The 2023-24 NBA preseason is coming to a close. Friday night is the last game for any player on the bubble of a team’s rotation or fighting for a roster spot to make an impression before the league-mandated cut-down day on Monday. The following will look at how each Atlantic Division team’s roster and training camp battles look heading into the final weekend before the season starts.<\/p>\n
Boston<\/a> closed its preseason schedule with a 127-99 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. With Thursday’s night win, the Celtics finish the exhibition schedule with a 4-1 record.<\/p>\n Boston enters the weekend with 19 players on the roster, with 13 holding fully guaranteed deals. The Celtics may have an open two-way spot with Jay Scrubb<\/strong><\/a> slated to be sidelined most of the season.<\/p>\n Boston’s top six players are known. The only question remains whether Derrick White<\/strong><\/a> or Al Horford<\/strong> <\/a>will be the final starter. White has started each of the preseason games that he appeared in. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday<\/strong> <\/a>has opened with the first unit in his last three games. In his previous game, Horford came off the bench and did not play against the Hornets.<\/p>\n Of the three players, White has the most experience coming off the bench. He has come off the bench in 34 of his 108 games as a Celtic.<\/p>\n However, head coach Joe Mazzula indicated to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach<\/a> that matchups would dictate his starting five.<\/p>\n Regardless of the starting lineup, either White or Horford will be the first player off the bench in most situations. Sam Hauser,<\/strong><\/a> Payton Pritchard<\/strong><\/a>, and Oshae Brissett<\/strong><\/a> appear to be locks for the second unit.<\/p>\n With the Celtics releasing Wenyen Gabriel<\/strong> <\/a>on Friday, they will likely carry 14 players on their opening night roster. Therefore. Luke Kornet<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0Dalano Banton<\/strong><\/a>, Lamar Stevens, <\/strong><\/a>and Svi Mykhailiuk<\/strong><\/a> seemingly all made the club. Stevens and Banton played well in the preseason finale.<\/p>\n Neemais Queta<\/strong><\/a> figures to see some playing time for the Celtics as a two-way player. D.J. Steward<\/strong> <\/a>was released last night, but he was destined for the\u00a0 G-League Maine Celtics anyway.<\/p>\n Brooklyn finished its exhibition schedule on Thursday, defeating the Miami Heat 107-104. The Nets released Darius Bazley<\/strong><\/a> on Thursday. Seemingly in, indicating that Trendon Watford<\/strong><\/a> and Harry Giles III<\/strong><\/a> have made the 15-man roster.<\/p>\n The Brooklyn Nets are waiving forward Darius Bazley, sources tell @TheAthletic<\/a> @Stadium<\/a>. Bazley averaged 5.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 42.9 percent 3-point shooting in preseason and is now expected to receive interest as a free agent.<\/p>\n — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBrooklyn Nets<\/h3>\n
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