The Celtics’ top six players, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, are under contract for next season. Because of that, Stevens doesn’t anticipate any major changes this offseason.
BOSTON — The past week has been a whirlwind for Brad Stevens since the Boston Celtics They achieved the goal he had been pursuing since arriving in Boston in 2013.
He went from coach to president of basketball operations during that time, experiencing all the failures and high-risk situations it took to finally win the franchise’s 18th championship.
It’s also why he’s not getting carried away with the expectations already swirling around the Celtics that they’ll do it again next season.
“Flattery doesn’t mean much in all honesty. And scrutiny doesn’t mean much either,” Stevens said Tuesday. “If you hang a banner, everyone is going to talk about how great you are. And if you don’t, they’re going to talk about how much you suck… If you tie your approach to that, then you’re just going to be on a roller coaster ride.” It’s not worth it. So I think the most important thing is to appreciate the people you’re with, do the best you can to have the best season possible, and move forward.”
Brad Stevens, Celtics president of basketball operations, at a press conference during the team’s media day. Photo: AP
The good news for Stevens is that the Celtics They are well positioned to be in the fight to defend their title next season. His six best players, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen BrowntJrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis y Al Horford, They are under contract for next season.
Having secured long-term extensions with Brown, Holiday and Porzingis, the Celtics are expected to do the same with Tatum and White this summer.
That’s why Stevens doesn’t anticipate any major changes this offseason.
The Celtics have the 30th and 54th overall picks in this week’s draft, but he said any player they select will have their eyes on the future, not the present.
“I think there are a lot of moving parts to keeping this roster sustainable beyond this year. But specifically for this year, we have a lot of guys back,” Stevens said. “It’s going to be difficult for any draft pick to get into our rotation when they’re healthy. So, we’ll think about how we can continue to invest in young players and their development and growth, with the reality that if we can continue to move forward with this group, these guys are going to be on the field.”
Keeping the current core of this group intact will put the Celtics in the second row of the luxury tax for the second year in a row, but the biggest ramifications of that won’t have to be addressed until after next season.
While Stevens hopes winning the title will put them in the mix next season, he resents the idea that the Celtics are the clear favorites.
“I don’t know what the league is going to look like in three weeks, so who knows?” Stevens said. “But I know this. Human nature is going to be another great opponent. All of our opponents, when you win, the other 29 teams are targeting you. It’s a different thing to bounce back and then be great again.”
However, what this group has earned, he said, is the opportunity to reconvene to take on that challenge.
“We will always evaluate how to improve our team,” Stevens said. “But I think it would be crazy not to say that the character and the foundation of this team is right. And let’s see if we can be as consistent as possible. Grow. Develop. Get better. Get better… I don’t anticipate big changes, at least at least because I think this team deserves it.”
2024-06-25 22:43:00
#Brad #Stevens #foresees #small #adjustments #Celtics
