Celtics
Checking in with key members of the Celtics whereas ready on reinforcements.

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Celtics reportedly not taken with together with Malcolm Brogdon in commerce affords
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‘They have been punking us’: Grant Williams explains why he confronted Jimmy Butler
The Celtics’ roster has extra pure expertise than the model that went quietly to the Warmth in Recreation 7 of the Jap Convention finals. The addition of 7-foot-3-inch Kristaps Porzingis, a as soon as and maybe future unicorn, has made {that a} fact.
However “extra proficient” and “higher crew” will not be synonymous, and with the departures of flawed fighters Marcus Good and Grant Williams, it abruptly feels just like the Celtics might use another reliable participant at about three positions.
I’m intrigued. I’m involved. I hope there’s extra readability, and one other playable depth piece or two, on the way in which.
Whereas we await the addition of extra reinforcements (I’d take Austin Rivers), let’s test in with the important thing members of the solid . . .
Jaylen Brown: I don’t really feel nice about it, however it’s the reality. The longer this curious delay in signing Brown to a supermax contract goes on, the extra I discover myself pondering whether or not the Celtics can be higher off if there had been a really perfect commerce to discover a extra appropriate match for Jayson Tatum.
Brown is a particular scorer, however I’ve rising trepidation about paying roughly $300 million to a participant who isn’t a very prepared or in a position passer (he had 68 assists and 66 turnovers within the playoffs, an abysmal ratio). Extra damningly, unofficially led the league final season in catnaps whereas his man roasted him on a backdoor minimize.
Brown’s regression (indifference?) on protection belies the work he has put in to hone different elements of his sport — or create pictures for himself, anyway. One easy manner for the Celtics to enhance this coming season is for the holdover gamers so as to add selection to their talent units and repertoires.
When Brown finally indicators, hopefully he gained’t contemplate the huge contract a complete validation of how he performs. There may be extra to be performed.
Jayson Tatum: I can’t make up my thoughts on how it will have gone in Recreation 7 towards the Warmth had he not sprained his ankle and rendered himself virtually sessile on the primary possession, however I determine there are two outcomes: The Celtics would have gained and accomplished the comeback from down, 3-0, within the sequence. The Celtics would have blown a 10-point lead with 4 minutes left and misplaced on a Jimmy Butler dagger. One or the opposite. Anyway, Tatum: He at all times comes again with one thing new in his repertoire, and crucial factor he can do that offseason is work out easy methods to change into extra environment friendly, particularly within the midrange. I belief that he’ll.
Kristaps Porzingis: Issues about his sturdiness are reliable, and given how pissed off he would get in Dallas when Luka Doncic would go into iso-ball mode, it’s honest to surprise how he’ll mesh with Tatum and particularly Brown. However I do assume many people — particularly these nonetheless bummed that Good is now not right here — are underestimating Porzingis’s presents as an offensive participant, and it’s going to really feel like virtually a nice shock once we lastly do get to look at him play.
Derrick White: His approval ranking after rising as the last word glue man and, on many nights, the Celtics’ second- or third-best participant final season needs to be 99.99 %. And whoever it’s that’s accounting for that 0.01 % is, in fact, a buffoon. The Celtics might use two extra Derrick Whites. Perhaps three. I want everybody on this crew thought concerning the sport the way in which he does.
Robert Williams: Talking of the crew bettering by way of particular person gamers bettering, how encouraging was that video of Williams engaged on his perimeter sport the opposite day that was throughout social media? Williams has a legitimately deft contact across the hoop, and that is the primary offseason shortly the place he isn’t recovering from an damage. If he can add a constant 15-footer to his sport, the Celtics will probably be higher for it.
Al Horford: Recency bias appears to have led some followers to have purchaser’s regret about signing the 37-year-old Horford to a two-year, $20 million extension in December, since that deal ostensibly saved the Celtics from with the ability to retain Grant Williams. I’d reasonably have Horford, even at his superior age, at that discount fee than pay Williams $54 million over 4 years. Horford has misplaced a step defensively and his capturing nosedived within the playoffs, but when his coach can resist enjoying him 31 minutes per sport once more this season, he can nonetheless be an efficient participant, and he’ll at all times be a sensible and selfless one.
Malcolm Brogdon: I do know the $22 million annual price ticket is steep, however generally I really feel like I’m the one one who remembers how important and efficient he was in the course of the common season. The Celtics would have gained the title two years in the past had he been on the roster then. The Celtics are higher off with him nonetheless on the roster now, and whereas he was in score-first mode final season, he’s able to choosing up among the playmaking slack, having averaged greater than 7 assists per sport at one level in his profession.
Payton Pritchard: He might help as a bench scorer, and he deserves the chance. However he creates higher for himself than he does for others. The Celtics nonetheless want a real backup level guard.
Sam Hauser: Amongst real contributors, he’s sort of the forgotten man, partially as a result of Joe Mazzulla buried him in the course of the playoffs. However he’s a real sharpshooter and holds up nicely sufficient defensively.
Jordan Walsh: I’m most likely within the minority, however I don’t assume the 19-year-old will probably be a contributor this season. His shot mechanics recommend his manufacturing from the perimeter in Summer season League was a little bit of a fluke. However he’s going to finally be a difference-maker on protection, and Brad Stevens clearly discovered a future rotation participant within the second spherical.
And whereas we’re with regards to end-of-the-bench gamers for 2023-24, am I alone in wishing they’d deliver Blake Griffin again? Speak about setting your ego apart and figuring out your function. There ought to at all times be room for somebody like that.
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