Celtics Have ‘Fascinating Question’ About Rotation, But There’s A Clear Answer

The Boston Celtics begin their regular season next week, and there are still plenty of questions about the team’s rotation. One of those questions involves Boston’s trio of young wings, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo González, the latter of whom was Boston’s first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Essentially, which of these three guys will Mazzulla prioritize in the rotation?

The author of this piece believes the clear answer is González. Despite González’s youth (19), he doesn’t lack experience, his game and mentality having been forged in the high-pressure environment of Real Madrid for years.

Interestingly, MassLive’s Brian Robb also indicated this week that González has the edge over Scheierman and Walsh.

During a mailbag exercise, Robb was asked about the three players mentioned above, specifically in regard to which of the three will receive the most minutes.

“It’s a fascinating question,” Robb replied. “Before the preseason began, my money would have been on Baylor Scheierman but he has arguably had the toughest preseason out of any rotation candidate. Jordan Walsh looked okay in his limited minutes while dealing with an injury that sidelined him for two games, but it was honestly Hugo Gonzalez who easily had the most memorable moments out of this trio.”

“The defensive stuff with Gonzalez has stood out the most since he has the strength and size to hang with wings and also piled up a few impressive blocks,” Robb continued. “Throw in some capable 3-point shooting and solid decision-making on offense most nights and it makes you wonder whether the team will let him get his development done in Boston as opposed to Maine for most of the season.”

“Scheierman showed potential at the end of last year, but his age (25) and inconsistent shotmaking stick out right now,” Robb added. “If he’s not making shots, (something he struggled with in Summer League too) it’s tough to justify minutes for him right now given Gonzalez is already the better defender. Walsh and Scheierman obviously have the experience edge at this point, so I expect everyone to get their chances early in the year regardless, as Mazzulla holds a tight leash on the reserves in the rotation. Ultimately, I think it’s Gonzalez that ends up with the biggest role, even if Scheierman starts with more of one.”

If González does indeed receive preference from Mazzulla starting next week, that in no way means Scheierman and Walsh don’t need to stay ready. The 2025-26 Celtics aren’t a deep team, and so much happens over the course of a season that creates opportunities for guys, most notably injuries.

Scheierman and Walsh will have their names called at a certain point, and probably soon. For now, González has made Mazzulla’s decision fairly easy about who deserves playing time out of the gate.