‘I’d wish to get just a little extra depth’: Brad Stevens hints at attainable future roster strikes, Jaylen Brown extension

Level guards Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard are able to backing up Brown at taking pictures guard, however each are higher suited taking part in their pure positions. It is smart that Stevens is focusing on extra wing depth to spherical out the roster.

Stevens gave his vote of confidence to the Celtics’ different place teams, particularly to their bigs. They added to their huge man group of Robert Williams III and Al Horford this summer season by buying free agent ahead Oshae Brissett and buying and selling for and increasing one-time All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. Stevens feels assured in that group transferring ahead.

“I really feel fairly good about our bigs,” Stevens mentioned.

The one main loss to their huge man depth was the departure of Grant Williams, who was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade that earned the Celtics two second-round picks, one in 2024 and one other in 2030, and a commerce exception price $6.3 million. Stevens conceded that, regardless of his confidence in his bigs, shedding Williams was not straightforward.

“I do assume [Dallas will] be a very good alternative for him and it offers us some flexibility right here as we transfer ahead,” Stevens mentioned. “However he did a very good job. He’s a tough man to lose.”

One other onerous man for the Celtics to lose was fan-favorite level guard Marcus Sensible, who was traded within the deal that despatched Porzingis to Boston. Although the thought of Sensible carrying a unique workforce’s jersey will likely be tough for Celtics followers, gamers, coaches, and executives to abdomen, Stevens believes that many different gamers on the workforce are simply nearly as good at bringing the ball up the courtroom.

“Malcolm [Brogdon], Payton [Pritchard], Derrick [White], Tatum,” Stevens mentioned, “these would be the guys that get us into offense.”

To Stevens, nobody on this workforce has only one set place or function. Stevens views this Celtics workforce as positionless and doesn’t need to restrict the accountability of initiating the offense to simply the workforce’s level guards.

“We’re not likely going to have that all the time designated such as you would say, ‘that may be a level guard, that may be a two-guard, that may be a three,’ Stevens mentioned. “However they’re all actually succesful. Jaylen as properly. These guys all convey the ball up the courtroom.”

Regardless of the entire modifications the Celtics have made this offseason, their most consequential transfer has but to be accomplished. This 12 months, Brown is eligible for a supermax contract extension price $295 million over 5 years, and the Celtics are providing him one, in keeping with Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. 

Himmelsbach additionally reported that Brown is looking for both a fifth-year participant choice, which is at the moment blocking an settlement. The 2 sides are nonetheless anticipated to agree on a deal, and Stevens hinted that these expectations might quickly flip into actuality.

“We would like Jaylen to be right here for a protracted, very long time, and we’ve made that clear,” Stevens mentioned. “We’re trying ahead to all sitting down and now we have time right here. I in all probability shouldn’t say the rest, however I really feel optimistic.”

If every part goes as deliberate, the Celtics will quickly have Brown locked up for the following half-decade. This transfer, in tandem with the opposite strikes Stevens has made this summer season, would make the Celtics a really formidable workforce for subsequent 12 months and past.