Grading the Boston Celtics’ 2019-20 season by player, part 2: the bench

In our second installment grading the seasons of the 2019-20 Boston Celtics, we focus on the veterans coming off of the bench.

Enes Kanter – center – 8 seasons experience – $4,767,000

The outspoken Turkish center takes a lot of flak from fans and foes alike, but for the salary he makes and what Boston knew they were getting in terms of strengths and weaknesses, Kanter has proven himself a very worthy investment indeed.

Aug 19, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reaches for a steal against Enes Kanter #11 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game two of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Despite his inability to defend the pick and roll effectively, he’s still a potent offense against more traditional frontcourts and can be a powerful tool in short bursts, as we saw in the East Finals against the Miami Heat.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting more of players, but it’s unfair to grade them as individuals when you bring on a vet with defined skills and then knock them for things outside that; with this in mind, Kanter earned himself a B- in 2019-20.