On Thursday, the Boston Celtics officially signed a rookie, whom head coach Joe Mazzulla is hoping can develop along the same path as a current member of the team.
Drew Peterson signed a two-way contract with the C’s. The Miami Heat signed the athletic wing as an undrafted rookie free agency after he completed his five years of college play, two at Rice and three at Southern California. For the Heat’s summer league squad, he was a notable player. Boston took notice of his 13-point game against the Celtics.
Mazzulla believes that Peterson can follow in the footsteps of a player like Sam Hauser, who was also not selected in the 2021 draft but went on to excel in the G-League and is currently a vital member of the Celtics’ starting lineup in his third season.
“Just his ability to shoot, ability to think,” Mazzulla said of what he likes about Peterson. “You take a look at Sam and what he’s done. The more times you can put your guys into a specific role of what they can become over time, and you see it work into fruition, it’s kind of a formula that you have and can develop.”
The Celtics had room to sign Peterson to a two-way contract after they waived two-way big man Nathan Knight earlier this week.
Leaning on Sam
One of the first items on Mazzulla’s to-do list after last season was replenishing his coaching staff. His coaching bench was shorthanded after assistant Damon Stoudamire’s midseason departure, and several other coaches left the staff. Mazzulla, entering his second season, targeted some experience to help him and added veteran coaches Charles Lee and Sam Cassell.
The restructuring has gone well so far. Cassell, in particular, has been a great fit because he has several perspectives between his playing and coaching career that help him relate with everyone on the roster.
