Boston Celtics: Summer League Roster
The Boston Celtics are entered into the annual Orlando Summer League and will begin on July 7 when the Celtics face the host Orlando Magic on their practice court at 11 a.m. The Celtics will be coached by current assistant coach Jay Larranaga and I thought we’d take a look at this roster of young players trying to prove they belong in the NBA.
Kelly Olynyk will make his Celtics’ debut at the Orlando Summer League. (Flickr.com photo by SD Dirk)
Phil Pressey, PG
5’11”, 176 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Missouri
An undrafted free agent from the 2013 NBA Draft, Phil Pressey had a number of workouts with the Celtics leading up to the draft and has impressed enough to find a spot on the summer league squad. While undersized, Pressey is a pure point guard with wonderful passing skills and a solid handle. There are big questions over his ability to defend at the pro level, but he can certainly run an offense and could be a long shot to make the roster as a backup point guard.
6’6”, 215 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Marquette, NBA – Los Angeles Lakers, NBDL – Los Angeles D-Fenders
Darius Johnson-Odom is a scoring guard taken 55th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft who brings experience and shooting to the summer league squad. Johnson-Odom played four games with the Los Angeles Lakers before being waived and spending time in the D-League. With the D-Fenders he scored more than 20 points per game and is looking for a chance to return to the big leagues.
Tony Mitchell, SF
6’6”, 216 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Alabama, NBDL – Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Last season’s NBA Development League Rookie of the Year, Tony Mitchell had an impressive debut season for the Mad Ants and has garnered attention from a number of NBA teams. Mitchell scored 21.9 points and pulled down 6.4 rebounds per game this season and looks to be one of the major statistical contributors for the Celtics in summer league.
Kelly Olynyk, PF
7’, 234 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Gonzaga
The Celtics traded up in the 2013 NBA Draft to ensure they got their man and selected Kelly Olynyk with the 13th overall pick. Olynyk was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year last season and was one of the most dominant offensive players in the NCAA. A versatile offensive player with good shooting touch and the ability to work inside, Olynyk will be a focal point of the team as the coaches and staff get their first real chance to work with their new prospect.
Fab Melo, C
7’, 255 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Syracuse, NBA – Boston Celtics, NBDL – Maine Red Claws
The Celtics selected Fab Melo with the 21st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and while the big man shows defensive potential, he only appeared in six games for the Celtics last season. Melo spent most of the season developing in the D-League, but with the new, rebuilding Celtics roster he looks to back into the NBA this season. Summer league will give us the best indicator yet of whether he has improved enough through his first year to contribute.
Colton Iverson, C
7’, 255 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Colorado State, Minnesota
The Celtics acquired a second-round pick in the 2013 NBA draft to select Colton Iverson, who had impressed the team in workouts. Iverson is a true 7-footer who lives to rebound, defend and set hard screens while also having decent touch around the basket. On a team thin at the center position, there is a chance that Iverson makes the opening day roster; summer league will be his first test.
Nolan Smith, SG
6’2”, 185 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Duke, NBA – Portland Trail Blazers
A former first-round draft pick of the Portland Trail Blazers, Nolan Smith was selected 21st overall in 2011 and has spent two seasons with Portland in the NBA. He averaged 3.3 points in just less than 10 minutes per game in the NBA and as a free agent has decided to join the Celtics in summer league action trying to find a new home. Smith is a scoring combo guard who won a national championship with Duke in 2010.
Omar Reed, SG/SF
6’6”, 210 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Bluefield College, NBDL – Main Red Claws
Omar Reed played for the Celtics’ affiliated D-League team the Red Claws last season and averaged 5.4 points per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds. He came off the bench in all but one of his 44 appearances in the D-League and will provide depth at both wing positions.
Eli Holman, PF/C
6’10”, 255 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Detroit, Israel – Hapoel Eilat
A big man with a checkered history, Eli Holman is being given a second chance to impress NBA scouts with an appearance in the Celtics’ summer league team. Holman averaged 18.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season in the Israel Winner League and was previously a standout at Detroit in the NCAA. Legal trouble caused a premature end to his college career and he will be looking for redemption with a second straight appearance in NBA summer league–last season he played for the Houston Rockets.
Jayson Granger, PG
6’2”, 180 lbs
Formerly of: Spanish ACB League – CB Estudiantes
Jayson Granger is a Uruguayan point guard currently playing in Spain’s ACB league. He has experience playing with the Uruguayan national team and has six seasons of professional experience. Still just 23 years old, this will be his first chance to impress in front of NBA coaches and scouts.
Tim Abromaitis, PF
6’8”, 236 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Notre Dame, France – ASVEL
Tim Abromaitis has just completed his first season playing professional basketball in France after a long career at Notre Dame. He started for his French team and averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as the team finished with an 18-12 record. Abromaitis returns home to compete in summer leagues in hope of playing professionally on home soil.
Courtney Fells, SF
6’6”, 210 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – North Carolina State, Israel – Hapoel Jerusalem
Courtney Fells is a well-traveled swingman, most recently playing in the Israeli Winner League where he averaged 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Hapoel Jerusalem. He had a four-year career at North Carolina State before stops in the Dominican Republic and Cyprus.
Lawrence Hill, PF
6’8”, 235 lbs
Formerly of: NCAA – Stanford, D-League – Maine Red Claws and Texas Legends, Israel – Hapoel Holon
Lawrence Hill experienced his first full season of professional basketball in Israel after a two year stint in the D-League. While in the D-League, Hill averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. A solid rebounder and shot blocker, he also averaged 1.8 blocks while in the NBDL.