Boston Celtics: Building their team with a new gameplan

The Boston Celtics are back with a new look going into next season.

People love to stereotype the failures in Boston. They did it with the Red Sox in 2004 with some BS called ‘The Curse of the Bambino’. Then again with a trumped-up excuse called ‘DeflateGate’. Now as the Celtics were at their lowest after a disappointing, COVID-impacted season, people moved their blame to head coach Brad Stevens, because he apparently ‘can handle the Honda Accords but not the Maseratis’.

This was speaking to his ability to maximize lower-level talent as opposed to stars with egos…

The Boston Celtics made some big moves in small packages this offseason! But is that enough to break free from past criticism?

Ironically enough, that responsibility now lies with Brad Stevens, the newest president of basketball operations for the Celtics. So to prove he can more than fill the Danny Ainge-sized shoes left in the house, he drafts an international player (Juhann Begari, 2021) who won’t be stateside until the next season… just like Danny Ainge did last season (Yan Mader, 2020). Well at least signing Al Horford was pretty creative… never mind.

But Brad did swing for the fences with shipping All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Thunder for cash considerations. But having Walker was like a Wall Street CEO having an old Volkswagon. Every few months they find themselves having to repair it, but even when it’s functioning just fine, it was never quite the fit they’d hoped it would be.

Now that was shocking for two reasons. For one, I’ve only used two car metaphors in my entire writing career and they’re both in here. Secondly, it has to mean that either Dennis Schroder is the newest starting point guard of the Celtics. Don’t think anyone is that keen to see that. Or finally, Marcus Smart is getting the call up after biding his time since the Isaiah Thomas days.

With all those elite point guards coming and going, Smart has gradually picked up the craft of facilitating and playmaking. He is always trusted in the pick and rolls. But more importantly, he is the heart and soul of the team… if that counts for anything. Regardless, he is undeniably underpaid after signing a four-year, $77 million contract. Especially when his old running buddy, Terry Rozier, is signing a four-year, $92 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets in the same week.

More from Boston Celtics

• Why the new and improved Celtics are a major threat
• These two Celtics will be crucial to unlocking Kristaps Porzingis’ potential
• The new-look Celtics are closer than ever to an 18th title
• 3 Reasons Boston will regret trading Marcus Smart
• Ranking the 5 best available power forwards in 2023 NBA free agency

Speaking of Brad Stevens making deals like a bandit, Schroder was signed to a one-year, $5.9 million contract after rejecting a four-year, $84 million contract. But there are a few ways you can look at this. On one hand, it’s an overly basic prediction for someone who’s been so-so at best the last season, to expect this extra level of motivation to kick them into a new gear.

On the other hand, just the fact he’s in a new environment, one where he doesn’t have to deal with the Los Angeles Lakers pressure-cooker (although Boston is no walk in the park), maybe that will be enough to see the same Schroder from OKC. But I have a feeling, again, this will happen if he plays with the second unit.

But Celtic fans have more to look forward to when players are coming off the bench, something they couldn’t say for quite some time. Newly acquired Josh Richardson adds some 3-and-D qualities, although fans seemed to be more upset they lost out on seeing Moses Brown play in the Celtic jersey. But hey, still better than Grant Williams. Kris Dunn will also be coming off those seats, now making the team, alongside Jabari Parker, the redeem team for crippled guards. Again, probably still better than Grant Williams.

Lastly, the Celtics are putting their chips in Robert Williams and I stand behind it. Four years and  $52 million is a steal for someone who is on the cusp of a breakout. The pairing of him and Horford can only help, or as Stevens puts it, “they can make each other better”.

With all these promising additions and healthy subtractions, there are still going to be those who choose to jam the coming season into a box. But we can look at the team for what it is. That means not hyping Payton Pritchard to be something he’s not. But more importantly, not capping their ceiling for the playoffs or for what Tatum and Brown can accomplish if health allows.