New Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was intrigued by the chance to work under Brad Stevens, a president of basketball operations uniquely positioned to understand Udoka’s role as well as anyone, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
The Celtics, in turn, were drawn to Udoka due to his work ethic, his pedigree – including his experience working under Gregg Popovich – and his ability to connect with a young team. According to Himmelsbach, during Udoka’s previous stints as an assistant, he’d often go out for dinner with players to learn more about them.
Udoka’s final interview with the Celtics took place on Sunday, with Stevens, team owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, and VP of player development Allison Feaster all present. While that group ultimately made the decision to hire Udoka, the C’s also sought input from former president of basketball ops Danny Ainge and multiple players, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Himmelsbach notes.
As Udoka takes the reins in Boston, he’ll be tasked with rebuilding the Celtics’ defensive identity and developing the club’s young talent, Kevin Pelton of ESPN writes in an Insider-only story. Pelton suggests that Udoka may also prioritize increasing the team’s ball movement and putting players in positions to create shots for teammates — Boston’s rate of assisted field goals ranked 27th in the NBA in 2020/21.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Marcus Smart isn’t a traditional point guard, but he’s a “criminally underrated” passer, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston, who outlines why Smart could be the Celtics‘ starter at the point in 2021/22 with Kemba Walker gone.
- The Raptors secured the fourth overall pick in a draft that is viewed as having at least four top-tier prospects, but that doesn’t mean they’re content with simply staying put and taking whichever player drops to them, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. General manager Bobby Webster suggested the club will be open to a variety of scenarios with that selection. “All of our options are open,” Webster said. “As much as we would love the pick, we’re going to see what it yields outside of the draft.”
- Veteran guard Nando De Colo, who technically remains a Raptors restricted free agent despite not having played in the NBA since 2014, will return to Fenerbahce in Turkey for at least one more season, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. Toronto has issued De Colo a qualifying offer for seven straight years to retain his RFA rights and will likely do so again this summer.
- While there’s no guarantee that the Ben Simmons era in Philadelphia will come to an end this offseason, Chris Mannix of SI.com believes that it should, arguing that Simmons and the Sixers would both benefit from a fresh start.
IMO Smart is too selfish (on the court) to be a true starting PG. Can he make great passes? Sure. But is he looking for them? Seems to me like he’d rather get the bucket than orchestrate an offense. Happy to be proven wrong.
No I agree. He’s the perfect 6th man who comes in and gives up his body for the good of the team. He’s a guy you need on the floor at the end of the game though. He’s almost like Kyle Lowry in that regard. He makes the right things happen somehow some way and you can’t explain it. The key tip or steal or something like that.
He’s not going to win the game for you by getting a necessary bucket, (though he’s done that!) but he’s won many games just being out there and doing what he does.
I think he’s just not an orchestrator… not a creative… he thinks of himself as a tough guy, which is true enough. He takes a pounding though, like Griffin. I would be surprised if Stevens trades him.
I agree. Being a facilitator involves a lot more than just being an excellent passer. Smart can play PG without hurting their star wings, but he won’t help them either. Kemba wasn’t that much different though.
Personally, as a Celtics fan, I think Smart is overrated. He is an outstanding defender, but some games he just keeps jacking up shots even when they’re not going in. The C’s need a pass first point guard.
I’d take him on my team any day of the week
As your starting pg?
I think his head is getting to big after some of his comments (“no one’s going to tell me not to shot”) this season it made me realize he’s not a team player just selfish player
I think the trade they made, health, and hopefully a coach that knows how to use his roster’s versatility should help a lot of their issues
Amazing trade for Boston, although they have a bunch of bigs now. Al Horford is still a really good player, and a top level defender. I’m a big fan of Moses brown. Saw him in the G-league last year, and he stood out with how hard he plays. He will get a lot of opportunities if he stays with that type of energy. I’m curious what Boston does with their other bigs now, and what they might do with that guard spot, and if they try to add a primary ball handler, but I’m not sure they need to. Marcus Smart, Peyton Pritchard, Romeo Lanford/Jaylen Brown, as their guard rotation, and potentially if they keep someone like Fournier or add a piece, preferably a shooter, is fine.
Horford also helps their issue with the ball stopping, and gives them another playmaker at multiple areas of the floor, as well as helping their spacing, which has also been an issue, being able to knock down shots.
I think next year we’ll see more of what I thought we would this year, with Pritchard and Nesmith seeing more time, and Langford being healthy. I do wonder what they’ll do with Ojeleye and Grant Williams, and then what I mentioned earlier about their other bigs
Hate the Celts, but loving their moves. Trade, coach, involvement of players – it’s building a core that just needs to mature. While I hope they fail being a Knicks fan, I can’t argue the current decisions and moves they’ve made.
Canadian legend Wiggins and the 7th pick for the 4th pick and Siakam, who says no?
Toronto
You think Wiggins is worth not only Siakam, but moving down three picks? No way
He fails to realize that the Warriors don’t have valuable enough trade assets, other than Curry, to add another star player to their roster. With their draft picks, Wiseman, and/or Wiggins they can get some decent talent in exchange but nothing top shelf. Any sign and trade involving Oubre will yield little in return.
It’s a heck no. If I’m trading Siakam I am going after Sabonis, Christian Wood or Bagley via sign and trade…
What an absurd trade proposal. Wiggins and the 7th pick probably doesn’t even get you Siakam, let alone Siakam AND the fourth pick.
It does sound like Webster is open to trading the 4th pick. Is there any world where a trade of the 4th pick for Simmons makes sense?
@cjmask
I can’t think of a realistic scenario where it makes sense to trade the 4th pick for an active NBA player – there’s no one available that would suddenly make the Raps title contenders. Unless they’re using it to trade up in the draft I see them holding on to it.
It might if Philly could retain half his salary on their books.
How about just send the Raps Wiggins and the 7th pick (for taking Wiggins’ contract)? Closer to a market deal than what you suggested.