After the Celtics announced their new ownership structure on Tuesday, majority owner and team governor William Chisholm and alternate governor Wyc Grousbeck talked to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe about their plans for the future.
Chisholm, who headed up the group that purchased the franchise from the Grousbeck family at a valuation of $6.1 billion, said he understands the immediate need to cut costs to escape the second apron and get control of the team’s salary structure. However, he promised that won’t affect his overall vision for the franchise.
“We’re not playing for second; we’re playing for championships and banners,” Chisholm said. “We’re playing for them in the near term, although we obviously had to do some things to get below the second apron. But we’re also playing for them in the medium and long term. The second apron means you can’t do it by just throwing money at the problem. You have to do it with talent, you have to do it with leadership, and with Wyc and with (president of basketball operations Brad Stevens) and (president Rich Gotham) and (coach Joe Mazzulla), I feel like we have the best leaders in the league.”
Chisholm also expressed optimism that the Celtics can exceed expectations this season with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard leading the way. He added that there’s “real talent” on the roster “that hasn’t been fully realized.”
Chisholm also emphasized that his plan to run the team in a close partnership with Grousbeck hasn’t changed. League rules prevented Grousbeck from retaining his position as governor because he owns less than 15% of the franchise, but both men insist that’s a technicality that won’t affect day-to-day operations.
“When it became clear the governor title was not going to be available because of technical reasons, because of math, Bill said, ‘Well, then we’re just not going to use that word around the office.’ So that says a lot about Bill, that he doesn’t care,” Grousbeck said. “He just wants to do the right thing for the team, and I feel the exact same way. We’re shoulder to shoulder.”
They also addressed the decision to give Mazzulla a multiyear extension ahead of what should be his most challenging season as head coach. Grousbeck said they want him “happy and empowered” as he leads a team that’s suddenly in the middle of the pack in the East.
“I’m really excited to see what he does in this kind of environment,” Chisholm added. “I think people will really appreciate what he’s all about. When he doesn’t have the loaded team, what can he do? And I think that’s going to be really interesting, and I have every confidence he’s going to crush it.”
Well they ain’t playing for banners this season that is for dang sure.
No team plays for banners every season.
Tell that to my cousins softball team he is sponsored by Dave’s Signs and Graphics they make all sorts of banners been playing since 2012
I actually am your cousin, bro.
I was gonna say something, but I thought it might be awkward.
Well congratulations its awkward now. Also call aunt Jean about the cookout she wants to know what food your bringing and if you are bringing a date
And dont just bring chips or soda you need to make a dish
It’s not about who’s “leading the way”, its how good your #7-12 guys are. All winning teams have good players at those spots.
Nice on the overall plan but a lottery pick next draft wouldn’t hurt.
The way they are treating J Brown he’s going to demand a trade at some point he can’t even get over the fans booing him at the draft and now the team is telling him he’s not good enough for them to compete for a title or even the playoffs
If it was reversed and Brown was out do you think they still would’ve considered this yr a bridge or lost season I know the they would’ve definitely traded KP but probably not Jrue
Yeah OK burner….wtf are you talking about, lols. Oh no, not a trade demand. How is the team telling JB he isn’t good enough? The CBA may of played a small part in moving curtain guys….thanks for the chip, moving on, lols.
Wow ur really can’t take the truth can you the guy doesn’t care the that the fans love him now he still crying over the boos on draft and all the trade talks around his name don’t believe me look it up this offseason I’m sure he feels disrespected by the team and maybe the fans
Stop.
Boston loves JB. The guy is nails. Ask Luka Doncic. Everyone wants to put a problem between the Js, but they are great together and they are both necessary to win championships…that is why JB got the Finals MVP.
As for the reverse, yes, the Celtics would still have to get under a 2nd apron, so Porzingis at a minimum was gone and so was Jrue.
I would love to think the Celtics could win a championship without Jrue, JB and Porzingis, but that is not realistic.