What awful news to hear if you're a Celtics fan. Guerschon Yabusele, who the Celtics took with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft; will play overseas this year for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association. He's only 20 years old and has the potential to be a force in the NBA once he's committed and ready. I call him a Poor Mans Draymond Green because of the way he plays and the intensity that he plays with; but it is the absolute worst that we don't get to see him in Green this year. |
There's many pros and cons with this announcement of Yabu playing overseas. First, you think of the fact that the Cs don't have to pay him anything this year. He signed a one year contract with the Shanghai Sharks; so it's their responsibility to pay him at least for this year. This leaves some open space for the Celtics to go out and get somebody else at the big man position like Jahlil Okafor, Blake Griffen, or DeMarcus Cousins if we're gettin crazy. One way or another they get to save money, and Yabu gets to improve another year in China.
We got to see a little glimpse of what the Celtics have in their future with Guerschon. He played in 8 Summer League games, where he averaged 8.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals in about 25 MPG (Minutes Per Game). I absolutely loved what I saw out of Yabusele. He really did play with the type of intensity that came with his hype from the France League he played in where he averaged 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He was a force down low on the glass even though it didn't really seem like it with the 6 rebounds per game; but if you add the extra minutes a full time starter would get to his 25 minutes he would easily have been grabbing double digit boards. He was a presence down low with his size and blocking ability and his mid range jumper was pretty good. He dove to the rim incredibly well and finished way better than I thought he would for a big man at 6'6-6'7, 265 pounds. He actually had a few huge offensive rebounds in big times in a few of their tournament games; to go along with a few assists and hockey assists (pass, pass, pass). He boxes out well and shoots decent enough for now, but can easily work on his foot work and conditioning over the next year in China; along with his shot.
For Celtics fans; unfortunately they will have to wait for their 2nd pick of the 1st round in this year's Draft another year as they get to enjoy the company of newly acquired Al Horford for now. Also they get to see the #3 Overall Pick in the Draft Jaylen Brown do his thing and see how he will fit into the Cs future. Not only that but my main man Gerald Green just signed a 1 year, $1.4 million dollar contract with the Celtics again. Would love to see him make another dunk contest appearance. As for now, you hate to see waiting years for the next few drafts that the Celtics have coming up and what they could and are going to do with the picks; and watch them go do something like this. I guess I can see why some of the not so Die Hard Celtics Fans aren't so happy with the draft and stash pick (especially when he was supposed to go mid second round). It's not the sexy pick of Henry Ellenson or Brice Johnson, who the Celtics were rumored to be taking with the 16th overall pick. It's not the guy that's gonna help the Cs win the Championship this year. It's the guy that's gonna bring the energy and Banner 18 down the road when the Celtics finally make their run.
We got to see a little glimpse of what the Celtics have in their future with Guerschon. He played in 8 Summer League games, where he averaged 8.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals in about 25 MPG (Minutes Per Game). I absolutely loved what I saw out of Yabusele. He really did play with the type of intensity that came with his hype from the France League he played in where he averaged 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He was a force down low on the glass even though it didn't really seem like it with the 6 rebounds per game; but if you add the extra minutes a full time starter would get to his 25 minutes he would easily have been grabbing double digit boards. He was a presence down low with his size and blocking ability and his mid range jumper was pretty good. He dove to the rim incredibly well and finished way better than I thought he would for a big man at 6'6-6'7, 265 pounds. He actually had a few huge offensive rebounds in big times in a few of their tournament games; to go along with a few assists and hockey assists (pass, pass, pass). He boxes out well and shoots decent enough for now, but can easily work on his foot work and conditioning over the next year in China; along with his shot.
For Celtics fans; unfortunately they will have to wait for their 2nd pick of the 1st round in this year's Draft another year as they get to enjoy the company of newly acquired Al Horford for now. Also they get to see the #3 Overall Pick in the Draft Jaylen Brown do his thing and see how he will fit into the Cs future. Not only that but my main man Gerald Green just signed a 1 year, $1.4 million dollar contract with the Celtics again. Would love to see him make another dunk contest appearance. As for now, you hate to see waiting years for the next few drafts that the Celtics have coming up and what they could and are going to do with the picks; and watch them go do something like this. I guess I can see why some of the not so Die Hard Celtics Fans aren't so happy with the draft and stash pick (especially when he was supposed to go mid second round). It's not the sexy pick of Henry Ellenson or Brice Johnson, who the Celtics were rumored to be taking with the 16th overall pick. It's not the guy that's gonna help the Cs win the Championship this year. It's the guy that's gonna bring the energy and Banner 18 down the road when the Celtics finally make their run.