NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 ways everything goes right for the Celtics

BOSTON - OCTOBER 2: Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving, far left, and his teammates are pictured during the singing of the national anthem before the game. The Boston Celtics host the Charlotte Hornets in a pre-season NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Oct. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 2: Jayson Tatum /

4. One of their three young players moves from “nice piece” territory to “fourth-option” territory

I don’t mean Terry Rozier, unless I do. I don’t know. Danny Ainge is better at basketball stuff than I am, which is like saying that LeBron is better at dunking than me. Ainge likes Rozier. Maybe he’ll be the best player ever in a few years.

But I doubt it.

Boston has three high draft picks at various stages on their paths to their prime: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and now Jayson Tatum. One would hope that one of these lottery picks would turn into an All-Star. It might be early, but if one of them makes a jump this year, their team suddenly becomes a much bigger threat.

Marcus Smart is the oldest of the three. He plays hounding defense, takes 3s, misses a lot of them, and plays more defense. He is an exceptionally hard player and hard worker, and that’s usually a strong indication of a player looking to make another step. On the other hand, he apparently likes coming off the bench.

Marcus Smart says Stevens wanted to start him last night but Smart told Stevens that he wanted to come off bench/that he relishes that role.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) October 3, 2017

That is valuable, for sure. If he becomes an angrier Manu, maybe it’s him.

Jaylen Brown is just coming into his second year. He is still quite raw, but has shown flashes. He is a better outside shooter than Smart and can jump really high. Jumping is a key component of quality basketball.

Jayson Tatum is a rookie so I don’t know anything about him. But he was picked after the Celtics traded down so maybe he’s good.

If one of these players can jump from potential future star to present day, that raises the Celtics’ ceiling quite a bit. It’s what I’m most looking forward to seeing from this team.