NBA Notebook: Do the Celtics have enough on their bench?

The Celtics signed Svi Mykhailiuk this week to nearly round out the active roster at 14, one short of the limit entering the regular season. That final spot can stay open into the year, and often does as teams assess their options, maintain trade flexibility, or eye buyout players later in the season. Boston can do the latter since they stayed beneath the second apron by roughly $4 million this offseason by letting Grant Williams go, but also opted for a relatively thinner roster by adding a third star. The question now becomes whether or not the team carried enough depth into a critical year. 

Top-end talent continues to win championships and the Celtics retained theirs between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and trading Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porziņģis. Keeping Al Horford on a two-year extension last fall helped alleviate the loss of Williams and maintain a reliable starter alongside injury-prone Porziņģis and Robert Williams III. The Celtics will stagger their lineups as most teams do, so one of those stars, and likely two in the postseason, will play into the second unit rotation. Yet a look at the Denver Nuggets saw bench players like Bruce Brown (mid-level exception) and Christian Braun (first-round pick) thrive in the NBA Finals, Brown averaging 11.4 points per game and making up for Michael Porter Jr.'s struggles. Braun shot 12-for-17 in the series (70.6%). 

Boston's bench averaged 32.4 PPG last year, 20th in the NBA, with almost half (14.9 PPG) coming from sixth man of the year Malcolm Brogdon. Bench scoring hardly indicates team success, but the Celtics benefited from good top-end rotation health and played a tight rotation to compensate. Brogdon should return when training camp begins next month, albeit without substantial updates following his right arm tendon tear that left shooting painful in the east finals and left him unplayable by Game 7. Payton Pritchard will step in to alleviate some of that scoring punch, a 40% career three-point shooter who averaged 15.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 3.6 APG per 36 minutes last year while shooting a career-worst 41.2% in sporadic appearances. He managed 7.7 PPG across 19.2 minutes per game as a rookie, and more stable shooting could push him to double-figures in a consistent role. 

Derrick White, now a starter, Williams III and Pritchard should become the biggest benefactors of losing Marcus Smart's 32.1 MPG and Grant's 25.9, while Jayson Tatum's 36.9 MPG and Horford's 30.5 should decrease.  On March 21 against the Kings, one of Boston's rare fully healthy efforts last year, Joe Mazzulla played eight players for significant minutes, pulling Jaylen Brown, Smart and Horford late in the first quarter for Brogdon, Williams and Williams III. Horford replaced Rob to begin the second quarter next to Grant, while Smart reentered to spell Tatum. The starters closed the first half after a brief White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum-Williams III mix, then they expanded the game into a blowout in the third quarter with a similar rotation to the first. If Williams III starts and Horford plays off the bench with Porziņģis staggering, that look could work with seven men. One of Brogdon, Williams III or Horford will close. 

The Celtics also need additional players to step up during the regular season, Sam Hauser is the most likely candidate alongside Pritchard after managing 6.4 PPG on 41.8% three-point shooting in 2023. Since Grant largely filled a spot-up shooting role and otherwise didn't play one season ago, the greatest feat the Boston bench needs to repeat becomes shooting efficiency. The Celtics received 47.5% shooting from their bench (7th) and 38.4% 3PT (3rd), while no team's second unit hit a higher percentage of their free throws (81.5%). 

The Celtics drew admirable play from the deeper section of their bench too, able to start Hauser, Grant, Blake Griffin and Mike Muscala next to White in February at top-seeded Milwaukee, and scoring 125 points in an eventual overtime loss. Brogdon and the bench managed 38 points on that night, while Pritchard, Grant, Hauser and Luke Kornet posted a positive net rating as a four-man unit in 74 minutes across 17 games. 

That's how the Celtics improbably outscored opponents by 1.3 points per possession with both Brown and Tatum off the floor last year. Boston should comfortably rest a key player on any given night and win many of those games, which bodes well for their final record. No other team enters this season more prepared to manage its roster and still win at the highest level during the regular season. 

The two remaining questions for the second unit include its ability to minimize the team's reliance on Tatum playing for nearly every minute of that stretch and its ability to help Boston sustain an injury or two on a roster that carries some health risks. Even with Brogdon playing at a high level last year, the Celtics' offense struggled in non-Tatum minutes, falling from a 120.2 offensive rating between Brown and Tatum to 113.7 with Brown on and Tatum off. 

Boston finishing last year -6.1 points per 100 possession worse in net rating with Brown on the floor compared to off became the team's most disappointing statistic, as he struggled to lead units without Tatum in both the regular season and pivotal playoff spots like Game 7 against Miami. Adding Porziņģis hoped to alleviate the playmaking role on Brown in those spots, Porziņģis leading Washington to a 117.6 offensive rating without Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma last year. That's the difference between 22nd and 2nd in the league among team offenses. 

