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Latest On Ime Udoka

September 23rd, 2022 at 9:04am CST by Arthur Hill

The affair with a staff member that led to coach Ime Udoka’s year-long suspension has been known about by some members of the Celtics organization since July, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Franchise leaders originally believed the affair was consensual, but sources tell Charania that the woman recently accused Udoka of making “unwanted comments” to her. That led to several internal interviews that resulted in Thursday’s announcement that Udoka won’t coach the team this season.

Team owners and president Brad Stevens met for several hours Thursday to determine what action to take against Udoka, Charania’s sources add. Stevens and some front office officials also talked to players about Udoka’s fate at the team facility.

The 45-year-old coach issued a brief statement Thursday night apologizing to players, fans, the team and his family. He said he accepts the decision and won’t comment any further on the situation.

There’s more on the potential effects of Udoka’s suspension:

Udoka may become a candidate for other head coaching jobs that open up, possibly as soon as this season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on a SportsCenter appearance (video link). Udoka wasn’t given any assurances that he will return to the Celtics’ sidelines once his suspension is over, and Woj indicates that the team is still figuring out its next step. Wojnarowski also said the decision to impose a one-year suspension rather than firing Udoka right away could be “legal protection” for the organization.
Joe Mazzulla, who will take over as interim coach, will be in a difficult position all season, Jared Weiss of The Athletic says in a discussion of how Udoka’s actions will affect the team. Mazzulla is getting his first head coaching opportunity at age 34, but not as the result of going through the normal hiring process. The Celtics have confidence in Mazzulla, but the pressure to succeed will be intense. The team expects to contend for a title after its run to the NBA Finals last season, and there could be calls for a change if Mazzulla doesn’t succeed right away.
Don’t be surprised if the Celtics consider bringing in Lakers head coach Frank Vogel as an assistant, tweets Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. Vogel has a long relationship with Stevens and would bring some head coaching experience to the team’s bench.
The Udoka situation could have negative repercussions long past this season, suggests A. Sherrod Blakely of Full Court Press. Udoka was hired partially because of the bonds he formed with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on Team USA, and Blakely wonders if his potential departure might make those stars look elsewhere when they become free agents.

Celtics Suspend Ime Udoka For 2022/23 Season, Will Promote Joe Mazzulla

September 22nd, 2022 at 8:36pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Celtics have officially announced in a press release (Twitter link) that they have suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the entirety of the 2022/23 NBA season, as had been expected. Ominously, the club also announced that it will decide Udoka’s long-term fate with the franchise “at a later date.”

Udoka, who is engaged, reportedly had a consensual affair with a female Celtics staffer, which has been determined to be a violation of Boston’s “organizational guidelines.” Udoka issued a statement expressing remorse for his actions, as Malika Andrews of ESPN relays (via Twitter).

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

As had been previously reported, Boston will elevate assistant coach Joe Mazzulla to the role of interim head coach, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.

Mazzulla previously served as an assistant coach with the team’s NBAGL affiliate, then called the Maine Red Claws, during the 2016/17 season. He has been a Boston assistant since 2019, when the Celtics were still led on the sidelines by Stevens.

Whether or not Udoka actually remains in Boston following his suspension remains somewhat up in the air. A source informs Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (via Twitter) that there is a chance Udoka will ultimately not be permitted to return to the team as coach.

Udoka was known as one of the league’s top assistants over much of the last decade. He was hired for his first head coaching gig with the Celtics last summer following stints in San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn. In what may have been his lone year with the club, Udoka led Boston to a 51-31 record and an NBA Finals berth, finishing fourth in Coach of the Year voting.

Fielding a similar roster in 2020/21 while being coached by current team president Brad Stevens, the Celtics had gone just 36-36, earning the No. 7 seed in the East and suffering a first-round playoff elimination.

Ime Udoka Not Planning To Step Down From Celtics Job

September 22nd, 2022 at 5:34pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka could be suspended from the team for the entirety of the 2022/23 NBA season, but he does not intend to step down from his post, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).

An official decision on the duration of his suspension has yet to be announced. Sources informed Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link) earlier that Udoka had considered the possibility of resigning.

Udoka, who is engaged, is being penalized for a consensual affair he conducted with a female Boston staffer. The team is set to make a formal determination on the timeline for the second-year head coach’s punishment later today.

