Miles Norris: short-term opportunity, long-term potential

Every time a star player is injured, that absence has a ripple effect on an entire organization.

The detrimental side is obvious, as the setback frequently yields fewer wins and potentially complicates that player’s trajectory.

The positive aspect is typically less transparent and often comes in the form of silver linings. While no one can truly and fully replace that standout, their absence offers a chance for everyone around them to step up.

Every player has to do a little bit more, at a little bit higher of a level, and sometimes, that opportunity is all that player needs to become a fixture the following season.

In the case of the Celtics, with Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future, everyone else on the roster will have a chance to help fill that void as much as possible. No one can replace his 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, efficiency, versatility and face-of-the-franchise swagger, but each player has a shot to show his worth – particularly at the small forward position.

With a guard-heavy roster, Jaylen Brown will have to spend more time at the 3 and shoulder even more of the load. Georges Niang will have to adjust quickly to a new environment. Sam Hauser will have to continue to showcase his improved playmaking ability. Jordan Walsh will have to defend without fouling, consistently hit shots and find his rhythm.

We all know about those guys, but there’s one less-heralded player who could end up making a name for himself: Miles Norris.

Norris, a Brewster Academy product with plenty of upside, has the skill set NBA teams (the Celtics, especially) covet. He’s a legit 6 feet, 7 inches, has a high basketball IQ, spaces the floor well, is disruptive defensively and can really shoot it.

He fits in stylistically with the Celtics and complements Brown, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard perfectly. You can just picture White or Brown sneaking into the paint, drawing a double and spraying it to the wing.

When Niang and Hauser are on the bench, Norris is fully capable of serving as one of those threats. I’m not saying he’s going to average 15 points per game and win the Three-Point Contest, but I do think he has what it takes to find some playing time this year and emerge as a steady player long term.

The Celtics signed Norris to a two-way contract in March – a sign that they believe in him and are intrigued by his promise. A college teammate of Pritchard’s at Oregon, Norris continued to excel in the G League with the Memphis Hustle, averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38.6 percent from distance.

Norris, 25, hasn’t been perfect in Summer League, but few are. He’s displayed his potential with a reliable outside shot, energy all over and a terrific feel for the game. He scored 11 points against the Lakers on 5-of-11 shooting Thursday, doing it on both ends as a 3-and-D guy and showing he’s more than just a sniper.

The next steps are becoming even more efficient from 3, improving his driving ability and sharpening his positioning defensively, and he’s fully capable of doing all three.

Every success story starts somewhere. All it takes is one opportunity, and with Tatum out and everyone moving up a spot, Norris has that chance. If he plays well at the end of lopsided games, he could end up cracking the rotation.

Only time will tell, but he has all the tools he needs, and it’s up to him to seize the moment.