Confirm:Sam Hauser says Celtics rookie developing every day in

Sam Hauser says Celtics rookie developing every day in G-League

Boston Celtics’ Jordan Walsh during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)AP

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By
Souichi Terada | sterada@masslive.com
Brad Stevens has yet to make a first-round pick in his tenure, and that’s for good reason as the Celtics have been in contention mode the past few seasons. The Boston president has elected to use those draft assets to improve the roster instead of taking a development product in the first round.

But that doesn’t mean the C’s aren’t hoping some youngsters in the organization don’t improve behind the scenes. That’s where the Celtics lone draft pick, Jordan Walsh, is at thus far this season. He has yet to make his NBA debut and has had stints with the G-League Maine Celtics, improving behind the scenes.

“Jordan is coming along well,” Hauser said. “He’s young, he’s learning, but he’s been playing really well. You can tell he’s got a lot of potential and a lot of talent, so I know he’s working really hard and every time he’s come back here it’s looked like he’s gotten better. So, props to him.”

Walsh got his feet wet during the Celtics training camp in his first pro season. He flashed plenty of talent during Summer League as one of the more impressive rookies in the league. While his defensive skills and length are important tools, he still has to round out his game considering he’s just 19 years old.

Walsh is currently averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 30.3 minutes in his 12 games at the G-League level. The 3-point shooting can be better at 30.2%, but his 5.3 attempts per game is a positive sign considering the team wants him to shoot whenever he’s open. Those are all pluses as Walsh needs playing time, and he’s getting plenty of that in the G-League.

The Celtics are hoping Walsh can eventually develop into a rotation player. They signed him to a four-year deal this summer, and he can be cheap production down the line. Considering the salary cap constraints coming with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, finding and developing guys like Walsh will be important to continue being competitive.

Obviously, Walsh has to juggle between being a primary guy in Maine while taking a back seat at the NBA level down in Boston. But there are plenty of learning lessons in that, Hauser said. The sharpshooter knows that kind of adjustment as he was a two-way player in his rookie season, seeing plenty of time between the G-League and the NBA.

“I think you kind of have to have a balance,” Hauser said. “Work on the things that you know, like when you come up here, you’re going to have to do, and then also expanding your game as much as you can when you get the opportunity. I think he’s done a good job of that so far, and I think when he does come up here, he’s probably going to be a defender, a spot-shooter and find a role on this team. But down there, you can see what he’s got and what potential he has.”

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