Baylor

Scheierman

Scheierman’s first half certainly raised some eyebrows, as he scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. That production helped keep the Celtics within striking distance, especially with Derrick White scoring two points. However, White got going after halftime, and Scheierman only attempted one shot in the second half. The second-year guard is capable of providing offensive value, but it hasn’t happened consistently. There’s no need to roster Scheierman in redraft leagues.

Walsh came into November as a forgotten man in Boston’s rotation, playing just four total minutes in October. However, he played 19 minutes against the Rockets on Saturday and then was up to 24 minutes on Wednesday. These were not garbage-time minutes either, as Walsh checked into the game in the first quarter. He was a plus-27 on the night and received praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla after the game, so it’s possible that Walsh could pick up extra minutes at the expense of Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman going forward.

Scheierman saw extended run in the second half with the Celtics getting blown out on the second night of a back-to-back. He made the most of the opportunity, hitting 6-of-7 shots — including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Performances like this can only help his chances of carving out a more consistent role in Boston’s rotation.

Scheierman was the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He has appeared in four games for the Celtics this season, averaging only 8.5 minutes per game. His role may increase as the season goes on and the Celtics adapt to life without Jayson Tatum. For now, he remains off all fantasy radars.

Scheierman had another productive showing on Monday, finishing one assist shy of a double-double. With Jayson Tatum set to miss most of the 2025-26 season, if not all of it, as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Jrue Holiday gone, rotation minutes will be available on the perimeter. Scheierman’s ability to make plays for himself and others makes him someone to watch, even if he isn’t guaranteed to be fantasy-relevant.

Given the many changes to the Celtics’ roster since the end of the 2024-25 season, Scheierman is a young player who should have more opportunities to contribute next season. He shot 1-of-7 from three on Sunday, but the rebounds and assists were encouraging. Scheierman is not a must-select player in 12-team drafts, but he’ll be worth a look in deeper formats. What could change that would be if Boston were to trade Sam Hauser, whose name has come up in rumors this offseason as the Celtics navigate the salary cap.

The cost of contending for championships has gotten steeper, especially with the salary cap rules instituted in recent years. For the Celtics, the Achilles tendon rupture suffered by Jayson Tatum may impact how the front office approaches this offseason. If the team decides that a group that won’t have Tatum for most of the season can’t be a factor in the East, the decision could be made to shed salary. And Hauser, whose four-year, $45 million extension goes into effect next season, may be a prime candidate to be moved. “Hauser, to me, is the most likely candidate to go, just because you have (Baylor) Scheierman there to effectively fill his role,” Mannix said. “I think they’d love to find a home for Jrue Holiday, just because of the contract and where they are as a team. (Kristaps) Porzingis, who knows? I don’t think they want to take on contracts that go on longer than Porzingis’ deal, but he’s certainly available.” Hauser being traded would make Scheierman worth a look in deep fantasy leagues next season.

Boston is locked into the two-seed in the East, so there’s no reason for the team’s core players to see action in Sunday’s regular-season finale. Brown and Tatum are among the absentees, with the former’s status being more concerning. Brown has received pain management injections in his right knee, but the expectation is that he’ll be good to go for the playoffs. Tatum is simply resting on Sunday. Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman will play rotation minutes against the Hornets.

Holiday and White were among the Celtics starters held out of Wednesday’s loss to the Magic. Their returns mean Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman will come off the bench. Pritchard would be worth holding onto in active leagues, while Scheierman would not.

This will be Pritchard’s second absence of the season, with the other coming in early February. With one of the best bench scorers in the league unavailable, Joe Mazzulla will likely turn to Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman for extra minutes off the bench.