Celtics
Grousbeck is assured in his new group’s modifications and possibilities to win.
The Boston Celtics have been near profitable a championship for 2 years in a row, however failed to take action each instances.
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Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck believes his group can nonetheless hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy within the close to future, but additionally admitted that some modifications needed to be made to the roster this offseason.
“Once I met with [president of basketball operations Brad Stevens] and [head coach Joe Mazzulla] after the season to plan going ahead, we agreed to not carry again the very same group once more, however to be open to altering the combo and bringing in extra expertise,” Grousbeck advised The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach in an interview.
The Celtics definitely modified their combine this summer season. They stated goodbye to veterans Marcus Good and Grant Williams and welcomed Jordan Walsh, Oshae Brissett, Dalano Banton, and most significantly, Kristaps Porzingis.
Since buying and selling for Porzingis, varied members of the Celtics’ entrance workplace have lauded his expertise and work ethic. Grousbeck turned the newest Celtics decision-maker to reward his group’s latest huge man.
“He’s a dedicated and now seasoned and efficient participant,” Grousbeck stated. “He’s an actual drive. I’m actually impressed together with his dedication to being a part of a profitable Celtics group.”
One factor that Grousbeck admires about Porzingis is how team-oriented the All-Star is. Grousbeck stated that Porzingis considers basketball as a group recreation and doesn’t care a lot about his private statistics, one thing
“I met with him when he got here up for the press convention and spent some actual time with him, and he’s so joyful to be right here,” Grousbeck stated. “He’s so able to shine at this stage of his profession. However he sees a group idea, not the KP present. He’s regularly improved over his profession, and he thinks that is his prime.”
Grousbeck additionally stated that the Celtics weren’t the one group vying for Porzingis’ providers. They earned the suitable to commerce for him as a result of he desires to be part of the Celtics’ team-first tradition and sees a chance in Boston to win his first championship.
“He’s concerning the group, his teammates, and the banner,” Grousbeck stated. “He selected us. There have been different individuals, I hear, that needed him. And he selected us. He desires to be right here and he desires to win a hoop.”
The catch to buying and selling for Porzingis was a giant one: it value the Celtics Marcus Good. Grousbeck stated that he’ll nonetheless cherish Good and can preserve a private relationship with him, no matter whose jersey he wears.
“What I bear in mind most about Marcus is his vitality and his smile,” Grousbeck stated. “He introduced a lot to this group and will certainly be missed. Our friendship goes to proceed. [My wife] Emilia and I are going to attend his upcoming wedding ceremony, and that’s the way in which he and we wish it.”
One in every of Boston’s most consequential choices final season was selling Joe Mazzulla to move coach of the Celtics. The exile of Ime Udoka in Sept. 2022 led to a head teaching emptiness, and Stevens pushed Grousbeck to let Mazzulla take the job. And now, after Mazzulla’s first season as Boston’s head play caller, Grousbeck and Stevens belief Mazzulla much more.
“If Joe had executed a poor job, I’d have considered changing him, however he did an excellent job,” Grousbeck stated. “He took us inside one recreation of the very best document within the league after which one recreation of being within the Finals, as a rookie coach. So I’m comfy and joyful to have Joe as head coach.”
Regardless of the entire modifications the Celtics have remodeled the previous few years, one side of the roster stays the identical: their stars. The Celtics understand how essential Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are to this group, which is why they gave Brown the richest contract in NBA historical past this summer season.
“They’re the very best two individuals I might think about constructing a group round,” Grousbeck stated. “We’ve had them for the reason that starting. We’ve been very fortunate to have them right here for his or her complete careers, and we’re constructing the group round them.”
Boston is extra than simply Tatum and Brown, nonetheless. Grousbeck stated that the new-look Celtics are a really formidable group from high to backside and that their whole rotation contributes to profitable basketball.
“However you add the following eight guys to the checklist. You are taking our high 10 and we’ve acquired a extremely good group. The main focus is of course on these two as a result of they’re All-NBA gamers and All-Stars, however I like the entire roster.”
Solely time will inform if that roster can be sufficient to win the Celtics a championship. However to Grousbeck, the modifications his group made carry them one step nearer.
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