Hunter or Young -- does it matter?

[DERRENMATTS]

Young must have showing stuff in practice (because it wasn't apparent in games). Maybe he was hitting his 3's in practice. Maybe he put the ball on the floor and showed better ball handling and attacking ability.

[FLCeltsFan]

Brad has said that he wants to run and perhaps Young is quicker with the ball and just quicker overall. He is more athletic and also a year younger with more room to grow. Here's a quote from Danny about Young.

"I told him this morning that I think this is the first time he's earned anything in his life," said Ainge. "He earned this by his play, day in and day out, and he just has to keep earning it. He was given a lot as a young kid, with a lot of promise and a lot of potential and like we talked about earlier this summer, he had to come out and win a spot with some good competition. And he did. So he just needs to keep doing what he's been doing. He's had a good six weeks of consistent play, hard work and professionalism and that's what he needs to continue to do."

I think Young finally realized that his athleticism and natural talent wasn't going to be enough and finally realized he had to work for it.  Hopefully he keeps working and he may stick and reach the potential that is there.  Otherwise,  he won't make it in this league.   Hopefully another team will give Hunter a chance.   He seems like a really good kid. 

[jmost]

Just the first guy to have to move on, in what I feel will be several over the next two years - given all the picks and stashed picks the Celtics have. I too wish RJ well. He has some skills, so he should make it in the league somewhere, but it may take a while. I thought Reddick was awful for his first couple of years (maybe more) but eventually he figured out how to get his shot off in the NBA. RJ seems like a smart guy and a willing learner, so I'd bet on him to figure it out.

[oldtimeball]

The thing that bothers me about this is we let a potentially good young player walk. Billups was traded away. Management can preach about players doing their best ... But it goes both ways.. I don't feel.management has put 100% in.. What is the purpose of having a ton of draft picks and giving away first round picks? They need to do a better job in the front office.. Waste not,,want not.. Anyone can do OK with multiple draft picks.. Gotta win on one..

[DERRENMATTS]

I know how you feel, OTB. For some reason, I was more of a Hunter fan, was pulling for him more than Young (probably because Young displayed a lazy attitude early on -- though hopefully he's changed since then).

But think of it this way; Hunter was in a battle with Young for the 15th spot -- not the 6th spot, or even the 10th spot. The last spot on the roster, and against a guy who hasn't been able to show much at all.

If Hunter couldn't muster enough game to beat out a not-so-good-player (at this time), even when his career was a stake, then it doesn't really bode well about his ability to step up when it counts.

Young, on the other hand, as Danny stated, he earned the spot by hard work and steady improvements -- meaning he stepped up from being a slug, to now being a better slug!

[jrmzt]

Though speaking of RJ..boy I feel so wrong about thinking he'd be better than Rozier when they were first drafted. That said I watched the draft and even those TV analysts were saying Rozier was a surprise to be picked at the spot he got picked.

Anyway I agree with some of the above..I still haven't seen anything out of James Young that has made me think he'll amount to anything more than a 15th man. I still believe RJ was the better player simply because he looked more comfortable shooting from deep. Always pegged him as a sort of Danny Green type player.