2014-15 Boston Celtics Preview

(SportsNetwork.com) - Year two of the Boston Celtics rebuilding plan is off and running.

The C's first season under Brad Stevens was the expected disaster everyone expected after Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded. Rajon Rondo missed time with injuries and the Celtics went young and Boston lost its most games in a season since the 2006-07 season.

When the Celtics dropped 58 eight years ago, they won the title the following season. That won't happen this time, but the gentlemen in green should improve on the floor.

Of course, they will have to start the season without Rondo. The All-Star, who will be a free agent at season's end, broke a bone in his left hand. He underwent surgery and will be sidelined at least the first month of the regular season.

It was a semi-eventful offseason for Rondo. Aside from his impending free agency, Rondo was described as "stubborn" by team owner Wyc Grousbeck, who also questioned whether or not Rondo was coachable.

Then, Rondo had to even field a barrage of questions about his hand injury. Some reports suggested it occurred at a trampoline park, but Rondo said it happened at his house when he slipped in the shower.

"It wasn't like a banana [peel] slip," said Rondo. "I actually almost caught myself. I landed on my knuckle on the window sill in my home. That's what happened."

Rondo's future was always going to be a sensitive topic this season. He makes perfect sense as trade bait considering he's a free agent and may not fit the long-term youth movement.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has always maintained he wants Rondo around for the long haul.

In the short term, C's rookie Marcus Smart, the sixth overall pick in the draft, will man the point.

"Regardless if he's here or not, I'm still going to work hard and earn the respect of these guys," Smart said.

James Young was also taken in the first round to help with guard depth. The team re-signed Avery Bradley this offseason and brought in free-agent wing man Evan Turner to play three different positions.

Jeff Green had a good season for the Celtics and Brandon Bass is expected to stay in the starting lineup. The center spot could be manned by promising youngster Jared Sullinger, second-year man Kelly Olynyk, or newcomer Tyler Zeller, who came over in a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were shopping all warm bodies for cap space.

Stevens has a lot of toys to play with and things should be spread around quite a bit in Boston. Green was the leading scorer last season, but the big men in Beantown played pretty solidly. Plus, they have the added benefit of being young, which is critical to Ainge's long-term plan.

The Celtics have no real aspirations this season. The plan is to continue to grow with this roster and add young pieces through the draft.

Smart has a ton of potential and Young was a steal at No. 17. That could be the backcourt of the future for the Celtics if they choose to let Rondo walk, or even trade him.

The building blocks are in place in Boston. From here on, it's about growth and development.

2013-14 Results: 25-57, 4th in Atlantic; Missed playoffs

ADDITIONS: G Marcus Smart, G/F Evan Turner, G James Young, C Tyler Zeller

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:

PG- Marcus Smart SG- Avery Bradley SF- Jeff Green PF- Brandon Bass C- Kelly Olynyk

KEY RESERVES: F Gerald Wallace, F Jared Sullinger, G Marcus Thornton, C Tyler Zeller, G Phil Pressey, G James Young, C Vitor Faverani, G/F Evan Turner, G Rajon Rondo (injured)

FRONTCOURT: Green averaged 16.9 ppg last season. After a heart issue two years ago caused him to miss the whole 2011-12 season, Green played in all but one game the last two campaigns.

Green shot 34 percent from the three-point line and averaged 4.6 rpg, which isn't too high. He suffered a calf injury in training camp, but should be fine for the regular season.

Green has a solid all-around game and has worked on defense this offseason, thanks to the tutelage of Wallace. Green also put on 10 pounds of muscle.

"There's so much that I have to have my eye on, but I try to conquer everything," he said. "So I've just got to transfer it into the season."

Bass started 73 games in 2013-14 and averaged 11.1 ppg, which was the third- highest production level of his career. He grabbed 5.7 rpg and remains a solid mid-rang jump-shooter.

Olynyk made the All-Rookie second team last season with averages of 8.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg. He's not a rim protector, or even a good defender, but he's offensively skilled. Olynyk could make a leap this season, or he could fall behind Zeller or Sullinger in the rotation.

BACKCOURT: Since Rondo will be back a month into the season, he should return to the starting lineup, where he's been for every game he's played since the start of the 2007-08 season.

Rondo led the league in assists twice and hasn't been below 9.8 apg in the last five seasons. He can still be a strong defender, although the team as a whole isn't great.

Rondo isn't a scorer, or shooter, but he's a master facilitator.

This is a big season for the 28-year-old. Rondo has a big deal in his future and Boston apparently wants to keep him in the fold. It would behoove him to stay healthy and happy all season in order to get that big contract.

Bradley signed a deal that some found excessive. He inked a four-year, $32 million contract, but Bradley remains an elite defensive guard, who improved offensively. He bumped his scoring average to 14.9 ppg last season, while only playing two more minutes per game. Bradley improved his 3-point shooting as well, going for almost 40 percent from beyond the arc. He's also versatile and can slide over to the point guard spot.

Smart is a total package kind of point guard, who can probably play a little two in the NBA. He should walk into the league and be a plus-defender. Offensively, he's pretty polished, averaging 18.0 ppg and 4.8 apg during his final season at Oklahoma State.

"I've coached a lot of really bright guys. Very, very, very few can see the game and react like he does," Stevens said of Smart.

BENCH: Sullinger busted out a bit in 2013-14. He averaged 13.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg, which are both strong numbers for a second-year man who came off the bench 30 times last season. He's a very talented big man who even has decent range.

Wallace is a great veteran to have around considering he cares about defense and hustle plays. At $10 million a season, he makes outrageous money for what he does, but Wallace is a good locker room presence, too.

Zeller lost time under Mike Brown last season, then became a cap casualty in the pursuit of LeBron James. In his rookie season, Zeller started 55 games and posted respectable averages of 7.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg. He was definitely worth taking on by the Celtics.

Thornton was very productive for the Brooklyn Nets last season, averaging 12.3 ppg after coming over from the Sacramento Kings. He will serve as the primary wing scoring option off the bench and shoots 43 percent from the three-point line for his career. He, like Zeller, came in that same trade that involved the Nets and Cavs.

Turner still has a niche in this league as a creator and versatile presence off the bench. He had the ball in his hands a lot in Philadelphia last season, but never fit in with the Indiana Pacers. Turner has a decent mid-range game, and good ball-handling skills. He should see time at the one, two and three spots. Turner still has time to dispel the notion he's a malcontent bust.

Pressey should see some time with Rondo hurt.

Young probably won't play much in his rookie season.

Faverani fell out of favor last season and now may fall out of the rotation with the glut of decent young big men in Boston. He suffered a knee injury in camp and was arrested for drunk driving in Spain over the summer, so he might be wearing thin with the Celtics.

COACHING: Stevens was a great choice for this program as it grows. He built the Butler program and went to back-to-back NCAA Championship games, so clearly he knows a thing or two about the process.

Stevens is so young it has to help with the youth on the roster. Not many had a bad word to say about Stevens after his first year on the sidelines at the NBA level.

OUTLOOK: The C's improved in the draft and with their low-risk acquisitions.

Smart could easily be Rondo's replacement if Ainge wants to go in that direction and Young is, pardon the pun, so young, he can grow into the job in a few years.

Zeller was a nice piece to take on and provides depth and a challenge for the incumbent big men. Turner needs to rectify his image, so he should be a solid citizen and a nice addition.

Rondo could make this team decent, but the playoffs are a pipe dream in Boston. There simply isn't enough talent on the Celtics roster to compete in the Eastern Conference.

That doesn't mean the season is a total wash. It's all about growth together in Boston. This season is just another step for the Celtics.