Mazzulla's ability to bridge the team's larger and smaller lineups will determine how it can navigate injuries. Given the Grant loss, they'll struggle to court double-big combinations if one of their big men sit or miss extended time. Brodgon will have to repeat his floor-spacing success from last season next to White, a successful offensive combination in 2023, but Boston might want to explore more defensively versatile lineups. 

That's where Oshae Brissett's addition becomes intriguing, giving the Celtics that three-wing alignment they've largely missed since Gordon Hayward departed. Brissett excels more as a cutter (1.31 PPP in 2023, 1.61 PPP in 2021) than shooter (31% 3PT last season, 34.4% career), so finding double-figure scorers will also depend on the team's playmaking. Dalano Banton, at 6-7, enters with a similar ability to guard his position well and slash to the basket while only converting 27.5% 3PT in Toronto. 

That's why Mykhailiuk comes to Boston at least worth watching in the larger rotation dynamic. He probably won't play often, but brings enough pedigree as a shooter alongside Hauser to make him a more natural fit in Mazzulla's spacing-obsessed offense. Nekias Duncan also noted the wing's ability to create some second-side offense and Mykhailiuk attacking closeouts gives Boston a different look than Hauser's exclusive spot-up shooting. 

Otherwise, Kornet remains as a 7-2 drop rim protector who can run dribble handoffs and pass against the right matchup. Jordan Walsh, 19 this season, could blend transition, defense and shooting at the wing after an impressive Summer League, though it's a stronger bet he'll need more time and development. Two-way guards J.D. Davison, Jay Scrubb and DJ Steward face longer odds at playing behind four players in Boston' backcourt, but you never know. 

The door remains open for Griffin to take the 15th roster spot, a choice he waited until October to make last fall, and while his fun spot starts from a year ago won't happen when the team's at full health, he'd bring valuable versatility to the front court when one big man sits or falls injured. Brad Stevens, speaking on WEEI this week, sounded like someone hoping Griffin returns as the bench's leader. The Bus One Boys. 

"Our bigs were pretty thin,” Stevens said. “When (Williams III) was out at the start of the year, those guys that played in his place did an amazing job of keeping us afloat. Blake was as good as it gets both on and off the court.”

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Patty Mill's Australian national team suffered a tough 91-80 loss to Slovenia in the second round of group play, Mills managing 17 points and three assists on 5-for-13 shooting. The loss eliminated Australia short of the knockout round. Bogdan Bogdanovic's Serbian team lost to Italy, 78-76, falling into a four-way tie in their group. They face the Dominican Republic on Sunday morning, with the winner advancing to knockout play. Bruno Fernando's Angolan team lost in the first round of group play, but managed a win over the Philippines before moving onto consolation play. 

Boston: Signed Svi Mykhailiuk, a five-year pro who split time between the Knicks and Hornets last year, closing the season shooting 40.4% from three on 89 attempts. Mykhailiuk fills the 14th out of 15 standard contracts with Blake Griffin likely taking the final one if he wants it. Brad Stevens praised Griffin's role on last season's team in a radio appearance on WEEI, while Griffin raved about his year in Boston in a recent podcast appearance. Kristaps Porziņģis watched his Latvian national team take a major step in advancing to knockout play, improving to 3-1 with an upset win over Spain on Friday. 

"Blake was as good as it gets both on and off the court," Stevens said. 

Brooklyn: Signed Harry Giles III, the former No. 20 overall pick who last played in 2020-21, continuing an offseason where they've added former top prospects like Dennis Smith Jr., Lonnie Walker IV and Darius Bazley. A close friend of Tatum, Giles emerged as a top high school recruit on their way to Duke before multiple knee surgeries derailed his pro career before it began. He spent time with the Kings, Trail Blazers and Clippers' G-League affiliate between 2017-2022. Tatum reportedly helped pitch adding a third two-way roster spot in the new CBA in an effort to help Giles III return to the league. 

Ben Simmons, also fighting to regain his previous form, spoke to Marc Spears about optimism entering his third season in Brooklyn. Simmons also said he wants to play for the Australian national team in the 2024 Paris Olympics after missing recent international competitions with them. 

“For me to come back and dominate people will be great,” Simmons said. “I don’t intend to come back the same player I was last [season], because that’s not even close to where I am. I get excited because I’m like, ‘Damn, I would [expletive] on the player I was last year.’ But I know where I was at last year, so it’s easy to say that. But it’s just fun to go and do the thing that you love when you’re out there. That’s really it for me. I don’t really ask for too much."

