Jordan Walsh is entering his sophomore season in the NBA after spending most of last year in Maine. Baylor Scheierman is the first first round draft pick of the Celtics in four years. Both players will fight for minutes off Joe Mazzulla’s bench next season.
Due to the Boston Celtics roster depth, it’s unlikely we see both Walsh and Scheierman earn a role in the rotation. If we’re being honest, both guys could spend the majority of their time in the G-League.
However, in the spirit of the offseason and the fun that debates can bring, Adam Taylor and newest CelticsBlogger Robby Fletcher have sat down to discuss which of the young wings could potentially impress the coaching staff enough to be part of the rotation.
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Who has the edge on offense?
Adam: You might as well give me the early advantage here.
There’s no contest on who brings more to the offensive end. Scheierman is a polished three-level scorer, can create for himself and others off the bounce, and is a valuable floor spacer as both a spot-up and movement shooter.
According to Synergy, Creighton used Scheierman as a spot-up shooter on 4.5 possessions per game, with each possession worth 1 point (technically 0.96, but we’re rounding up.)
Creighton also ran Scheierman off screens as an off-ball threat on 3.3 possessions per game; those possessions were worth 1.04 points. He shot 53.4% when finishing transition attacks and generated 1.3 points per possession as a pick-and-roll handler.
Take a look at this play. Creighton runs an NBA-level set out of a sideline-out-of-bounds (SLOB) action with Scheierman inbounding the ball, cutting to the weakside elbow, before popping out to the strongside slot for the catch-and-shoot three. That’s the type of mobility and versatility Mazzulla likes from his offensive threats.
Scheierman’s multi-faceted offense will allow him to slot into whatever role Mazzulla envisions while giving him scope to counter defensive coverages, close-outs, or mismatches. I can’t see how Walsh tops that when considering Scheierman’s NBA-level upside on this side of the floor.
Robby: This is the area where Baylor’s edge is most evident.
It’s also an area where Walsh will have to prove a lot of people wrong. He pressed a lot in his second Summer League, often forcing awkward jumpers off the dribble as well as drives into oncoming traffic that left him with little alternative than to throw the ball up and pray.
Still, a modest 27-game sample out of the G-League warrants some optimism. He was a respectable 36% shooter from beyond the arc on 5.7 attempts per game at that level, showing confidence from the perimeter that just wasn’t there in his Summer League play or brief NBA minutes.
In those brief minutes up with Boston, only the Charlotte game late in the season showed that same confidence from deep, as demonstrated by a nice lift up from the wing that resulted in a 3-pointer off the catch late in the first quarter.
Walsh is also a capable cutter that can generate offense off the gravity of more reliable scoring options, of which there’d be plenty on the floor surrounding him should he find himself within Mazzulla’s rotation. He’s shown a nice understanding of his off-ball duties across multiple levels of the game, taking advantage of over-helping defenders to flash into space near the dunker spot.
Would he be running much offense? Highly unlikely, but Walsh has put a lot of work into his off-the-dribble ability, and he openly admitted he was pressing a little too hard to find his shot this summer. The story’s a little different when defenses are tasked with forcing the ball out of the hands of a Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
Adam: My usual push-back here would be that shooting 36% in the G-League is different to doing it in the NBA, but as I’m defending a rookie fresh out of college, that would be hypercritical of me.
What I will say, though, is that Walsh’s role is well-defined. He’s a corner-spot-up shooter who needs to evolve his decision-making when looking to attack off the dribble. I value the versatility that Scheierman brings here. He can fill the same role as Walsh but has the skillset and polish to expand that role based on coverages. He came into the league as a 39% 3-point shooter in college and had a reliable 82% free-throw conversion rate.
Walsh has plenty of upside on offense, but for a contending team, if one of these two are needed in the bench rotation, Scheierman’s offense is clearly a level or two above where Walsh is at right now.
Who has the edge on defense?
Robby: The clearest benefit of inserting Walsh into the rotation comes on the defensive end.
A 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-3 wingspan provides a ton of opportunities for a team that’s more than willing to switch matchups and live with the results.
Even amidst his overall offensive Summer League struggles, Walsh’s combination of length with a developing upper body allows him to handle stronger wing assignments along with switch-outs to more interior-oriented scoring threats.
I think Scheierman proved to be a capably above-average defender at the college level, particularly in his paint defense, but I do worry about his ability to handle the quicker slashers off the wings. In Oshae Brissett’s absence, this team could use a jolt of energy on that side. Walsh fills that role, especially in his screen navigation, where you see his lateral quickness and outrageous wingspan on full display.
Adam: I’ll give it to ya. Walsh has the advantage on defense, especially in terms of point-of-attack and passing lanes. However, Scheierman brings a reliable presence on the glass. He ended his collegiate career averaging 7.8 boards per game, and grabbed 9 per night in his final season. He has the size and positioning to help ease the pressure when teams are looking to crash the boards and control the tempo.
I also agree with you on Walsh’s advantage when guarding quicker wings who look to slash off-ball or via catch-and-drive opportunities. However, Mazzulla has already implemented a failsafe in these situations, having his players peel switch to ensure any advantage is quickly removed.
