The NBA free agency craze is essentially over, with only a few teams remaining with cap space and even fewer impactful free agents left on the market. While fans are still waiting for their teams to make moves to upgrade the roster, some have turned their attention to Summer League action. The Boston Celtics took the court for the first time this summer on Friday, coming away with the 92-78 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Las Vegas.
More important than the score, however, was taking a look at some of the young Celtics who will be on the roster next season. Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman all started and played over 25 minutes. While there were intriguing flashes from all three, to be sure, Scheierman didn't look the part of a rotation player in the NBA.
8 points
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) July 11, 2025
2/14 FG
1/8 3FG
— Baylor Scheierman tonight 😬 pic.twitter.com/dYyxpikXwl
Baylor Scheierman Didn't Look Like a Rotation Piece in First Summer League Game
Scheierman looked confident all game, as he clearly had the mandate to be the primary shot creator for the team. He had some solid pick-and-roll possessions and passing plays, but his lack of scoring punch was evident as he went 2/14 from the field, including 1/8 from three for eight points. Not getting to the free-throw line and only shooting three free throws despite having the ball a lot was perhaps the most concerning part of his game.
It's important to note that Scheierman is already a poor defender. He wasn't impactful on that end of the floor on Friday, making his lack of offensive efficiency that much more problematic. If he is going to be a negative defensively, he needs to become a much better shooter and scorer to find minutes for the Celtics.
The Celtics desperately need some of their bench players to play a bigger role next season after key offseason departures. Scheierman is 24 years old and is entering his second season in the NBA. He should have been much more effective at the Summer League level for the Celtics to feel good about giving him a rotation role next season. Whether the shooting guard will be able to turn things around over the next few weeks will be a big factor in where he lands in Boston's rotation.