Chicago: Nikola Vučević fell short in his 18-point, 16-rebound effort to topple Team USA playing for Montenegro in the second round of World Cup group play, America improving to 4-0 with a 85-73 win. Anthony Edwards scored 17 second-half points after posting none entering a halftime where the US trailed. They'll advance to play undefeated Lithuania on Sunday to win the group, with Montenegro now eliminated. Elsewhere, Zach LaVine and Jayson Tatum worked out alongside Celtics legend Paul Pierce. 

"We played tonight, maybe one of the best games ever," Montenegro head coach Boško Radović said. 

Dallas: Luka Dončić blocked Mavericks teammate Josh Green to secure a 91-80 win over Australia for Slovenia with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Slovenia remained one of three undefeated teams into the second round of group play alongside the US and Germany. Both Slovenia and Germany will advance to group play, but will face each other first in a potential preview of group play. The loser of the game will face Canada or Spain in knockout play. Dončić is averaging 27.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 6.8 APG on 45.3% FG (25.8% 3PT). He'll face his former Real Madrid team to cap Dallas' preseason slate on Oct. 10. On Patrick Beverley's podcast, Mark Cuban defended Kyrie Irving's fit next to Dončić after re-signing Irving long-term. 

Detroit: Unlikely to extend Killian Hayes before the rookie extension deadline on Oct. 17. James Edwards III, who reported the Hayes news, had previously teased a Hayes trade before the season after the Pistons supplemented the backcourt through the Joe Harris and Monté Morris trades, along with drafting Marcus Sasser. Edwards also placed Alec Burks ahead of Hayes, with Monty Williams unlikely to play more than four guards. Hayes makes $7.4 million on the final year of his rookie contract in 2023-24, Detroit able to make him a restricted free agent with a $9.9-million qualifying offer. 

Golden State: Warriors owner Joe Lacob spoke for the first time about the Jordan Poole trade that brought Chris Paul to Golden State, one of the more intriguing fits across the NBA entering this season. Lacob expressed concern about the situation between Draymond Green and Poole, along with Paul's ability to raise up talent around him throughout his career. He admitted adding a player previously on the opposite side of playoff battles with the Warriors initially shocked him, before he warmed up to the idea. Green punched Poole in the face in training camp last season, an incident that leaked on video, but did not lead to a suspension for Green entering a tumultuous season that finished in a second-round exit. Paul, a starter his entire career, has not committed to a potential bench role.

"I think it's fair to say that there was some level of concern going forward," Lacob said. "Whether that was going to be something that would work out. To be honest with you, I think it would have worked out and could have worked out. But I think it is fair to say that in order to make the team work next year, to make the numbers work and so on, someone probably was gonna be the odd man out. It just turned out—and it wasn't planned—that it was Jordan."

Houston: A tough year continued for Dillon Brooks when he allowed Yago Santos to drive downhill and score with a two-point lead and 26 seconds remaining in Brazil's eventual upset over Canada. The loss puts the Canadians at risk of elimination ahead of their tough matchup against Spain on Sunday. Brazil will face Latvia, with the pair of winners from those games set to advance to the knockout stage. Brooks scored two points in the loss, shooting 0-for-3. 

Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton's efforts off the bench remain indispensable to a USA team struggling with its starting lineup on the floor. Haliburton closed against Montenegro next to Anthony Edwards for his closing run, scoring 10 points with six assists on 4-for-8 shooting. Team USA outscored Montenegro by 13 in Haliburton's minutes, while losing the time with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on the floor. Haliburton, one of the game's rising stars entering next year, spoke to ESPN, looking forward to the Pacers' first national TV game next year as a moment to let the league know -- Jan. 30, 2024. Indiana at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

"I've been on ESPN once, we beat the Wizards last October," he said. "You have to win to get on TV and that's what we need to do ... it won't change either. When we win in Indiana, we'll get three national games."

Clippers: Ty Lue, serving as Steve Kerr's assistant with Team USA, gave an update on Kawhi Leonard's recovery from the torn meniscus that ended his 2023 season early, expecting Leonard and Paul George, who battled various ailments last year, to be ready for training camp. He added that the team will keep praying that both players will reach the end of the year in the same condition. Elsewhere, George spoke to Stephen A. Smith about next year. 

“(Leonard)  will be 100 percent by the time training camp hits and we just gotta be ready for when training camp hits with our medical staff, we just make sure we are doing the right things as far as practices and games and making sure the minutes are right. The same thing with PG. When those two guys play, we're an amazing team.”

