BOSTON — Even earlier than Jayson Tatum limped off the court docket with a torn Achilles tendon throughout the Boston Celtics‘ Japanese Convention semifinals loss to the New York Knicks, Brad Stevens knew large adjustments can be on faucet for the franchise this offseason.
Sure, large spending on free brokers and contracts had lured key gamers like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis who, mixed with stars Tatum and Jaylen Brown, finally helped Boston seize the NBA championship in 2024.
However preserving the core of that roster intact subsequent season with Tatum probably lacking all of it whereas rehabbing from his harm would have include a mixed payroll and luxurious tax invoice of greater than $500 million. And as a group exceeding the second apron of the wage cap, it could have additionally introduced extra penalties that will restrict how they may signal or commerce for gamers.
“We have identified for a very long time that arduous selections have been coming,” Stevens stated Tuesday on the choices to commerce each Vacation and Porzingis, which each grew to become official this week. “The second apron is why these trades occurred. I believe that’s fairly apparent. And the basketball penalties related to these are actual. … In order that was a part of making the choice to push and put our chips on the desk and go for the final two years.”
Now beneath that dreaded second apron, the Celtics are dealing with a brand new actuality that is altering how they strategy what comes subsequent. Because the group’s president of basketball operations, Stevens is aware of their strategy should change whereas Tatum is out. However as a former coach, he additionally stated he is by no means going to place a ceiling on any group’s potential.
“My expectations are all the time the identical — compete like hell to win the subsequent sport,” he stated.
Stevens stated he would not wish to hear any point out of the time period “rebuild” this upcoming season.
“That is not going to be a part of the lexicon in our constructing, and that is the best way we will focus shifting ahead,” he stated.
Whereas the group may make extra strikes to get fully out of the posh tax, Stevens stated it isn’t the mandate he has been given by incoming group proprietor Invoice Chisholm.
“Invoice has been fairly clear from the get-go that he needs to be sure that we’re prioritizing basketball belongings and the flexibility to retool this factor on the highest degree that we are able to,” Stevens stated. “A very powerful acquisition that we’re going to have the ability to make within the subsequent couple of years is getting Tatum out of a [walking] boot. We’re not beating that one. In order that’s going to be one of the best factor that may occur for us.”
Each Tatum and Brown, who had minor knee surgical procedures final month, have been rehabbing within the Celtics’ facility Tuesday. In accordance with Stevens, Tatum was shifting “actually quick” in his strolling boot, whereas Brown was already getting photographs and is predicted to get full clearance for basketball actions quickly.
Within the meantime, Stevens stated he is fully snug with Brown being the group’s focus on the court docket. He sees it as a problem that Brown embraces — one he has proven he can rise to in previous stretches when Tatum has been out with harm.
“He is prepared for any problem and he all the time has been,” Stevens stated.