When the Boston Celtics made headlines this offseason, it was due to the departures of bigger names like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. But quietly tucked under a heap of moves was the addition of Josh Minott, a 6’8” 22-year-old wing. After spending his first three years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minott arrives in Boston with a blend of athleticism, defensive versatility, and untapped potential that could make him a valuable piece in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.
Minott appeared in just 46 games last season, logging a total of only 276 minutes, most of which came during garbage time. Ideally, you’d want a larger sample size to fully evaluate a player, but even in limited action, Minott’s performances, both in meaningful stretches and blow out situations, offer a fairly clear picture of his skillset. The central question, after reviewing all his minutes, is whether he can consistently sustain the things he does well when given more time.
He has intriguing traits on both sides of the ball but defensively is where I think he can help this team the most.
Minott is 100% one of the leagues most underrated defensive playmakers.
When it comes to steals, Minott ranked in the 92nd percentile in both steals (2.5) and deflections (5.3) per 100 possessions according to Databllr.com. In the passing lane he is a real threat with his quick reaction time, closing speed, and wingspan. He’s able to diagnose reads swiftly and take them the other way for transition opportunities. He showed the ability to both apply enough pressure to blow up actions and play like a cornerback in open space to track down a pass in the air.
On the ball he uses the same attributes plus impressive agility for a 6’8” guy.
I would definitely classify Minott as more of a defensive playmaker than a true stopper, but he does flash noteworthy plays where the opponent is disrupted by his size and lateral movement. If he can improve in this aspect, his stature and traits suggest an at minimum 2 through 4 defender.
In the shot blocking department, Minott was elite ranking in the 100th percentile among small forwards with 2.1 blocks per 100 possessions. He also recorded a 4.2 stop percentage (a combined metric of steals, blocks, and offensive fouls drawn), placing him in the 96th percentile league-wide. His vertical explosion truly shines here, which is arguably his most impressive trait. Even when an offensive player gains a step on him, Minott has the bounce and wingspan to quickly eat up space and alter or reject shots at the rim.
While it’s good to know he can do it on the ball, I think the Celtics would benefit most from him as a helper. This team lost the likes of Holiday, Al Horford, and Jayson Tatum (maybe) for this upcoming season, all but stripping away most of the team’s defensive versatility. On occasion, these three guarded centers so Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta could matchup against the opposing team’s weakest perimeter threat and help at the rim. Unless Minott gets stronger and/or shows more strength than I’ve seen on film, I don’t expect him to guard centers. But where he can be a disruptor is flying in out of nowhere and contesting at the rim.
An improvement in timing and discipline would elevate his impact even further in this area, but there’s no questioning his motor and athleticism.
If there’s one area of concern with Minott defensively, it’s his tendency to foul. He MUST learn to defend without committing illegal contact. Last season, he averaged 4.3 fouls per 100 possessions. Even during promising stints, he occasionally sabotaged his own momentum by picking up quick fouls. Learning to channel his energy into more controlled chaos will be key to maximizing his impact and earning consistent minutes.
Minott’s offensive role is straightforward: knock down open threes, cut with purpose, set the occasional screen, and finish at the rim. Fortunately, he was already used in a similar capacity during his time in Minnesota, primarily as a play finisher. In fact, 91% of his field goal attempts came either at the rim or from beyond the arc. An encouraging sign that he understands his role and plays within it.
Minott shot 64% at the rim last season and while 79% of those makes were assisted, he also demonstrated the ability to attack closeouts with force flashing some downhill potential.
I also wouldn’t mind Minott being used in cutting/dump off play types where he can just catch the ball and finish.
Now to the outside shot which remains more of a question mark.
Minott shot 33% from three last season, albeit on just 43 total attempts. He fared slightly better on catch and shoot opportunities and corner threes, where he connected at a 35% clip. The mechanics aren’t the cleanest, but if he can replicate or even slightly improve on those numbers in Boston, it would go a long way toward solidifying his role and spacing the floor for the team. The most encouraging sign for me though is him being a career 90% free throw shooter (41 attempts).
Minott isn’t refined yet as a handler and shouldn’t be doing much in that department, but I did see some unexpected passing chops.
I am nowhere near advocating for reps as a handler but being able to make split second or .5 decisions is so crucial. If he can add value by being unselfish and making the right reads, that’ll help his rotation odds.
Minott isn’t coming to Boston with high expectations, but his athleticism, length, and defensive playmaking fit a clear need for a team that just lost some of its most versatile defenders. His offensive role will remain limited, but if he can knock down open threes at a respectable rate and stay on the floor by cutting down on fouls, he could carve out a niche at a crowded wing position.
