Jordan

Walsh

Walsh’s final action in Las Vegas was good overall, as the 2023 second-round pick shot 50% from the field and made more than half of his seven 3-point attempts. Add in the rebounds and blocked shots; this was a solid way for him to head into the offseason. The turnovers (six) were problematic, but that isn’t something to be too concerned about. Walsh’s role in summer league did not align with his likely role once the regular season begins, as Boston will have most of its rotation from last season’s title team back in uniform. Walsh’s best path to consistent playing time is to defend his position well, as the Celtics have more than enough scorers.

The Celtics are once again resting their top six players, as there is nothing for the team to play for regarding playoff positioning. Pritchard, Hauser, and Kornet remain the safest available options for fantasy, while Walsh will make his first official start as a Celtic. In a game like this, his defensive potential could shine through.

Walsh slipped to the second round of the draft due to a poor season at Arkansas after being a five-star prospect. The Celtics may have found themselves a steal in the second-round after multiple trade downs. He only played 15 minutes in this game, but he was able to leave his mark. He struggled with his perimeter shot in college, but that hasn’t been an issue this summer. He likely won’t play much of a role for Boston this season, but with how he has played in Summer League, it shouldn’t be long before that changes.

Walsh had his best offensive game of Summer League on Wednesday, dropping in a game-high 25 points while playing with far more aggression on that end of the floor. Offensively, the rookie wing will be taking on a supplementary role at best if he can crack the rotation. That means Walsh’s ability to hit perimeter shots will be of greater importance, and that’s an area where he needs to be more consistent. That said, he’s now 6-of-13 from three over Boston’s last two games. Walsh’s chances of being fantasy relevant in single-season standard leagues are slim, but he’s an intriguing prospect for dynasty formats.

Walsh, who shot 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line, was known more for his defensive ability than perimeter shooting during his lone season at Arkansas. The second-round pick performed well on both ends of the floor in his summer league debut, and it’s a role he’ll likely have to excel in if he’s to crack the Celtics rotation. And with Boston having traded Marcus Smart to Memphis, there’s a clear need for another perimeter defender to emerge. Keep an eye on Walsh in Las Vegas and in training camp, as he’s capable of filling that 3-and-D role next season.

Boston is the latest team to take advantage of the new second-round pick exception, which allows teams to sign their selections without the use of either cap space or the mid-level exception. The former Arkansas wing is known more for his defensive versatility and athleticism than what he provides on the offensive end of the floor. The ability to defend multiple positions may be what gives Walsh a shot at earning early rotation minutes, especially with the Celtics having traded their best perimeter defender (Marcus Smart) earlier this summer.

After multiple trade downs, Boston finally selected a player, though the Kings originally had rights to the pick. Walsh was a top-20 player coming out of high school and was part of an elite class for Arkansas alongside Nick Smith and Anthony Black. Unfortunately, his single year of college didn’t live up to the hype. His role was limited, and he didn’t produce much statistically. He’ll be 19 until next March, and he projects as a long defender that can switch and guard multiple positions. It may take him some time, but he has plenty of upside. He should have a few seasons to figure things out on Boston’s bench, though he should be able to add to their defense from day one.