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Grading The Boston Celtics’ Draft Picks In Summer League

By Eric Laboissonniere

Feb 3, 2015; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terry Rozier (0) drives to the basket as Miami Hurricanes guard Davon Reed (5) defends the play during the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2015; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terry Rozier (0) drives to the basket as Miami Hurricanes guard Davon Reed (5) defends the play during the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the Las Vegas Summer League quarterfinals, but almost all of the rookies on the Celtics’ roster shined. Boston drafted four players in the 2015 NBA Draft, and each one of those players made an impression on coach Brad Stevens and general manager Danny Ainge.

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Terry Rozier

Rozier was the Celtics’ first pick in the draft, and he was very impressive during his stint in Las Vegas and Utah. Rozier averaged 12.2 points per game in Las Vegas and 12.3 points per game in Utah.

His stats might not jump off the screen, but he showed that he can take over games when the going gets tough, and he showed that he is not afraid of the big shot. He hit a huge shot against Spurs to tie the game before the team lost, and he had some huge shots down the stretch to the seal the victory against the Portland Trail Blazers earlier in the Summer League playoffs.

Rozier was a tenacious defender as well during Summer League, which is something that Ainge and Stevens are going to love. He did have his fair share of turnovers, which was a problem in college, but he should be able to handle the basketball better once he gets a better feel for the NBA. Rozier silenced many doubters during his Summer League stint.

Grade: A-

R.J. Hunter

Everyone was well aware going in that Hunter can shoot the basketball from just about anywhere, but he also showed that he can be a great facilitator and defender. Hunter did not record a single basket in his first two Summer League games in Utah, but after those games, he showed that can many things to help a team win. He can bang threes from anywhere on the court, he can disrupt passing lanes with his length and he is a very gifted passer.

Hunter is much more than just a terrific college basketball player from a mid-major school, and he will be able to contribute for the Celtics right away with his shooting.

Grade: A

Jordan Mickey

According to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com, Mickey was the most impressive rookie in the Las Vegas Summer League as of Jul. 18. Mickey has dominated on both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive end where he has showcased his elite shot-blocking skills. Despite the Celtics being a little undersized, Mickey did a great job handling the low post duties for the Celtics.

Mickey averaged 12.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game throughout both Summer Leagues. He was the most impressive Celtic during Summer League because the team really lacked size down in the paint, but he still found a way to make a huge impact on the game, even though he was undersized.

Mickey is a player the Celtics need to lock up for a long-term deal because he can really play.

Grade: A+

Marcus Thornton 

Thornton has been the least talked about player from the 2015 NBA Draft for the Celtics, but even he had a pretty decent Summer League. He was not a big contributor for the Celtics in Utah, but in Las Vegas he had a big coming out party against the Miami Heat. He poured in 21 points and showcased how he is not afraid to drive in the lane or shoot from distance.

Thornton is a fun player to watch when he gets hot, but it is hard to imagine he will see the floor in Boston at all next season.

Grade: B

The Boston Celtics’ picks from the 2015 draft were very impressive during NBA Summer League, and hopefully their performances were not a fluke because Roizer, Hunter and Mickey should be able to make an impact on the Celtics next season, while Thornton will spend time overseas or in the D-League.

Next: San Antonio Spurs: Grading The Offseason

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