As the Celtics transition from the Danny Ainge era to the Brad Stevens (presidential) era, they will have a lot of decisions to make, both in regards to the front office and the coaching staff. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer suggests that two names to watch in regards to the front office are current assistant general manager Mike Zarren and director of player personnel Dave Lewin. Both are long-time members of the Celtics organization and seem set to move up the organizational hierarchy.
Fischer writes that Zarren has long been the primary voice in trade negotiations, and that there is belief that Stevens will out-rank him as a decision maker more in name than in practice. If Zarren is promoted to general manager, it’s believed that Lewin will be promoted to assistant general manager.
Another name Fischer mentions is Hawks assistant general manager Landry Fields, who has previously been cited as a potential front office candidate for the Celtics.
“All teams are monitoring Landry Fields,” said a Western Conference executive, “because he’s going to get a real shot here to run his own team soon.”
Here’s more from Fischer:
- While the possibility of Ainge joining the Jazz has been previously reported, Fischer adds that Ainge has also been linked by league sources to the Trail Blazers in some capacity. The Blazers have already fired longtime coach Terry Stotts after the team’s first round exit, and more shake-ups may be on the way.
- Chauncey Billups may not have experience as a head coach, but Fischer says Billups has been considered the lead candidate among league personnel to replace Stotts as the Trail Blazers‘ head coach for weeks now. The former Pistons point guard – and current Clippers assistant – is considered one of the top head coach candidates on the market.
- Mike Brown is on the lookout for another head coaching job after five years as an assistant coach with the Warriors, according to Fischer’s sources. Brown is a veteran who has previously been the head coach for the Cavaliers and Lakers, but he hasn’t had a team of his own since the 2013-2014 season.
- With so many options on the market, it seems unlikely that the Celtics head coach will come from the team’s bench, according to Fischer, who says people around the league don’t expect the Celtics to promote an assistant coach with no prior experience head coaching in the NBA.
Boston has Bos Ton of problems
Houston has Hous Ton of problems
Middleton has Middle Ton of problems
No one is gonna say anything to sillivan about this? Really?!?
Houston will solve a ton of their problems if they retain their top-4 pick in next month’s draft.
I’m hoping Celtics hire Mark Jackson.
No.
I think Billups or Cassell would be great.
It would be a good comedy
It’s hard to say that Jackson fits until the Warriors spill the truth as to why he was let go. Here in Northern California, it’s been said it was issues with chemistry, some say I was the off field issues. I don’t know the what’s or why’s but there is definitely better suited candidates available. Another thing is, the C’s need a coach who can minimize one-on-one plays by the star players and maximize the “Time Lord’s” huge potential.
Kenny Atkinson would be great too. He got a raw deal with the Nets.
Stevens as an exec is just something I can’t help
but doubt until I’m proven otherwise. This guy is a great coach who is–what–40? If that? And he’s that burnt out?
And he hasn’t won anything either. Not even an NBA Finals appearance.
IDK, just seems like if he’s that burnt then he should be stepping away completely. Being a GM isn’t a cakewalk, and it’s even harder when you’re going in with 0 FO experience.
The man’s 44 yrs old and has been coaching for 20 yrs, 14 as a head coach. That’s a pretty good amount of time in the coaching profession. Not only that, most NBA head coaches last less than 5 yrs. There’s exceptions like Pop and Kerr, but 8 yrs is a very long time, specially in a market like Boston’s. I think that Stevens is going to do well. I think he just wanted to be closer to home (gm doesn’t need to go on road trips for example). The guy’s got a great basketball mind. I think he’ll figure things out.
Stevens had a good idea in college: Toughest teams win tourney games… no matter what the fame of a team is. Served him well.
The “lets make the high seed remember us”, not so well.
“Positionless basketball” has not worked. probably was divisive.
Players were not developing.
Agree by implication, that he will get bored as second-string trader (article said Zaren 1st).
Juan Howard would be perfect for Boston!
Got a feeling Stotts will end up in Orlando, Billups in Portland, and Kidd in Boston.
Would also be shocked if Bucks job doesn’t open up once they get eliminated this round. Could be a prime spot for a guy like Billups.
Kidd should finish the job there.
Not likely, but Giannis might like that.
“the Brad Stevens (presidential) era”— Eli Cohen.
Hopefully this goes better than the Trump era. Maybe that’s his plan. I mean, Biden had next or what? Is there a line forming?
This seems like a whole lot of promotions and continuity for a team that has underperformed for a decade.
Blazers are crazy to not make a run at hiring Ainge as new Gm.