On February 8, 2024, Brad Stevens made a unheralded move on Deadline Day to improve the back end of Boston’s roster. The Celtics sent a 2024 second-round pick to the 76ers for Jaden Springer.
Springer, who was a first round pick in 2021, saw limited minutes in Philly and is now an NBA champion.
The Celtics are stacked in the backcourt with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard as the primary ball-handlers, but this coming season, Springer should be looking to solidify a place in Boston’s backcourt rotation.
Fans know that Springer is known for his on-ball defense. Springer has a quick first step which allows him to stay in front of most guards. If Springer does get beat, he has solid recovery speed and length to defend the shot like in the clips below.
We all know that to play for Joe Mazzulla, you need to buy in on defense. All season long, teams tried to “find the dope” on Boston’s defense, typically targeting the likes of Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard. Soon the league realized that they take pride in their defense and make it difficult for anyone who tries to isolate them. Famously, Jrue Holiday credited his teammates for their effort on defense saying, “Even our white guys guard.”
Springer has the defensive ability to play for Mazzulla — it’s the offense that needs improving. In the 49 games Springer appeared in between Philadelphia and Boston, he managed to shoot just 20.8% from three (18.2% while in Boston). Defense and three-pointers are Mazzulla’s M.O. and if Springer wants to play, that should be priority number one this offseason.
Payton Pritchard knew his offense was good enough to be in the NBA, but he worked tirelessly to become a better defender and it saw his minutes increase this past season in which he played a major role in helping Boston win the Championship. For Springer, he needs to do the opposite. His defense is good enough for the NBA, he just needs to find a way to knock down open shots consistently.
These are the types of shots that Springer will get if he’s on the court, especially if he’s in the game with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown where defenders are more concerned with the stars.
During Summer League, Springer played with Boston and it did look as if he was working on his shot and playmaking. Against the Miami Heat, Springer scored 23 points and provided 6 assists. He showed his ability to make open 3-pointers and make plays at the rim whether finishing over the taller defender or by kicking it out to the open man. Springer played well enough in the first couple of Summer League games that he did not participate in the entire tournament, rather was in street clothes on the sidelines as he showed enough.
It’s an uphill battle for Springer to get more minutes than he did last season, however, with the team essentially running it back with the same roster, Springer will have to be ready to step up if anyone gets into foul trouble or gets hurt. For a second round pick, I still believe Springer was worth it. If he can develop a consistent jump shot while continuing to be an excellent on-ball defender, he’d be a great utility player for Mazzulla.
