It certainly doesn’t sound like the Celtics will be making a change to their core, as president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston that he’s a firm believer in the team’s “foundation.” It’s a lengthy interview with several other insights from Stevens.
“I really believe in our foundation,” Stevens said. “It’s really hard to be in the mix in this league. The competition is great. Sometimes things have to go your way, and sometimes they do. But you’ve got to do everything you can to take the luck out.”
“Listen, we didn’t have a great playoff run in whole,” Stevens added. “And we certainly were outplayed for the better part of that Miami series, even though it went seven games. So we have a lot of work to do. But it doesn’t mean that we need to mistake activity for achievement. For my seat, I think we have to understand what’s really good and how hard it is to have a foundation, and then figure out how to build off of it.”
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer takes the opposite approach, arguing that they can’t run back the same group and need to make some big changes, including trading Jaylen Brown, whose poor ball-handling was a glaring issue in the Celtics’ Game 7 blowout vs. Miami.
- Although it could be costly, Stevens seems committed to keeping Brown, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Brown is eligible for a super-max contract after earning All-NBA honors this year, which could eventually subject the Celtics to some of the harsher provisions in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. “I can say without a doubt we want Jaylen to be here, he’s a big part of us, we believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” Stevens said. “I’m really thankful for when guys have success, they come back to work. When they get beat, they own it and they come back to work.”
- Stevens also addressed the situation involving Payton Pritchard, who was unhappy with his playing time this season and expressed disappointment after not being traded before the deadline in February, Weiss adds (Twitter link). Stevens said other teams recognize that Pritchard is a talented player who is stuck behind established veterans, but he didn’t promise to pursue a trade this summer.
I love Brown’s as an athlete but he is not a basketball player. He can not dribble and that is fundamentally important. No way he should get the Max. The Celtics may luck into a championship but we could be going for 3 if we traded Brown in 2021 deadline.
If you’re talking about Jaylen Brown who is a SG/SF that plays the Celtics basketball team then yes he is basketball player, a very good one at that. He gets millions of dollars to do so.
I know for a fact I’ve seen him dribbling the basketball during the 25 or so Celtics games I’ve watched over the last six seasons.
26 year old Jaylen Brown averaged 26 points per game this season, his best ever, and made All-NBA. Proof positive he’s a terrific basketball player. Sure, his handle is flawed but he works hard on his weaknesses & he’s not even in his prime yet. Only move Jaylen if he’s not happy. Trust Brad Stevens & Jaylen Brown to do what’s right. Go Celtics!
I’m sure the Raptors still to this day regret not keeping Carter and T- Mac together. Unless the Celtics are getting back Luka trading Brown has to be out of the question. You win rings by adding to not subtracting from teams with a core that has already been as successful as this Celtics group.
If I’m Jalen I’d want out. He’s a better 2way player than Tatum. But we all know offense gets you the following. Celtics are a good team. But aren’t built to win.
You just listening to the national nonsense, Brown has been average to bad on defense for 3 years at least.
Only nonsense is Jason plays D. If his shot is not falling. Then he’s checked out. On his worst day. Jalen is better defensive player than Tatum. He gets all the top D assignments. National nonsense is your incompetence about balling.
Please. We Celtics fans love Jaylen Brown, but he is not a better 2-way player than Jayson Tatum. And if I was Jaylen no way I’d want to leave Boston. Players who move around aren’t big time winners. They lose their mystique and any legacy & are then just guns for hire which no one likes and are soon encouraged to move on to somewhere else. Besides there is unfinished business in Boston. Go Celtics!
BeachGuy is right.
I mean look at LeBron James. He’s never won a thing since he left Cleveland. He has no legacy, it’s not as most people consider him to be one of the top 3 players in the history of the NBA or anything.
Same with Shaq, he only won like 3 championships and no one thinks of him as one of the most dominant big men in NBA history.
Let’s look at Kyrie, Durant, etc, etc. Sure, they have legacies all right, you’re right, but few fans speak well of these gun slingers. More more respect is held for admirable players like Dirk, Curry, Joker, etc.
