Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens expects his entire roster to be healthy for training camp, including guard Malcolm Brogdon and big man Kristaps Porzingis, he tells Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Brogdon reportedly suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow in the Eastern Conference Finals, while Porzingis dealt this summer with plantar fasciitis that forced him to miss the 2023 World Cup.
“Everybody’s in Boston, everybody’s healthy, knock on wood,” Stevens said. “If everybody gets through the rest of the week, we should be full next Tuesday when we start practice. We’re excited about that.”
Despite not being able to play, Porzingis remained with the Latvian team during the World Cup and completed most of his rehab work while with the club. He recently arrived in Boston and, as Washburn notes, the Celtics have posted social media video this week of the big man working out at the team’s facility.
“Kristaps has been running up and down the court the last few days,” Stevens told Washburn. “I thought the progression that his trainers there (in Latvia), our trainers here, and everybody came up with to get him back so that he could avoid anything lingering was a key. He feels great. I just literally talked to him on the phone on my way here. He said he feels good.”
Here’s more from Stevens on the Celtics:
- Before they sent Marcus Smart to Memphis in their three-team deal for Porzingis, the Celtics nearly moved Brogdon to the Clippers in a different iteration of the trade. Stevens acknowledged that Brogdon was upset about his near-inclusion in that deal, but said he has spoken to the veteran guard to resolve his displeasure. “I would say he had every right to feel (upset),” Stevens said, per Washburn. “We said that this summer. But he’s a real pro and so we’ve had several discussions. He’s looking forward to getting started. We’re looking forward to getting started and here we go.”
- The Celtics haven’t drafted a player in the first round since 2020, but Stevens said the team made an effort this offseason to devote some of its back-end roster spots to young players, pointing to free agent addition Dalano Banton as one example. “We haven’t had a first-round draft pick in three years, so can you find a young guy that you can invest in and really work with,” Stevens said. “And he’s excited to be here. Those guys are important. We’re trying to win it but we’re also trying to make sure we are using our other roster spots to make sure we’re investing in younger players.”
- Stevens admitted that he feels a “sense of urgency” to compete for a title and suggested he feels good about the championship potential of the current group. “Our goal is to win and so ultimately we always have to keep our ears to the ground and our eyes open but we do like our team heading into the season,” he told Washburn. “I’m interested to see how it all plays out. To be there standing at the end, a lot’s got to go your way but we know the path. We know how to get knocking on that door and there’s nothing we want more than to knock it down.”
Brogdon gets it. You’re upset about a team considering you expendable? Play your heart out and prove them fools for thinking that way. At his peak, he was a borderline All-Star caliber player when healthy. He’s still got what it takes to be a big-time difference maker for a championship team, even in a bench role. I dislike the Celtics, but I’m rooting for Brogdon to show out, and for Porzingis to prove his doubters wrong.
It’s all about whether his elbow is better. We’ll soon know. We sure need Malcolm’s three-point shooting. Before his injury he was just amazing. Loved seeing him put up a three! Go Celtics!
Honestly, a player being upset for almost being traded is pretty irrelevant. As I’ve said before Brogdon is a pro and will play hard and the right way.
It means nothing
Certainly wasn’t irrelevant for the 2011-2012 Lakers when Pau and Odom both had issues and Odom’s whole career collapsed when the team traded the two of them for CP3 and Stern’s veto was the only thing that stopped it. Stuff like that can really screw up a team’s chemistry.
Brogdon isn’t Odom.
It’s not like he even has to be. The 2014 Pacers had basically endless chemistry issues created by trades and drama. I wouldn’t have called any of their guys messed up in the head, and they still couldn’t get it together, and it showed in the first round of the playoffs, with that near upset by the Hawks and their All-Star Center struggling against Pero Antic of all people. Odom is the extreme example, but it’s happened plenty of times.
I like Stevens insights. I thought Celts were searching for potential players. Pack the training camp and see who can stand out. Now I see Stevens additional goal. He’s also looking at & for young guys, maybe ready to break out soon, with some help to bring out their talent. Go Celtics!
Porzingus will be lucky to play 35 games this year