WALTHAM, Mass. -- Even after James Young edged out R.J. Hunter for the final roster spot for the Boston Celtics, you knew his long-term future with the Boston Celtics was on thin ice.
Monday afternoon pretty much cemented it with the Celtics choosing not to pick up the fourth-year option on Young’s contract that would have paid him $2.8 million next season.
That means Young will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the first time he will have a chance to test his appeal beyond being a Celtic.
But there’s a problem: Young has not played much during his two-plus years in Boston.
As a Celtic, Young has averaged 2.2 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists while appearing in 60 games. Did we mention that he’s shooting 34.1 percent from the field and 25.0 percent on 3s for his career?
Those numbers have factored heavily into why you don’t see him on the floor often.
And that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon as the 6-foot-6 wing has not played (coaches decision) in any of Boston’s first three games.
“It’s tough; real tough,” Young told CSNNE.com of not playing.
Young has by all accounts done a lot of the things Boston has wanted him to do, from gaining weight to help strengthen his frame to improving as a defender.
But the improvements have not been enough to get him on the floor with any level of consistency.
And now that he’s two-plus seasons into his pro career, he acknowledges that being patient is getting a lot harder with time.
“It’s been tough, not playing,” he admitted. “But I can only control so much. I’m just going to keep working, playing a lot of two-on-two and when I get my chance just go out there and ball.”
That opportunity to play may once again involve Young heading back to the Maine to play for the Red Claws, Boston’s Development League affiliate.
Going into this third NBA season, Young isn’t all that thrilled about a third tour of duty through the D-League.
“It’s tough … it’s going to be my third year going to the D-League, that’ll be tough,” Young said. “But just to be fresh, ready to go and keep my wind and conditioning.”
For first-round picks like Young, the D-League is supposed to be a training ground of sorts to get them some playing time when there isn’t as clear a path to playing with the NBA club.
But the problem Young is running into is the path towards time with the Celtics is showing no signs of clearing up anytime soon.
The first red flag that his chances of seeing action this season would be challenging, was when Boston signed former Celtic Gerald Green to a one-year, $1.4 million veteran’s minimum contract.
Both players are about the same height and build, play the same position but there’s one difference: Green is a proven commodity in the NBA and Young is not.
While the 21-year-old Young has shown improvement and at times signs of being a decent NBA player, the Celtics are in a win-right-now mode so the development of young players isn’t as huge a priority.
That’s why they went out and signed Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million contract and in the process allowed Jared Sullinger (in Toronto) to leave.
And that’s why Green has been a regular in Boston’s bench rotation thus far this season while Young watches, waits and wonders when his opportunity to play will come.
“Like I said, it’s real tough. I try to keep a level head, stay humble about the process and keep getting better,” Young said. “I still haven’t reached my full potential.”
He’s right, but it remains to be seen if it’ll happen in Boston or elsewhere.