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Jordan Mickey Deserves Playing Time

By Eric Laboissonniere

Sep 25, 2015; Waltham, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Mickey (55) during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2015; Waltham, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Mickey (55) during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jordan Mickey has been lighting it up in the NBA D-League this season and that should earn him minutes in the rotation for the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics drafted Jordan Mickey in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, and he was magnificent for the team during the NBA Summer League and now in the NBA D-League for the Maine Red Claws. He has not gotten his chance to shine yet in the NBA because the frontcourt is too crowded with proven players.

Some of these players include David Lee and Tyler Zeller, who rarely see the court anymore. Lee averages 15.7 minutes per game and Zeller averages 8.8. Players like Amir Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, and Jonas Jerebko take up the most frontcourt minutes (along with Jae Crowder when the Celtics play small).

Johnson, Olynyk, Sullinger, Jerebko, and Crowder obviously all deserve frontcourt minutes, but so does Mickey. He has been a beast this season in the D-League, averaging 18.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. He is also shooting 33.3 percent from deep, he can add three-point shooting in the frontcourt, unlike Lee and Zeller.

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Mickey has not seen the floor for Boston since Dec. 21, where he only played one minute during garbage time, and that needs to change at some point this season.

Mickey has not gotten the chance to play basically at all this season for the Celtics, but due to his versatility and rim-protection, he should get some rotation minutes very soon.

Mickey Can Help The Celtics

It makes sense that Mickey has not got his chance to prove himself for Boston yet because of their crowded frontcourt, but he has proven so far in the D-League that he should get consistent minutes for the Celtics. He is an elite rim protector, which is something the Celtics could use.

Johnson is a pretty good shot-blocker, but having Mickey around would add some needed rim-protection and rebounding. The Celtics allow opponents 11.5 offensive rebounds per game, which is tied for 23rd in the NBA. Mickey could alleviate some of these problems with his rebounding.

Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Mickey has also shown that he can help out on offense as well. He has added three-point shooting to his arsenal recently. He attempted 14 three-point shots in college over two seasons and only hit one. So far in the D-League, he has hit six threes on 18 attempts (33.3 percent). Mickey is also shooting 52.3 percent from the field. Yes, he is recording these numbers in the D-League, but these are impressive numbers.

Mickey even had a game where he recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocks, which is crazy to believe.

Mickey would add great versatility for the Celtics in the frontcourt because of his ability to score from all over, and he would be a reliable rim-protector on defense. Obviously he is a rookie so he still has plenty of time to get his chance, but he could still help out the Celtics right now even as a rookie. Mickey could help out a lot of NBA teams right now because of his skill-set, and the Celtics are obviously holding on to him for that reason.

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Boston is holding on in a tight Eastern Conference, and it might be time to mix things up by bringing Mickey into the rotation due to his versatility and rim-protection in the frontcourt.

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