Scheierman has the polish, experience (as a five-year college product) and size to thrive as a system defender who elevates the team’s overall rebounding while being consigned to the weakside corner while his defensive skillset catches up to his offense.
I think he does bring some upside to that side of the floor, and having someone with a defined defensive role isn’t bad for a team full of pitbull defenders.
Robby: All valid points, particularly in Scheierman’s ability to crash the glass.
I think during the pre-draft process, that was an area that was most surprising in his game, certainly not something I had noticed a whole lot of during live games. Under the microscope, he plays a lot bigger than your average perimeter wing. It’s something that could easily swoon the coaching staff beyond his multi-faceted scoring ability.
I, however, remain on Team Walsh for this particular area. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.
Who fits better in the Celtics system?
Adam: This is the toughest area for me…I mean, we’re talking about two very inexperienced players trying to earn minutes on the best team in the NBA. However, I think Scheierman has a considerable advantage over Walsh, here.
Hear me out.
Mazzulla likes his players to be two-way threats. He wants them to have a reliable offensive presence but also contributes on the defensive end. Scheierman is closer to a ready-made two-way talent than Walsh.
Yes, Walsh is a better defender, but his limited offensive game really shackles his overall game. Scheierman, on the other hand, can fit into a system defense, rebound, help, trap, etc… He is also a reliable offensive option as both an off-ball and on-ball weapon, and that’s before he starts looking to create for others.
Mazzulla would likely value that type of production on both sides of the floor, and it would allow Scheierman to participate in multiple rotation combinations and substitution patterns.
Robby: I agree, this is certainly a tough area to determine, especially because they’re both such different players.
Mazzulla does in fact value a two-way player, something that fits more in-line with Scheierman’s current skillset. I mean, the way he flies off screens feels cut from the same cloth of a young Sam Hauser. It’s clear what he provides in the immediate future. On that end, it’s a bit of a mystery box with Walsh, an area where growing pains might be common. And I think that’s okay. Surrounded by an incredible supporting cast allows him room to grow, especially in the earlier months of the season.
Add in the aforementioned defensive versatility that definitely fits their identity and I think it’s a fit that maybe isn’t completely perfect right now, but in time can make sense for what they need out of an 11th or 12th man.
Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined to start the season, the Celtics have the luxury of 10 truly quality players locked into spots within the rotation. That doesn’t leave a ton of minutes to either Walsh or Scheierman. In those minutes, I think I value the defensive energy Walsh brings just a little bit more. Both could easily have success around a roster this good, but I keep thinking back to what Brissett provided last year, and that relentless energy positively influenced a few notable games, like their early contest against Miami on Oct. 27, and even Game 2 of the Conference Finals with Indiana. It’s hardly flashly stuff, but it’s the kind of dirty work I want to see out of a 12th man, and something I feel Walsh could provide in Year 2.
Adam: You make some fair points. Walsh is arguably better suited to “energizer bunny” role. However, I think when it comes to overall impact, I prefer a guy who can offer some upside on defense and work as a release valve on offense. It also makes more sense to me for the Celtics to spend the small number of developmental minutes on someone who can grow into a bigger role long-term — and for me, that’s Scheierman.
Walsh is solid on defense, but his frame doesn’t fill me with confidence that he can hang physically, and he has shown that his positioning needs work, too. When I’m looking at an impact-now option with genuine upside for the future, Scheierman is my winner, mainly because he comes into the team with a high floor and lower ceiling. He doesn’t need as much development as Walsh, and for a contending team, that’s precisely what you want.
Ok, after all that, can we agree on a winner?
So, after all of this, has either of you managed to sway the other?
Robby: Well…maybe.
It’s hard to deny the more balanced skillset of Baylor Scheierman. If I were to place money on it, I’d probably say Mazzulla prefers that option as well. I’d say you’ve made the right points on his fit, so I’ll let you take the win there. I still have hope for Walsh, and maybe another year with extended G-League action isn’t out of the question, but I’d like to see his growth in Year 2 play out in Boston.
Adam: VICTORY!!
Only joking 🙂
You made some strong points on Walsh. I had to sit back and really think about this debate and whether I still had my spot on Scheierman island. Turns out that I do. I’m thinking of purchasing some real-estate here. Maybe a condo with a nice boat and a pool out back.
Jokes aside, Walsh has all the tools to be a genuine three-and-d role player in the NBA. I just don’t think he’s ready yet, and that role may not be with the Celtics due to the competition for playing time. Baylor joins the team as a ready-made addition and still has room to improve his game.
It makes sense to give Scheierman whatever developmental minutes are on offer. And if you want a deeper dive into what he brings to the roster, I have a length scouting report from a month or two back.
I would like to see Walsh get an opportunity, as long as it’s not at Scheierman’s expense. And no matter what, I’ll be watching a little closer after the strong argument you made for him.
Now, though, I would like to open this debate up to the comments and see who the readers would choose between these two and whether our points have helped sway their minds…
