Ranking All 19 Celtics Players on the 2023-24 Roster, Worst to Best
By Nick Galle
10. Lamar Stevens
Based off Lamar Stevens' time in Cleveland, it looks like the 26-year-old could carve out a really nice defensive role for himself with the Celtics.
Across 62 games (25 starts), Lamar Stevens had a 111.1 defensive rating with the Cavaliers in 2022-23. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff told The Athletic last season that Lamar Stevens often was effective when switching onto bigger opponents, meaning he should be able to assist Boston's frontcourt from the wing.
Lamar Stevens did sign a training camp deal, so there's a chance he doesn't make the roster, but if Mazzulla wants to up the intensity on the defensive end in his second season as head coach, Lamar Stevens is a great piece to have in his arsenal.
9. Svi Mykhailiuk
The losses of Malcolm Brogdon (44.4 percent from deep in 2022-23), Grant Williams (39.5) and Mike Muscala (38.5) allow Mykhailiuk to crack the top 10 on this list.
On top of that, the Celtics are now without Danilo Gallinari, a career 38.2 percent shooter from distance who never even appeared in a game for Boston after tearing his ACL last offseason.
Enter Mykhailiuk. In 32 games (eight starts) with the New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets last season, the Ukrainian sharpshooter hit at a 42.4 percent clip from 3-point range. He's a really underrated signing that could pay huge dividends for the Celtics' bench offense.
8. Payton Pritchard
It's pretty incredible that Pritchard is still on this team after an offseason where nearly everyone not named Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown seemed like they could be on the move at any moment. Pritchard even wanted to be traded, but instead he was rewarded with a four-year, $30 million extension.
Pritchard had a limited role in his first season playing under Mazzulla, appearing in just 48 games (three starts) after playing in at least 66 in each of the two previous years. But with Pritchard's new deal, it's clear that Brad Stevens and the front office have faith that the 25-year-old has what it takes to be a productive backup point guard.
Back when Pritchard was getting more time on the floor, he was a lethal 3-point shooter, connecting on 41.1 percent of his attempts in his rookie season before following that up with a 41.2 percent mark in Year 2. That's the version of Pritchard Celtics fans should expect to see again now that Boston's depth at the guard position is a bit thinner.