The Celtics didn’t need their projected top seven rotation players to make a preseason statement on Thursday in Cleveland. Boston rolled to a win anyway, powered by 71 first-half points and 21 offensive rebounds, according to Brian Robb of MassLive.com.
The loudest individual takeaway for the Celtics came from Devin Carter. The former lottery pick, now on an Exhibit 10 contract, turned heads in his first outing with the team.
Carter scored 15 of his 17 points before halftime and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a plus-22 in 25 minutes. He also had five turnovers, but Robb wrote that Carter is “in the driver’s seat” for Boston’s two-way opening after showing he can get downhill, attack the rim and pressure the ball defensively.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, LeBron James made his Sixers preseason debut and immediately flashed the passing touch that has defined his career. Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reported that the 41-year-old forward posted 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in 18 minutes.
Neubeck believes James could end up averaging 10 assists per game this season with so many scoring options around him. Joel Embiid’s first preseason action was much rougher; he coughed it up seven times in the first half and eight times overall, though Neubeck noted that slow starts have long been part of his pattern.
In Toronto, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca asked 10 members of the Raptors’ coaching staff and front office which player would benefit most from Kawhi Leonard’s presence. The answer came back in a three-way tie: Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter each received three votes.
Murray-Boyles said, “How to get to where he’s at - that’s the biggest thing I’m really focused on,” and added, “Obviously, how to win also. He’s a winner.
He’s a proven winner. So, literally just what it takes to get to his position.
Obviously, I see the amount of work that he puts in. He’s working out like he’s just getting into the league, and he’s 35.
He’s already proven everything. He has nothing else to prove.
So, just trying to pick his brain on his mentality, what keeps him going still, and trying to be as much of a sponge as possible to all the knowledge that he has.”
RJ Barrett was the fourth Raptors player to draw a vote, and his situation looks less certain. Lewenberg reported that Barrett is extension-eligible, but sources told him there has been “little traction” in those talks.
There is still mutual interest, according to Lewenberg, but Barrett is in the final year of his deal, and extending him after Leonard’s new contract could make the 2027/28 roster too expensive. Even so, Barrett gave Toronto reason to keep him in the mix last season, when he showed he could handle either a complementary role or a bigger offensive load.
That matters with Leonard, who has played fewer than 65 games in seven of the last nine seasons. The coach who voted for Barrett said he is still getting better and could take another step if he adds a post game like Leonard’s.
In Other News...
Gradey Dick Suddenly Has A Real Clippers Opportunity
The Clippers early-season depth chart is already being tested, and for Gradey Dick, that has created a chance he probably could not have counted on a few weeks ago. Los Angeles is working through injuries at the top of the roster, which should open up more minutes on the wing, and Dick is suddenly in position to get a longer look after arriving as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade.
For Dick, the opportunity is real, but so is the pressure that comes with it. He has to show he can hold down a role on a team trying to stay afloat while shorthanded, and the path to steady playing time will depend on how quickly he fits into what the Clippers need. For Toronto fans still tracking the return on that deal, this is one of those early-season developments worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Allen Graves Has A Real Chance To Force Toronto's Hand
Allen Graves arrived in camp with some momentum after a strong Summer League showing, and that has only sharpened the interest around the 19th overall pick as the preseason begins to take shape. The Raptors have talked up his versatility, the kind of skill set that can help a young player carve out minutes early if he can translate it against bigger, faster competition.
Darko Rajakovic has made it clear the next step is less about raw talent and more about how Graves fits into the NBA game. The upcoming preseason slate should offer a better read on his role, and with Toronto still sorting out which pieces belong where, Graves has a real opening to show he belongs in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Jakob Poeltl May Hold The Key To Torontos Entire Season
Jakob Poeltl has become one of the Raptors most important swing pieces heading into the new season, and the reason is simple: when he is right, Torontos whole frontcourt looks more stable. The veteran center has a track record of productive play, but the last stretch has been clouded by health concerns and a noticeable drop in effectiveness, which has put more pressure on the teams center depth and made his long-term contract even more relevant to the bigger picture.
Poeltls offseason work suggests he knows what is at stake. He spent the summer trying to get his body in a better place after dealing with the physical wear that has cut into his impact, and Toronto is counting on that to show up early. If he can return to the form that made him such a useful anchor, the Raptors have a cleaner path forward. If not, one of the most important decisions on the roster could linger well past opening night. [Read more 🡒]