The Boston Celtics are off to a fantastic start to the 2023-24 season as they are loaded with talent, at least their starting lineup is. Boston sits at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 12-3 record. The Celtics have won seven of their last eight and hold a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, among others.
Boston Celtics: Who Are the C’s Top Prospects?
Boston is a highly potent offensive team and very efficient defensively. The Celtics rank sixth in offensive ratings and third in defensive rankings. The C’s are the only team in the league to have a 10+ scoring margin, averaging 117.3 points and allowing 107.2 a game.
Jayson Tatum, who has finished in the top 6 of the MVP voting, has started where he picked off a year ago. Tatum, the Eastern Conference POW (Nov. 6), ranks in the top 10 in scoring and top 20 in rebounding. But Tatum is not the only Celtic playing well, as Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Prorzingis, Jrue Holiday, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White are off to solid starts.
However, talent isn’t limited to Boston. The Celtics have intriguing prospects who are tolling with the Maine Celtics, the C’s G-League affiliate, and overseas. Neemais Queta is the most intriguing player on a two-way contract. Meanwhile, Jordan Walsh- on a standard deal with the Celtics- will likely spend a lot of time in Maine to get some minutes on the court.
The Celtics Top Prospects
Neemais Queta
Queta is a wide-body big man selected with the 39th pick in the 2021 draft by the Sacramento Kings. The 7-foot center has spent most of his professional career in the G-League, though he does have 20 games of NBA experience. He was an All-G-League first-team selection and All-Defensive first-team choice in 2023.
Boston signed the 24-year-old after the Kings released him in September. Queta is fantastic around the rim on both ends of the court. He finishes well around the rim, primarily dunks, and is a tremendous rebounder. Queta is also a quality rim protector. The 7-footer collected two rebounds.
Nathan Knight
Nathan Knight signed a two-way deal with Boston after he was with the New York Knicks on a two-way contract through training camp. Knight is a 6-10 big man who appears to be a career end-of-the-bench player. He is very skilled and has a high motor. However, the 26-year-old doesn’t seem good enough to earn regular rotation minutes.
Known for his rebounding, athleticism, and ability to stretch the floor, Knight has appeared in 108 NBA games over the last three seasons. But he averaged just eight minutes a game and has yet to appear in more than 38 NBA contests in a single season. Knight has one double-double and is averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 22.5 minutes a game over three appearances for Maine this season.
JD Davison
JD Davison is in his second year on a two-way contract with the Celtics. Selected with the No. 53 pick in the 2022 draft, Davison spent most of last season with Maine. The 21-year-old did appear in 12 games for Boston a year ago.
Davison is a talented, athletic combo guard who is an excellent distributor and has shown some defensive ability. However, he is not a good 3-point shooter, and turnovers are an issue. Davison is off to a strong start with Maine this season, having compiled three double-doubles. He averages 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.4 assists while shooting .495/.346/.760 in the first three Showcase games.
Taylor Funk
Taylor Funk is an affiliate player for Boston, meaning he is a long-range prospect who will be given time to develop. Undrafted out of Utah State, the 6-8 forward is best known for his shooting prowess while also possessing some defensive promise due to his massive wing span. He averaged 2.3 treys a game while shooting it at a 35% clip from behind the arc for his collegiate career.
Funk has shown off his 3-point shooting ability but has struggled overall. He averages 7.2 points on 32.5% shooting from the field and 2.0 treys at a 30.3% clip in five games.
Jordan Schakel
The Celtics signed and waived Jordan Schakel at the end of September. Schakel has spent most of his professional career in the G-League since going undrafted out of San Diego State in 2021. However, he has logged 36 minutes in six NBA appearances.
Schakel is a 6-6 wing with 3-and-D capabilities. He scored double-figures in three of his five appearances with Maine this season. Schakel averages 13.6 points, 3/2 3-pointers, and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .434/.457/1.000.
Brandon Slater
Brandon Slater signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics at the beginning of October after going undrafted out of Villanova in June. Slater is a 6-7 versatile athletic wing who is a physical defender. He is averaging 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting .500/.417/1.000 in five games this year with Maine.
DJ Steward
DJ Steward, who went undrafted in 2021, signed with the Celtics in July after spending time with the G-League Stockton Kings the past two seasons. Steward is a 6-2 combo guard who is a good scorer and defender. He has improved his ball-handling, but he still could improve his passing and could be more efficient overall.
Steward had a solid summer league campaign with the Celtics and has done some things well during the early going of the G-League Showcase. The 22-year-old has scored 16 points in the first three Showcase games, though he has struggled shooting from deep. Overall, Steward is averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.8 turnovers with Maine. He also connects on 2.0 triples a game while compiling a shooting slash line of .493/.345/1.000.
Yam Madar
Yam Madar, a 2020 second-round pick of the Celtics, is in his first season with Turkish Club Fenerbahce Beko. The 22-year-old Israelian started his professional career with his home country club, Hapoel Tel Aviv. He then spent two years with the Serbian team KK Partizan before signing with Fenerbahce Beko.
Madar is a 6-3 combo guard who is an excellent shooter with fantastic range. He is very quick off the bounce, allowing him to get to the hoop and finish himself or find open teammates. He is improving as a ball-handler and still has work to do on the defensive end.
Madar is playing in three leagues with Fenerbache Beko this season, which equates to tons of games and experience for the youngster. Through 17 games, including 10 starts, Madar has averaged 7.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Madar is shooting 46.9% from the field, though just 27.9% from the 3-point line, as he is struggling during Euroleague competition. However, his 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best of his career. He is under contract with Fenerbahce Beko through 2025-2026.
Juhan Begarin
Juhann Begarin, a 2021 second-round draft pick of the Celtics, is in his first season with French club Nanterre 92. The 21-year-old played three seasons with Paris Basketball after starting his pro career in the French NM 1 league. He also has played with Boston’s summer league squad twice, the last occurring in 2022-23.
Begarin is an athletic 6-5 wing who is a capable scorer with some ability on the defensive end. He likes to slash and is at his best in the open court. However, Begarin is not very efficient as he is not a good shooter, particularly from the 3-point line, and does not get to the free-throw line. He is not a great ball-handler.
Begarin has started all 11 games for Nanterre 92, averaging 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He is shooting 50% from the field and 25.7% from the 3-point line. Begarin is under contract with Nanterre 92 through the 2024-25 season.
