Speaking today to reporters, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens suggested the team has completed its major offseason moves.
Stevens pointed out that Boston has 16 players on standard contracts (15 guaranteed salaries, plus Jabari Parker‘s non-guaranteed deal) and said he’s comfortable bringing this group to training camp, noting that any additional moves will likely be “tweaks around the edge” (Twitter links via Keith Smith of Spotrac).
The Celtics do still have one open two-way slot, and Stevens said the team is still considering how to fill it. There’s no rush to do so, since Boston could end up targeting a player who gets waived by another team this fall, according to Stevens (Twitter link via Smith).
Here’s more from the Celtics’ new president:
- Discussing Boston’s key offseason additions, Stevens said the team likes Josh Richardson‘s toughness and ability to play multiple positions, and added that the Celtics were “very fortunate” to land Dennis Schröder and Enes Kanter for the taxpayer mid-level exception and the veteran’s minimum, respectively (all Twitter links via Smith).
- Stevens has the green light to go into luxury-tax territory in 2021/22, which is why he didn’t want to trigger a hard cap this offseason by acquiring a player via sign-and-trade or using more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
- Stevens confirmed that second-round pick Juhann Begarin will remain overseas for at least the 2021/22 season (Twitter link via Weiss). Stevens added that the team will be monitoring Begarin and 2020 second-rounder Yam Madar “quite a bit” in Europe this year (Twitter link via Smith).
Would have liked to have seen Madar get the spot over Schroder, but I understand why they did it that way. Begarin seems interesting. He is definitely still raw, but has really intriguing tools. I liked his energy, but definitely not really a place for him . It’s good for them to know they have those defensive options lying in wait going into the next year or 2…
They also now have that trade exception to go with their extremely versatile roster, and I could see them potentially using it to either navigate an injury situation, or to potentially try to put them over the top somehow. I’m really curious to see how their new coach fixes the rotation mistakes made by Stevens all of last year, and hope to see them utilize their young players in really versatile lineups, which they are capable of…
I think the addition of Al Horford should help with their ball stopping, lack of ball movement, and spacing issues last year, as I’ve said previously, and their added shooting at the 2/3 spots, between Richardson and actually utilizing Aaron Nesmith and Peyton Pritchard should be a big boon for them
What does Mader do better than Schroder? Easy answer. At this point of his career, nothing. Mader has never even played at the highest level in Israel.
Defend and shoot, and not need the ball in his hands, and take minutes and touches away from certain others
He’s a better defender AND shooter than Schroder? In the NBA?
Provide proof that it’s not just because you say so.
Schroder isnt a good defender, but again, none of that was the point, and I’m not going to walk into your typical hyperbolic reactionary message board conversation
But to clarify, I said I understand why they did it. They still added a guard that can be a primary ball handler for them in certain scenarios, either as a scorer off the bench, or if he ends up starting
Madar over Schroder? What?
For their roster…its not Madar over Schroder. Its Smart, Jalen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Richardson, Pritchard, Langford, Madar over Schroder
If Stevens thinks this roster will contend in the East, he’s more delusional than Ainge
Even if you’re pessimistic on Schroeder, Richardson, and Horford getting them for 5m, a 2nd rdr, and the dumping of Kemba’s contract is a hard price to beat.
I don’t think not retaining Fournier at that number is a huge loss. Overall not a terrible offseason.
Agree. Not the sexiest offseason, but a lot of these guys underperformed last year (as a team anyway). I only hope this toughness Brad talks about (the toughness he could not unlock… fwiw…) comes out.
As much as I want to surround Tatum and Brown with talent – they’re the talent. Being good doesn’t always mean putting up 30/40. It means getting the most out of your teammates. Otherwise you’re not a leader. You’re bradley beal on a bs team.
Meanwhile the hated Lakers are poised for championship #18. SMH.
No, they aren’t. Westbrook will never win a ring.
I like Stevens attitude about the potential this group reflects. it’s gonna be an exciting season.
This year is all about the Jays. It is the first year that it is undeniably their team. They got a year to build and prepare for next year when the team has cap space. The whole team knows we can’t hang with the Nets or Bucks this year
Celtics have been to the rebuild for years after getting those Brooklyn picks. In which they have ended up with Tatum and Brown plus some young guys with good potential like Pritchard, Nesmith and Rob Williams.
They had a decent offseason after letting Fouriner go they ended up getting JRich, Schroder and Kanter which are all good additions.
However I think they need to prioritise getting a this star to go with Tatum and Brown. To which I think KP would be a great player. Hes coming off a poor playoffs and his price would be the lowest it’s been. He’s still only 25, can play either PF or C. He can space the floor, can get his own shot and score on the inside.
Celtics with Brown Tatum and KP, plus Pritchard and Rob Williams would be great long term and currently if they keep Schroder, and others they will still be good