James Young Locks Up Final Roster Spot, R.J. Hunter Waived

The story going into the preseason was the fight over the final spot on the Celtics 15-man roster. It's been debated for weeks and even months, but the final decision was made yesterday. The Celtics decided to keep James Young and let R.J. Hunter go... on his 23rd birthday. R.J. struggled to produce last season after being drafted 28th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Hunter is known for being a sharpshooter, and in a time where the Celtics desperately needed three-point shooting, he struggled.

James Young was drafted 17th overall by the Celtics in 2014 when he was only 19. Young, also known for his shooting, struggled when on the floor. He made sloppy turnovers, shot arrant three pointers, and looked as uncomfortable as I've seen a player on the court. Although Young and R.J.'s numbers looked similar throughout the preseason (as you can see below), James Young looked a lot more comfortable on the court.

Although R.J. was a good player and an even better person, James Young proved to be a better and more experienced player throughout the preseason. James Young seemed to work on his shooting, court awareness, and all around effort on the court throughout the offseason. In his words, he "needed a kick in the face." Young is finally making the right strides to reach his full potential. If he gets some playing time, I expect him to produce. I'm sure R.J. will have no trouble finding a job elsewhere. The regular season starts on Tuesday and the Celtics first game is on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets in the TD Garden!☘