it’s likely.
I’ll tell you what, though -- if he’s still available when 10-day contracts can be signed and Boston still has that spot open, I wouldn’t be shocked if we heard his name again.
Ryan Arcidiacono: +3500
Things have not gone well for him here. He’s only 35-1 because he actually has had some success at the NBA level. He’s played 207 games and is a 37.3% 3-point shooter for his career. If they’re having a debate inside the Auerbach Center, someone is going to bring up that stat and make the pitch for him.
It won’t work, but someone will try.
Juwan Morgan: +5000
Never got a shot because of bad luck. The hamstring injury really cost him.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a couple of cuts made even by the time you’ve read this. Teams will want to give certain guys a shot at hooking on with other teams in the final days of camp. The only issue is that being so shorthanded, they’ll actually need bodies for practice and Friday’s game.
Regardless, we’ll start to get the full picture here soon.