Hoops Habit
Fansided

Boston Celtics: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

By Adam Taylor

BOSTON, MA - JULY 17: Kemba Walker #8, General Manager Danny Ainge, and Enes Kanter #11 of the Boston Celtics speak to the media during the introductory press conference on July 17, 2019 at the Auerbach Center in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 17: Kemba Walker #8, General Manager Danny Ainge, and Enes Kanter #11 of the Boston Celtics speak to the media during the introductory press conference on July 17, 2019 at the Auerbach Center in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Who plays back-up to Kemba?

Kemba Walker arrived in Boston this summer after signing a four year $140 million dollar contract, a talented point guard who received All-NBA Third team honors whilst playing on a poor Charlotte Hornets team.

Walker is undoubtedly the starting point guard for this new-look Celtics team. The question is, who gets the primary back-up spot? The fight for this role and the minutes which come along with it will be between Brad Wanamaker and Carsen Edwards, with the early games of the season seemingly an audition for both of these players.

Wanamaker is a Euro-League veteran who performed admirably when called upon last season. Basketball-Reference has him posting averages of 3.9 points, 1.6 assists and 1.1 rebounds over 36 games hitting 47.6 percent of his field goals and 41 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Coming from a starring role in Europe to the G League and end-of-the-bench roles in Boston couldn’t have been easy. Wanamaker alluded to such at the end of the season, and by signing on for another year, you would assume he has his eyes on a bigger role in the upcoming season.

Carsen Edwards however, is an explosive guard who can create havoc when driving the lane or coming off the pick-n-roll. Notably, Edwards hasn’t been tested against NBA level defenders, meaning there will be an inevitable learning curve.

Edwards averaged 24.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 39.4 percent shooting and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc over 36 games last year at Purdue. Interestingly, he also managed to hit on 83.7 percent from the line, which is something Boston has been in desperate need of recently, raking 29th last year in free-throw attempts per game.

Eradicating turnovers will be Edwards primary concern during training camp and likely through the season. How well he succeeds in doing so will presumably play a part in who is victorious in this battle with Wanamaker. Conversely, both players could see the floor regularly if Brad Stevens opts to include both guards in his rotation, giving both players opportunities dependent on match-ups.

It’s too early to tell which way Stevens will go with his rotations, but competition is never a bad thing for players though and will only bring out the best in each of them.

Home/Boston Celtics