The Boston Celtics have an open roster spot after waiving forward Guerschon Yabusele last week and while the team’s roster setup seems to suggest they should be adding depth to the wing, Celtics president and general manager Danny Ainge has a player about a foot taller than most wings in mind.
An albatross in 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall.
Speaking to NBC Sports Boston about Fall, who quickly became a fan favorite during the Las Vegas Summer League circuit, Ainge says that he think “Tacko’s gonna have a chance to make the roster. We’ll see.”
However, it seems to be more than just a fighter’s chance for Fall to make the roster, as Ainge would soon add that Fall’s development is a “high priority” for the Celtics. The two statements are incongruous, unless that is, Ainge was just playing coy about Boston’s plan for the big man.
23-years-old, it’s fair to wonder just how much potential Fall has.
His physical profile, with him boasting a 350-pound frame to go along with a giant’s height, is unique. It enables him to be a natural rim-protector and screen-setter but because of his surprising nimbleness, he’ll be an effective rim-roller as well with potential to be effective stepping outside of the paint to defend as well.
However, he doesn’t project to be a dependable jump shooter anytime soon and if he isn’t quick enough to consistently cover ground from the rim to the three-point arc, he’ll need to depend even more on his basketball IQ and pterodactyl-like wingspan.
After four seasons at the University of Central Florida, where he averaged 10.1 points (on 74.0 percent shooting from the field), 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, Fall was often impressive in Summer League, where he averaged 7.2 points (on 77.3 percent shooting from the field), 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. If he does make the roster, he’ll likely be a third- or fourth-string player on depth chart but the Celtics can already see him being used situationally.
