![]() The Celtics are not yet a contender, but they’re deeper and better-and in position to keep making changes. That has been the overriding feature of this offseason so far in Boston: Stevens is de-Ainge-ing this team, putting his mark on the roster and removing some of the shortcomings left by his predecessor. It’s another spot Stevens needs to change. Currently, Boston has a lot of point guards-Smart, Dunn, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards-but none that are of starting quality. Stevens is not yet satisfied with the Celtics’ point guard situation, with rumors swirling about Lonzo Ball, Patty Mills and Ricky Rubio. While Ainge the GM identified with the heart-and-hustle-and-annoyance of Smart’s game, Stevens the coach was more concerned by the persistent 5-for-17 nights. ![]() That would be difficult for a tough-minded fan-favorite like Smart, but the sense around the Celtics has long been that Smart was more a favorite of Ainge than of Stevens. Boston still can bring back Fournier, but as the dominoes fall in free agency next week, it is possible some team that strikes out in free agency (we’re eyeing the Knicks here) will overpay for Fournier.Īnd if Fournier can be kept on a reasonable deal, Stevens will likely force himself into another move-trading away Marcus Smart, who is eligible for a contract extension and will be a free agent next summer if he does not reach an agreement on one. Richardson is a good insurance policy in case the Celtics can’t re-sign Evan Fournier, acquired last March for the first part of the Hayward exception. That could prove important in the coming weeks. … To have the ability to get that in return and gain financial flexibility moving forward, the cost, right, was a person (Horford) that you really, really like and one first-round pick." “It gave us the opportunity to look at a road ahead with a few more options, from the financial flexibility standpoint, with the picks, all of our future first-round picks past this year, which, again, give you more options. “We had to look at with the idea of moving that first-round pick this year,” Stevens said after the Walker trade. In the OKC deal, the Celtics had to give up a first-round pick, but Stevens said that adding wiggle room was more important. Balancing them is one of the trickiest tasks for any coach, let alone an interim coach filling the sideline's best seat for the first time.īoston's experience and proximity to a title could be enough to hold this locker room together, though, and if the Celtics stay united, then they'll remain one of the league's heavyweight contenders.The team has options, which was crucial for Stevens and the Celtics this offseason. There are a lot of competing individual goals that could pull people away from the team's shared goal if they aren't processed right. ![]() Players like Pritchard, Houser, Kornet and, to a certain extent, even Derrick White must solidify their standing with their squad. Marcus Smart might need to elevate his offensive output to avoid having the ball taken out of his hands and entrusted to Malcolm Brogdon. Grant Williams and Al Horford are going into the final year of their contracts. but it wasnt Boston Celtics 2021-22 Season The Boston Celtics entered the. Then again, Jaylen Brown heard his name bouncing around the trade rumor mill this summer. The Celtics were establishedThe active player roster for the Boston Celtics. You'd think that would be a simple task for a team coming off of the season it just had, and maybe it will be. The biggest thing for Boston to find right now is alignment. Finally, Payton Pritchard needs to push for his rotation spot, since Boston has enough backcourt depth to survive without him should it choose to take that route. Sam Hauser was likely looking at a big role increase already, but a solid training camp could solidify his spot as a rotation regular. They also need someone to fill the void created by Gallinari's injury. The Celtics need someone to hold down Robert Williams III's spot in the starting lineup, and surprisingly, Luke Kornet has gotten the first crack at it in camp. However, there are a few items to sort out. It also helps that this core has so much continuity and shared success, as Boston doesn't need to do nearly as much roster shuffling as many teams will. He knows the scheme, he knows the players, so it makes it a little bit more easier to adjust to a guy that's been here and knows you." "It would've been different if we had somebody new that we didn't know and were trying to build that connection with," Marcus Smart told reporters. However, this might be the rare case in which something is easier done than said, since he has been in this system and has an established relationship with a lot of the players already. Boston's first order of business is redirecting under Mazzulla.
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