Baylor Scheierman Still Searching for His Role in Year Two with Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered the 2025-26 season with a different tone than in years past. With Jayson Tatum sidelined and a roster that underwent some offseason reshuffling, this year was less about chasing banners and more about evaluating who fits into the long-term blueprint. For players like Baylor Scheierman, it was a golden opportunity-a chance to earn minutes, prove value, and carve out a real role in the rotation.
But two months into the season, Scheierman’s case as a long-term contributor remains unconvincing.
The 25-year-old guard came into his sophomore campaign with a clear lane to make an impression. Boston’s lineup outside of its core-Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, and Neemias Queta-has been fluid.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla has experimented with different fifth starters and closing combinations, trying to find the right mix. Yet through all the lineup juggling, Scheierman has stayed mostly on the outside looking in.
In 22 appearances, he’s averaged just 12 minutes per game. And the trend isn’t moving in the right direction.
Over Boston’s last four contests, his playing time dipped to 11 minutes per game. In that stretch, he’s taken just six total shots and made one.
That’s less than a point per game-hardly the kind of production that forces a coaching staff to take notice.
The issue isn’t just about shot-making; it’s about involvement. Scheierman’s usage rate sits at 9.2%, the lowest among Boston’s regular rotation players-and one of the lowest marks in the entire league among players who’ve logged at least 200 minutes, according to Cleaning the Glass.
That’s a telling number. It speaks to a player who isn’t just struggling to produce, but one who’s barely part of the offensive equation at all.
When you’re not a focal point on offense, you’ve got to find other ways to make an impact-defensive energy, rebounding, transition play, hustle. To his credit, Scheierman has held his own defensively at times. But he hasn’t made enough noise in the other areas to offset the lack of offensive contribution.
That’s left him trailing others in the rotation hierarchy. Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott, and Sam Hauser have all seen steadier roles and more consistent production. Even 19-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez has started to leapfrog him, flashing two-way potential that’s tough to ignore.
And while Scheierman is still early in his NBA journey, age is a factor. At 25, he’s older than many second-year players, and the window for upside starts to narrow. With the trade deadline approaching, Boston may have to consider whether there’s a better use for that roster spot-especially if another team sees untapped potential in the former Creighton standout.
Scheierman’s story isn’t finished. But right now, he’s got work to do to stay in the Celtics’ long-term plans.