Having already said in March that he had no intention of leaving Boston for the Hoosiers, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens addressed an Adrian Wojnarowski report that stated Indiana University was willing to offer him $70MM over seven years to become the program’s head coach.
“I was never offered a package. That’s all news to me. Secondly, I wasn’t going to leave anyways,” Stevens said, per Kyle Hightower of The Associated Press. “I was never offered that. I don’t know where that came from.”
While Stevens’ comments read like a dismissal of Wojnarowski’s report, it’s worth noting that there’s not actually any contradiction between what Stevens and Woj are saying. Wojnarowski reported that Indiana was “prepared” to make that seven-year offer to the Celtics’ coach, but if the Hoosiers got word that Stevens wasn’t interested in the job, it makes sense that the offer was never formally submitted.
Here’s more from around the East:
- As the Pacers near the end of what has been a disappointing season, J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star (subscription required) looks ahead to some big questions the team will have to answer in the offseason, including potentially finally deciding to trade one of Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis.
- The Heat now have the ability to sign a 15th player to a rest-of-season contract while staying below the luxury tax threshold. With that in mind, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald considers some of the team’s options, whether it’s a veteran, a developmental player, or a promotion for one of Miami’s current two-way players.
- The Raptors are stuck in an odd spot, caught between tanking and competing for the final play-in spot in the East, as Blake Murphy of The Athletic writes. The team appeared prepared to throw in the towel, having sat a handful of veteran players within the last week or two. But if tanking is the goal, the Raps aren’t having much luck so far, writes Dave Feschuk of The Toronto Star. Toronto has won three games in a row and is just a half-game back of Chicago for the No. 10 seed.
- Doug Smith of The Toronto Star explains that the Raptors received their $25K fine from the NBA over the weekend because they said Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby would miss Friday’s game for “rest” purposes, but head coach Nick Nurse said they were bothered by foot and knee issues, respectively. Those ailments weren’t noted on the injury report at all prior to Friday’s game.
Miami is a dangerous place to visit, just ask Sterling Brown who was assaulted on the mean streets of South Florida when his team went there the other night.
He probably disrespected the wrong people — those that commit retribution promptly instead of calling things in.
That Stevens quote is interesting. Is he just playing semantics saying he was never “officially” offered anything? Because if IU was ready to make the offer it’s kind of hard to believe Stevens wouldn’t have known about it – if he shot it down prior to it going to contract to me that’s still an offer.
Not sure what IU’s motive would be to allege they made an offer they never made, but I think Stevens is probably making a mistake if he really turned it down.
A mistake? He’s head coach in the top league in one of the biggest NBA markets for a storied franchise. Not to mention 2 rising stars. This is the job people go for. Why would he go coach college in the middle of nowhere?
Maybe it’s not – it’s just a lot of cash to turn down. Especially bc something still seems off in Boston, and with Tatum and Brown extended and Kemba on a max I could see one of the last major moves Ainge having left is a coaching change.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he’ll last until at least next season. But if Boston is still in the middle of the pack this time next year I would bet Steven is on the hot seat.
Ok, if you’re looking at it like that then yeah, he could potentially be leaving money on the table. That said, I still think this is a job you keep until you’re forced to leave. Everyone has different priorities but that’s my take.
Yeh and if meanwhile IU hires someone else, they are just keeping the seat warm for Stevens if he gets fired in Boston.
How about Stevens is in over his head with grown men, and Indiana will do better in BB than MIT.
IDK if the Pacers really need to look at moving Turner or Sabonis. When they were both healthy this year they were actually playing well.
Then you also had injuries to Brogdon, Levert, and Warren’s missed the whole season.
I actually think I’d want to run it back and see what a Brogdon-Levert-Warren- Sabonis-Turner starting 5 could do healthy next year if I was Indy
For what it’s worth, the Pacers’ net ratings this year:
Turner/Sabonis on court together: -2.3
Sabonis without Turner: -3.7
Turner without Sabonis: +11.6
Obviously a lot of other factors to take into account there, but they’ve never really hit their stride for an extended period sharing the floor.
Wow that Turner without Sabonis +\- is an eye opener. Especially considering Turner is the guy they’ve seemed more likely to ship out.
Yeah I guess they were winning more games earlier in the season in spite of those two guys on the court together then.
Sign Faried ……. sign Faried
The NCAA can’t afford to pay players, but just one school has $10 million a year for a coach.
Academics should remit more than sports… after all, they are colleges.
Tickets do not have player names on them.