CelticsBlog exit interview: Jordan Walsh

Many followers and pundits raised an eyebrow final June when the Boston Celtics entrance workplace chosen Baylor Scheierman with the thirtieth decide. The transfer had followers questioning if that may have an effect on Jordan Walsh, whom they acquired through a commerce on draft night time a 12 months prior, presumably as a wing challenge for the longer term. Drafting the previous Creighton product definitely appeared like a ground spacing bench improve for the world champions, or possibly even a Sam Hauser insurance coverage coverage.

Both method, Jordan Walsh had a lower than stellar second season within the NBA. Taking part in in simply 52 video games on the 12 months with many DNP’s recorded. Walsh shot simply 27 % from the three-point line, averaging 1.6 factors and 1.3 rebounds in simply eight minutes an evening. Walsh did shoot barely higher in his rookie marketing campaign, however that was solely in 9 appearances, as he was out and in of the staff throughout a 27-game season for the Maine Celtics.

Walsh confirmed the teaching workers the event required in his rookie marketing campaign to make the leap to the Boston bench. Walsh solely suited up for only a single sport for the Maine Celtics in the course of the 2024-25 season, the place he appeared extraordinarily snug, logging 20 factors on December 8, 2024.

Jordan had his longest interval of constant enjoying time within the NBA by way of November, December, and January. The 6-7 small ahead was a part of the Keep Prepared crew, seeing primarily rubbish time minutes and the occasional significant stint of play.

Walsh’s finest sport of the season got here towards Toronto in a blowout victory on New 12 months’s Day. Walsh performed 12 minutes and logged 10 factors on 4-6 capturing and registered 2 assists.

Brad Stevens clearly preferred what he noticed from Jordan when he traded again a number of instances and drafted him: the defensive intangibles and the lengthy, athletic body. Nonetheless, his offensive sport at this time limit is less than the extent of his older teammate, Baylor Scheierman. The rookie seems to have extra polish in terms of passing as a former QB; he additionally shows a rebounding tenacity, and late within the season his shot-making had come round. By March 2025, rookie Baylor Scheierman had completely changed Walsh within the prolonged rotation because the season got here to an finish.

The February signing of veteran Torrey Craig additionally signaled that Brad Stevens and the entrance workplace thought wing depth was nonetheless a difficulty and didn’t totally belief Jordan Walsh to step up late within the season and within the playoffs. Jordan Walsh has one 12 months of assured cash remaining on his rookie deal earlier than a staff choice kicks in for the 2026-27 season.

Walsh continues to be simply 21 years outdated. He clearly must bulk up this off season and work on his capturing and decision-making on each ends of the ground. Walsh ought to look to be taught from a participant like Derrick White, who reworked his capturing sport as soon as he got here to Boston. White’s extraordinarily fast set off from lengthy vary and decision-making make him a useful teammate and excellent function participant within the league.

With an unsure offseason quick approaching for the C’s, Walsh might both be dealt in a salary-matching commerce or, greater than seemingly, stick round on the staff as an affordable, cost-controlled rookie-scale contract. As Brad Stevens reiterated final week, all playing cards look like on the desk for the NBA Draft and past. It’s not out of the query that Boston is heading towards a summer season shakeup. Boston has given up on younger gamers earlier than — most notably Aaron Nesmith who was traded to Indiana and has developed right into a strong rotation participant.

Jordan Walsh, at this level in his improvement, is a 3rd string wing participant; if he stays in Boston, he’ll seemingly return to Las Vegas as soon as once more to compete within the NBA Summer time League in July. If he doesn’t present dramatic enhancements and a capability to dominate in that competitors, followers may begin to have critical trigger for concern over Jordan Walsh’s match long-term.