After a 12-year playing career in pro basketball, Udoka became a well-regarded NBA assistant. He served under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs, Brett Brown with the Sixers, and Steve Nash with the Nets before getting his first stint as a head coach with Boston.

During his first season as the Celtics’ head coach, Udoka led Boston to a 51-31 record and its first appearance in an NBA Finals since 2010. The Celtics fell to the Warriors in six games.

With Udoka anticipated to miss potentially the entire 2022/23 season, assistant coach Joe Mazzulla is set to assume the mantle of interim head coach for the immediate future.

Woj: Celtics Likely To Suspend Ime Udoka For Entire Season

September 22nd, 2022 at 9:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics will likely suspend head coach Ime Udoka for the entire 2022/23 season for his role in a consensual relationship with a female staff member, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski, a formal announcement is expected later today.

Wojnarowski first reported on Wednesday night that Udoka was facing a possible suspension for violating the Celtics’ “organizational guidelines.” Shams Charania of The Athletic later offered more details, stating that the head coach had an “intimate and consensual” relationship with a female member of the Celtics’ staff.

It was exactly one year ago today that Gersson Rosas was fired by the Timberwolves as reports surfaced indicating that he had engaged in an extramarital affair with a female member of the Wolves’ staff. In that instance, Rosas’ job performance was cited by Minnesota as the primary reason for his dismissal. In Udoka’s case, the Celtics presumably have no complaints about his on-court performance during his first year as an NBA head coach in 2021/22.

After a slow start, Boston finished the regular season as the NBA’s hottest team, claiming the No. 2 seed in the East. The Celtics then made a run to the NBA Finals, coming within two wins of the franchise’s first title since 2008.

Assuming Udoka is suspended for the entire season, assistant coach Joe Mazzulla is expected to become the team’s interim coach for 2022/23, Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter). Will Hardy, who was Udoka’s top assistant last season and likely would’ve been first in line to become the team’s interim coach, left the organization this offseason to become the head coach in Utah.

Celtics Sign Luka Samanic To Camp Deal

September 22nd, 2022 at 7:09am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have officially signed free agent big man Luka Samanic to a contract, according to the NBA transaction log at RealGM.com. It’s a non-guaranteed training camp deal for Samanic, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media (Twitter link), who first reported the agreement.

The No. 19 pick in the 2019 draft, Samanic appeared in 36 games with the Spurs during his first two NBA seasons, averaging 3.8 PPG and 2.2 RPG on .430/.294/.576 shooting in 9.9 minutes per contest. He was waived by San Antonio before his third season and spent most of 2021/22 on a two-way deal with the Knicks before being cut in March.

Samanic was affected by plantar fasciitis last season and didn’t play in a single NBA game for New York. He appeared in eight total contests for the Westchester Knicks in the G League and put up big numbers, averaging 27.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, and 3.4 APG with an impressive shooting line of .545/.367/.870 in 32.3 MPG.

The Celtics now have 19 players officially under contract with training camp around the corner. Samanic will likely be among the camp invitees vying for one of the back-end spots on the team’s regular season roster. Noah Vonleh, Jake Layman, Justin Jackson, and Denzel Valentine are also in that mix.

Boston’s need for reliable frontcourt depth has increased in recent weeks due to Danilo Gallinari‘s torn ACL and Robert Williams‘ recurring knee issues.

Celtics Coach Ime Udoka Faces Potential Suspension

September 22nd, 2022 at 5:39am CST by Arthur Hill

SEPTEMBER 22, 5:39am: Udoka had an improper relationship with a female member of the Celtics’ staff, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who describes that relationship as “intimate and consensual.”

Sources tell Wojnarowski that no final decision has been made on the length of Udoka’s suspension, but the team has internally discussed scenarios that would keep the head coach out for all of 2022/23.

SEPTEMBER 21, 10:38pm: Udoka doesn’t appear to be in danger of losing his job, Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter), and a final decision on a suspension could be announced by Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 21, 9:41pm: Disciplinary action, including possibly a “significant suspension” is being considered for Celtics coach Ime Udoka, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The case involves “an unspecified violation of organizational guidelines,” Wojnarowski adds.

A league source confirmed the news to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link). The Celtics are reportedly holding internal discussions on how to handle the incident.

