The Boston Celtics traded for David Lee this summer and Brad Stevens may start Lee and Tyler Zeller over Jared Sullinger, Jonas Jerebko, Amir Johnson and Kelly Olynyk to open the season. Sullinger has been mentioned in trade rumors since last year and he could be a target in the future, while Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas are competing to start at point guard.
The Celtics have depth at a number of positions this year and Stevens has the option of going with a big lineup or a smaller set of starters with the players he has on the roster. According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN Northeast, things are starting to shape up when it comes to the starting lineup for Brad Stevens, as the Celtics will likely use David Lee and Tyler Zeller as starters. Blakely writes that Amir Johnson and Kelly Olynyk could be the first two off the bench, which pushes Jonas Jerebko and Jared Sullinger "potentially on the outside looking in" as "regular rotation" players.
Injuries and other issues could get Stevens to change things up, but heading into the final weeks of the preseason, it looks like those players will be getting more minutes. The Celtics just signed Johnson to a deal, but the team likes how Zeller and Lee have been looking and Stevens is likely going to start those players to open the season. Blakely reports that Marcus Smart is going to be the "most likely starting point guard" over Thomas, but that Stevens could switch things up over the first month of the season.
Sullinger is likely heading into a contract year, as the Boston Globe reports that there is "nothing imminent" with a contract extension for the forward. The Celtics are not likely looking to make moves with trades early on this season, but Sullinger could become a target once the trade deadline gets closer. The team has depth at the position and if Sullinger is out of the starting lineup and the team plays well, the Celtics could be more likely to consider making a deal.
Sullinger is eligible to sign a contract extension until the end of October and if he doesn't sign, expect him to be a target. Sullinger averaged 13 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season and those numbers were just about in line with what he did the previous year. Zeller is in a similar situation as Sullinger and if he is a main starter for the team, the Celtics are more likely to work out an extension with the center over Sullinger.
Zeller comes in after averaging a career best 10 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season and the center said to the Boston Herald that he hopes to sign an extension and it would be "great to get one."
Check here for more on the Celtics in the preseason, the starting lineup and roster options.