Miami: Marc Spears reiterated that Jayson Tatum called Damian Lillard and 'has been in his ear' during an appearance on the Oregonian's sports podcast, but asserted that Lillard remains fixated on playing for the Heat. Spears expects Lillard to eventually land in Miami entering next season. While the Trail Blazers haven't liked the Heat's possible packages, it's doubtful Boston could move them either with Jaylen Brown now ineligible to be traded, while the salary-matching would require the Celtics to trade Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and Al Horford just to make the money work. Nikola Jovic, one of the Heat's primary prospects on the table in a hypothetical Lillard trade, struggled in Serbia's loss to Italy, shooting 1-for-6.

Milwaukee: Signed-and-waived Alex Antetokounmpo, giving Giannis Antetokounmpo's youngest brother another shot with the G-League Wisconsin Herd after a training camp appearance following his season with Wisconsin last year. Giannis put the Bucks on notice in a New York Times interview last week, casting doubt on his willingness to sign an extension with Milwaukee this fall ahead of him potentially entering free agency in 2025. 

Minnesota: Anthony Edwards continues to drive Team USA's offense, averaging 16.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 2.8 APG on 45.3% shooting in the World Cup after his 17-point second half against Montenegro. Karl-Anthony Towns, leading the undefeated Dominican Republic against Puerto Rico on Friday, could've sent the DR to the knockout round but lost against a dominant showing by PR star and former Celtic Tremont Waters, who scored 37 points in 36 minutes with seven rebounds and 11 assists to create a four-way tie in their group. Towns scored 39 points with 10 rebounds and two blocks in the loss, now facing a must-win game against Serbia on Sunday to advance to the knockout round. Edwards battles undefeated Lithuania on the same day.

New Orleans: Surprising struggles continued for Pelicans star Brandon Ingram against Montenegro, now averaging 4.0 PPG on 38.9% FG. His starting role on the team, relying on its second unit for winning stretches, hangs in the balance as Ingram balanced the team's winning with his own challenges. Josh Hart remained in the starting lineup over Ingram for the second consecutive game on Friday, but the adjustment didn't work for Ingram (1/3 FG). 

"This is totally different than what I am used to," Ingram told Joe Vardon of The Athletic. "The team is winning right now, so I can't be selfish thinking about myself. But it's a little frustrating right now for me, and I'm just trying to figure out ways I can be effective."

New York: RJ Barrett fell flat, finishing 1-for-8 in Canada's loss to Brazil that put the co-favorite in the World Cup tournament at risk of elimination short of the knockout round. Barrett averaged 12.0 PPG on 40.9% FG through his first four games in the tournament, shooting effectively from three at 39.1% on over five attempts per game. Jalen Brunson is averaging 9.3 PPG and 3.0 APG on 60% FG while Josh Hart grabs 7.3 RPG and shoots 55.6%. Hope remains for a US-Canada meeting that'll feature the three Knicks, while Evan Fournier's French team fell in the first round of group play. 

Oklahoma City: Josh Giddey led Team Australia, likely eliminated in a loss to Slovenia on Friday, averaging 19 points and 7.3 assists, drawing praise from his rival Luka Dončić as he enters his third NBA season at just 21 years old, already playing at the highest level of any player at the World Cup. Giddey scored 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the loss. 

"Great player, I know him well from the NBA from OKC," Dončić said. "He is very versatile. His shot is probably his weakest link but even that is pretty good."

Orlando: Don't sell Paolo Banchero short for the Team USA's bench driving its winning in the World Cup so far, Banchero adding eight points and four rebounds, while averaging 11.3 PPG on 62.5% FG, third in scoring on the team. He's competing as one of the tournament's younger stars at 20 years old. Former Magic head coach and TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy unexpectedly lost his wife Kim at 61 last week, drawing well wishes from across the basketball world, including from Dwight Howard, who starred under Van Gundy in Orlando during the 2000s. 

“Stan I will always be there for you! We’ve been through it all, and these are the times that we need each other the most. My deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers go out to you from the bottom of my heart,” Howard wrote on Instagram. “Mrs. Kim you will forever be missed, but rest easy knowing we got him from here on out.”

Philadelphia: Ben Simmons said he would play for the 76ers again in the future in his interview with Andscape, following the tense breakup in 2021-22 that led to him sitting out the first half of the season seeking a trade and addressing mental health issues. Two years later, James Harden is demanding his own trade from Philadelphia, while Simmons hypes up a comeback season with the Nets. Could the pair, somehow, trade places again? 

"I had a lot of fun there. It was time for me to go," he said. "When I did leave, it was good timing. Obviously, the injury and everything that was going on didn’t help. But I think it gave me a chance to really appreciate it. I’ll always have love for Philly. People always ask me like, ‘If you were to get traded again where you want it to be?’ I always say, ‘Just Philly. Philly is a second home to me.’ And in time, you learn and grow as people. I don’t really have anything bad to say about Philly. It was a crazy situation at the end, but it is what it is.