Udoka is coming off an NBA Finals appearance in his first season as a head coach. His team got off to a sluggish start, but improved significantly over the second half of the season and put together a memorable playoff run.

Before that, Udoka was among the league’s most respected assistant coaches during a decade with the Spurs, Sixers and Nets. He was also an accomplished player, spending time with five NBA teams over seven seasons.

Celtics Won't Seek Veteran Help At Center

September 21st, 2022 at 8:18pm CST by Arthur Hill

Despite some speculation to the contrary, Jay King of the Athletic hears that the Celtics don’t plan to reach out to a veteran big man to help replace Robert Williams (Twitter link). Sources tell King that the roster spot that formerly belonged to Bruno Caboclo will likely go to another young center or power forward. Williams will undergo arthroscopic surgery and is projected to miss four to six weeks.
Surgeries for both Williams and Danilo Gallinari have been scheduled for Thursday, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens called Williams’ injury “short term.”

LaMarcus Aldridge On Celtics' Radar?

September 21st, 2022 at 10:17am CST by Luke Adams

Following Danilo Gallinari‘s ACL tear and Robert Williams‘ knee surgery, it remains to be seen whether the Celtics will look to fortify their frontcourt with a free agent addition. If they do, it’s possible veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge will be one of their targets.

During a TV appearance on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link) said the Celtics showed “a little interest” in Aldridge earlier in the offseason. Dwight Howard, Hassan Whiteside, Blake Griffin, and DeMarcus Cousins are among the other centers and power forwards who remain unsigned with training camps just days away.

Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston considers whether the Celtics need to add any more veteran depth to their frontcourt. He also weighs the idea of Grant Williams moving into Boston’s starting lineup and wonders if Robert Williams‘ health will be a long-term concern.

Celtics Waive Bruno Caboclo

September 20th, 2022 at 4:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Celtics have waived forward Bruno Caboclo, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Boston signed Caboclo to a training camp deal late last month with the expectation he’d compete for a roster spot, so the timing is somewhat surprising. It’s possible the Celtics found a more desirable option, or that Caboclo had a better offer overseas.

His contract included Exhibit 10 language, so it’s also possible he could resurface with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League team.

The 20th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Caboclo appeared in a total of 105 NBA regular season games across seven seasons with the Raptors, Kings, Grizzlies, and Rockets. He averaged 4.2 PPG and 2.6 RPG on .403/.308/.836 shooting in 12.3 MPG.

Caboclo, who turns 27 on Wednesday, finished the 2020/21 season in France, then returned to his home country for the ’21/22 campaign, signing with Sao Paolo FC. Caboclo led the club to a BCL Americas title and earned MVP honors in the Novo Basquete Brasil, which is Brazil’s top basketball league.

Robert Williams To Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery On Knee

September 20th, 2022 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The knee injury that Robert Williams sustained near the end of the 2021/22 season continues to be an issue for the Celtics big man, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery on that troublesome left knee, reports Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links), the procedure is expected to require a recovery period of four-to-six weeks. Williams will miss training camp and the preseason, but the hope is that he’ll be back in the Celtics’ lineup early in the regular season, Woj says, adding that the plan is for him to have the surgery later this week (Twitter link).

Williams initially underwent surgery on the knee in March after tearing his meniscus. He was able to return to the court less than a month later and played a part in the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals, though he wasn’t at 100% in the postseason. The 24-year-old sat out five games in the second and third rounds of the playoffs and reportedly required extensive treatment as he dealt with fluid build-up.

Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 2021/22, establishing new career highs in PPG (10.0), RPG (9.6), BPG (2.2), games played and started (61), field goal percentage (73.6%), and several other categories. He also helped anchor the NBA’s top defense.

As Deveney writes, the hope was that Williams would be ready to go this fall after resting the knee during the offseason, but it appears that won’t be the case. The procedure will leave the Celtics – already missing Danilo Gallinari due to a torn ACL – shorthanded in the frontcourt to open the season.

Al Horford, Grant Williams, Luke Kornet, camp invitee Noah Vonleh, and two-way player Mfiondu Kabengele are among Boston’s top available big men heading into training camp. As Bobby Marks of ESPN observes (via Twitter), we’ll likely see Jayson Tatum play plenty of minutes at power forward in the early going to help fill the gaps in the depth chart.