Drew Peterson is staking a claim to make the Boston Celtics roster

Peterson enjoyed two strong performances as the Boston Celtics won back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets.

Good Morning! We’re back into offseason territory as we wait for the Boston Celtics to resume their preseason preparations. Fortunately other basketball is happening, so we have something to keep us entertained. Also, we have stuff to talk about, so lets dive in!

🫖 Taylor’s Tea Time

☕ The Tea: According to Bobby Manning of CelticsBlog/CLNS Media, the Boston Celtics have signed Jay Scrubb to an Exhibit 10 contract, waiving Tristan Enaruna.

“Scrubb is expected to take several more weeks to fully prepare for the G-League season in November, leaving him out of preseason action with Boston over the next week,” Manning reported. “Like with Ron Harper Jr., Tristan Enaruna, Lonnie Walker IV and Dmytro Skapintsev, Exhibit 10 contracts offer a bonus to go through training camp with the Celtics and remain with Maine for some amount of time after.”

🗣️ Taylor: I spoke with Scrubb ahead of last season before he tore his ACL. His goal of making the NBA roster is likely the same. When he was approaching his year with the Maine Celtics before suffering his injury, Scrubb had a realistic vision of what his role could be in Boston if he earned a spot on the primary roster.

“Just coming in and being that guy, knocking down open shots whenever they need me to,” Scrubb told me. “If they do need me to put the ball on the floor, make sure it’s efficient. Two, three, dribbles, get to the rim. Not doing nothing crazy out there and just letting the game come to me, man. And that’s what’s so special about this team: I have an opportunity to where I can just come in and be that glue guy, and I’m excited for that, man. I’m excited.”

ACL injuries aren’t the career death knell they used to be. Modern sports science, medical approaches, and physiotherapy can help players get back to an elite level within — or around — a year. However, we don’t know how much the injury could have affected Scrubb’s physical attributes.

Does he still have the same first step? Can he still get the same lift on his jumper? What’s his directional changes look like? Can he stop on a dime and overload that leg with weight?

Scrubb will need a Phoenix-style rise to prove himself, make an impact in the G-League and challenge for the final roster spot. However, I’m assuming he will just be happy to be back on the court, rebuilding his fitness and adjusting his game before pushing for a spot in the NBA next summer.

Side note: The Celtics have stood by Scrubb throughout his injury. A franchise showing that much support and loyalty to a member of their roster — specifically a two-way player they cut — will not go unnoticed by players around the league. The culture under Brad Stevens is real, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it leads to more free-agent additions in the future because of the goodwill the franchise is building by treating guys the right way.

☕ The Tea: NBA GM survey dropped yesterday. Here’s how the Celtics fared:

• Celtics favored to win the Eastern Conference, securing 39% of the votes

• Celtics favorites to win the NBA championship with 83% votes

  • The Oklahoma City Thunder were second with 13% of the votes

• Jayson Tatum was given 7% of the votes for who could win the 2025 MVP

• Jaylen Brown and Derrick White both received votes for best shooting guard, but neither made the top five.

• Tatum was voted as the best small forward in the NBA.

  • Jaylen Brown was fifth in the same poll.

• Tatum received votes for best power forward but didn’t finish in the top-3

• Tatum finished 4th in highest percentage of total votes on questions with 10%

• Jrue Holiday was mentioned among the best defensive players in the league, receiving 10% of votes

• Holiday was named as the best perimeter defender in the NBA

  • Derrick White also received some votes here

  • Marcus Smart did, too!

• Holiday received 7% of votes for the most versatile defender in the NBA

• Celtics listed as best defensive team in the league, earning 57% of votes

• No love for Joe Mazzulla in the best head coach category

• Mazzulla finished with 10% of votes in the ‘best motivator’ category

• No love for Mazzulla in terms of in-game adjustments

• Mazzulla got 17% of the votes for best-run offense

• Mazzulla got 17% of the votes for best defensive schemes

• Sam Cassell cited as best assistant coach in the NBA with 17% of votes

• Boston ranked third for best homecourt advantage

• Ranked 5th for ‘most fun to watch’

• Ranked 1st for ‘predicted most efficient offense this season’

• Jrue Holiday got 7% of votes for ‘best leader’

• Tatum got 10% of votes for ‘most versatile player’

🗣️ Taylor: There was lots of love for the Celtics in this year’s GM survey. However, Mazzulla deserved more love. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for the job he’s done since taking over.

I get it. Others around the NBA look at Boston’s roster and think they had it easy. Yet Mazzulla is the one who got everyone to set their egos aside and buy into his methods and the team-first ethos. He’s also the one who implemented the offensive and defensive schemes that saw the Cs dominate the NBA like a senior posting up a freshman.

Mazzulla isn’t the best coach in the NBA. I get that. That title belongs to Erik Spoelstra — as tough as that is to admit. Still, Mazzulla is one of the better tacticians, motivators, and leaders. He does his job well and finds ways to connect with his team. He deserved more from this voting panel. But again, it’s more bulletin board material heading into the new season.

If we’re honest, Mazzulla probably couldn’t — or doesn’t — give a shit anyway.

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🔍 Drew Peterson is staking his claim

This season, there will be a triple-threat match for the Celtics' 15th and final roster spot. Lonnie Walker IV, Drew Peterson and Jay Scrubb will all look to potentially have their deals converted later in the year.

The former has taken a slight lead after some early exchanges between Peterson and Walker. He got more playing time in both of the Celtics games against Denver in Abu Dhabi, and he produced at a high level throughout.

Peterson’s box scores in Abu Dhabi read like this:

• Game 1: 12 minutes (entire fourth quarter), 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 4-of-9 from the field, 2-of-5 from deep.

• Game 2: 12 minutes (entire fourth quarter), 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers. 2-of-2 shooting.

These games are early jabs. No one has thrown a knockout punch yet. Still, Peterson is showing he has better reach and pace when snapping out that left.