As the 2024-25 season approaches, the Boston Celtics are positioned as one of the top teams in the NBA. After several seasons of near misses, they finally clinched the championship last year.
The Celtics decisively defeated the Dallas Mavericks to secure the NBA title, and they have the potential to be a powerhouse for years to come. With stars like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis all expected to remain with the team, along with strong supporting players, Boston is well-equipped. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Xavier Tillman Sr. complement the main roster nicely, emphasizing the importance of bench contributions.
Amid all this, one player who might fly under the radar is rookie Baylor Scheierman.
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Scheierman Could Be Yet Another Weapon for Boston
Baylor Scheierman was selected 30th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Draft. While his pick may not attract widespread attention, his offensive talents could make him an underrated asset in Boston’s lineup.
Realistically, Scheierman might not be a major contributor this upcoming season, given the abundance of wing players on the Celtics and his status as a late-first-round pick, which could limit his playing time.
However, his skill set suggests he could be a valuable depth piece. At nearly 24 years old, Scheierman might integrate smoothly with the Celtics and could make an impact sooner rather than later. Throughout his college career, he demonstrated solid shooting ability, hitting 39% from three-point range on 5.6 attempts per game. In his last two years at Creighton, that percentage dropped slightly to 37.3% on 7.3 attempts per game, following a successful transition from South Dakota State.
In his 2023-24 season, Scheierman averaged 18.5 points with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.1%, taking 8.3 attempts per game, and making 3.1 shots from beyond the arc. Despite the Celtics already having strong shooting options, he possesses the potential to become a reliable long-range threat over time.
Scheierman’s shooting improved throughout college, and his deep range, touch, and off-ball instincts could make him a good fit in Boston’s offensive system. He became more adept at shooting as he gained experience, and with the Celtics’ movement-heavy offense, he might develop into a key shooter. He’s not a player opponents can afford to leave open, adding both catch-and-shoot and movement shooting capabilities.
While earning minutes with the Celtics may be challenging, his defensive versatility against NBA wings raises some concerns. He still has room to improve in that area to become a regular contributor.
Nonetheless, Scheierman could become an effective role player if given the opportunity. His ability to capitalize on closeouts and create mid-range shots, along with his knack for getting to the rim off screens, could flourish within Boston’s spacing.
In addition to his offensive potential, Scheierman showed promise as a rebounder, averaging 7.1 rebounds at North Dakota State and 8.6 at Creighton. With his skills as an off-ball mover, rebounder, and ball-handler, he could add significant depth to an already talented Celtics roster. While it remains to be seen how much playing time he’ll receive, his future contributions shouldn’t be overlooked.