I personally don’t think any less of an athlete if they move around. You gotta do what you gotta do. Sometimes things just don’t work out.
Shaq had to go to LA for the limelight then Kobe ran him out of town. LeBron felt he had to go to Miami to learn what it took to be a winner. Honestly I think Durant just wants to hoop and was intrigued by the way the Warriors play. He then wanted to make his own name, went to Brooklyn and didn’t like the all the drama. (That he admittedly helped create)
I grew up watching Magic and Bird and hey it’s great that they stayed with one team for their career. Everyone’s situation isn’t the same though.
Lebron won with the Lakers. Shaq won with the Heat, and yes, I think he was one of the most dominating centers of all time.
I know we all want to forget 2020 but LeBron won a ring playing for the Lakers
You must not watch a lot of Celtics game beachguy. From a casual perspective it would appear Tatum is as good a defender as Brown, but when you watch closely and see Brown usually defends the best or 2nd best offensive player and Tatum defends the worst offensive player, then you will understand Brown is better.
Someone who actually understands what defense is about. Didn’t think it be you Curtis. No offense.
Smart needs to go and they need a reliable big then move Al to the bench
I don’t think Boston has the right mix of personalities more than talent…
They are too up and down…
Sure they could do with a point guard to stir the drink so it isn’t your turn my turn…
But they just crumble too easily… They arent a cohesive group…
Agree. Celts are way too up and down. Almost unwatchable at times. That’s up to the coaching staff to fix. Celts fall into isolation ball w Tatum or Brown. No good, both get stripped driving thru three guys. And Marcus cheats constantly on D which opens up uncontested threes. We have enough talent. We just need smarter & better play as Brad Stevens has stated. We need some assistant coaches which can get our guys playing smart consistently. Go Celtics!
Trade Brodgon, Danilo and hausier for a PG and center. Move Brown to SG, Tatum to SF, r Williams to PF(6’8) and put smart and white off the bench with Horford. Maybe Fulks and a scoring center next to r Williams. A veteran coach. Easy fix
Trade Payton to Orlando for Fulks in a 3 team trade. Trade Payton Brodgon, Danilo and a 1st. Try to get Myles Turner too. Fulks and Turner added would fix their problems. Find a veteran coach. Easy fix
Celtics need a real PG like Rondo or Stockton. Someone who will handle the dribble. Make J.Brown a catch and shoot player, he can’t dribble with someone guarding him. Mazulla needs to trust the bench and don’t let the starting five play 40mins in the playoffs. If they don’t trade, next season will be the same. No plays at all.
Actually, I don’t know in what kind of shape would Rondo be right now, and/or if he’s interested in coming back to Boston, but he would definitely be a really good addition, as a backup PG. He doesn’t need to run and jump.
He’s such a creator, elite facilitator, and has the map of the court incorporated. Also, was a very good defender, though it would be a plus, at this Point.
If the Celtics ran back the same exact team plus galo next year. Is there a better team in the league? It seems people forget only one team wins a ring at
the end of the year. The nuggets didn’t panic and trade away everyone, the warriors never panic, the heat never panic. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in or the other team just scores more points. I’ll take my chances with Tatum & Brown their entire careers. Two players that start the season in ECF every year since they got into the league. They both improve every off-season. Brown should have Pritchard living with him and teaching him dribble drills for 4 hours a day. Be careful Boston sports fans don’t let sports radio drive these guys out of town like they did Brady to Tampa. Enjoy watching your team play an extra 20+ games every year for free!
I agree with some of these comments about the Celtics needing a big man, but it probably won’t happen. Like Danny Ainge, Stevens doesn’t seem to focus on the bigger players. But he isn’t as bad as Ainge, who was in love with drafting guards.
Celtics first need better coaching and then they need a true point guard! I love Brown and hope he stays but we need to have someone else to handle the ball! Smart is getting a step slower and I would trade him and Brogadon!! There can only be so many alpha shooters! The Celtics have a huge amount of talent but know one who knows how to win!
Can the Warriors trade for Brown? Poole, Thompson and couple of picks for Brown.
Brown on Warriors would be a great 3 and D player. He would be handling the ball less and focusing more on shooting and defense.