Now that the Celtics’ season is over, Aron Baynes will undergo surgery to repair a broken nose, which he suffered during Game 6 of the team’s series against Cleveland, the big man told reporters today, including Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving‘s absence from Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals was also related to a nasal issue — as ESPN’s Chris Forsberg details, Irving underwent surgery to repair a deviated septum and wasn’t able to fly to the game in the wake of the procedure.
“It was a residual from the facial fracture he had earlier in the season,” Irving’s agent Jeff Wechsler told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. “He had the knee surgery, and now he’s taken care of this sinus surgery, so he will be all set going forward.”
Here’s more on the Celtics as their offseason officially gets underway:
- Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe passes along several notable quotes from the Celtics’ exit interview today. Among those comments: C’s president Danny Ainge indicating that the team is unlikely to make major roster moves unless those changes represent clear upgrades.
- Asked today about re-signing RFA-to-be Marcus Smart, Ainge expressed confidence in ownership’s willingness to spend, tweets Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. As Himmelsbach relays, Smart believes the Celtics will look to bring him back, and said he’d like to stay with the franchise. “I want to be in Boston,” Smart said. “I want to be here. I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off. I’ve been here for four years. My heart’s here.” Smart also spoke after last night’s game about his value in free agency, as we detailed this morning.
- Despite Ainge’s suggestion that the roster may not change much this offseason, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News says it will be interesting to see if the Celtics get involved in trade talks in the coming months in an effort to tidy up certain areas where their depth chart is crowded.
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) previews the Celtics’ offseason, exploring the possibility of a Irving extension among many other roster moves.
- Earlier today, we took a closer look at the Celtics’ salary cap situation heading into the summer.
Bet Mark Jackson feels like an Azz after belittling Kyrie during the game for not being at the game and on the bench,,,sometimes before you speak, you might want to find out some facts first.
I wish he’d think before speaking more often. Stop asking people for an ‘Amen’ – you’re a basketball analyst not a T.V. preacher!
I just wish he’d stop speaking.
It’s why he’s not coaching.
After watching yesterday’s game only makes me say the NBA and Refs want Lebron James to win
It’s been like that for years. LeBron is good, no doubt, but he’s been manufactured into a superstar by a league desperate to reclaim what Jordan brought to the league. Most people don’t realize what Jordan did for the league. Adam silver is a joke and should be forcibly removed.
Blind hate
Lol lord banana
They called him on 10 seconds. Very embarrasing and never happens. Game 6 was all Boston’s calls.
James drives some people to irrationalities. And some people forgot the Jordan rules.
I’m the biggest Celtics homer, but they lost because they couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, not because of the refs.
I could go either way on games being rigged, but name one other time this season anyone got called for a defensive 3 second violation. I get that it’s a rule, but come on. That never gets called.
But yeah if Rozier and Smart stopped shooting they might have won
Tatum made a 3 from the right wing, in rhythm, in the 4th, and I thought uh-oh. But it did not happen again! That was their last lead.