Per a report from Boston.com, Boston Celtics rookies Tremont Waters and Tacko Fall have been assigned to the Maine Red Claws — Boston’s official NBA G League affiliate — as training camp opens in Portland.
Waters was the Celtics’ 51st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft while Fall signed with Boston after going undrafted this summer.
Initially, Fall was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract that possibly would have seen him joining the Red Claws if the Celtics waived the 7-foot-5 center prior to the end of training camp. However, with their desire to develop Fall, the Senegal native had his contract converted to a two-way deal that would allow him to be on Boston’s roster for a maximum of 45 days.
Watch a clip of Fall practicing with the Red Claws:
Although Fall has received the majority of fanfare among the rookies on the roster, it’s actually Waters who is the better player at this stage.
A heady player who plays with great pace and feel for the game, Waters consistently gets into the lane with ease, and averaged 10.5 points, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the preseason. As impressive as anything was his reaction to adversity and tragedy: He managed to keep his focus on the team and make improvements despite the untimely passing of his father.
Had the Celtics not already had three capable and consistently healthy point guards, along with combo guard Marcus Smart, Waters may have even been able to edge out rookie shooting guard Javonte Green for the team’s final roster spot, with Green signing a two-way contract.
Maine’s 2019-20 regular season will begin on Nov. 9 against the Delaware Blue Coats.
