Boston – earlier also Jayson tatam During a torn Acilies tendon taken out of court Boston CelticsEastern Conference Semi -final loss new York KnicksBrad Stevens knew that major changes would be on tap for franchise.
Yes, big expenses on free agents and contracts were lured in major players Jrue holiday And Crystaps porzingis Which, combined with stars Tatam and Jayelane brownBoston eventually helped capture the NBA Championship in 2024.
But with Tatam, it probably disappears, while retaining the core of that roster in the next season, while reconsidering his injury would have come up with a joint payroll and luxury tax bill of over $ 500 million. And as a team more than the second apron of the salary cap, it will also mean that ways to limit additional punishments they can sign or trade for players.
“We have long known that hard decisions were coming,” Stevens on Tuesday said on the decision to trade both holidays and Porzingis, which both became official this week. “The second apron is why those trades happened. I think it is very clear. And the basketball punishments associated with them are real. … So it was part of the decision and put our chips on the table and went for the last two years.”
Now under that dreaded other apron, it is also a different way to see what is next for Celtics. As the chairman of the basketball operating team, Stevens know that his approach will have to change while Tatam is out. But as a former coach, he also said that he is never going to put a roof on the capacity of any team.
“My expectations are always the same – compete like hell to win the next game,” he said.
Stevens said that he does not want to hear any mention of the word “reconstruction” in this upcoming season.
“This is not going to be a part of the lexicon in our building, and this is the way we are going to focus on moving forward,” he said.
While the team can take additional steps to completely get out of luxury tax, Stevens said that this is not the mandate that it has been given by Bill Chisholam, the owner of the upcoming team.
Stevens said, “Bill is very clear from Gate-Go that he wants to ensure that we are giving priority to basketball assets and the ability to reiterate this to the highest level that we can do,” Stevens said. “The most important acquisition we are going to be able to make in the next few years [walking] boot. We are not beating that one. So this is the best thing that can be for us. ,
Both Tatam and Brown, who had a minor knee surgery last month, were in the facility of Caltics on Tuesday. According to Stevens, Tatam was moving “really fast” in its running boot, while Brown was already receiving shots and is expected to get complete withdrawal for basketball activities soon.
Meanwhile, Stevens said that he is completely comfortable with Brown, which is the focal point of the team in the court. He thinks that it is a challenge that Brown is welcome and one that he proves the ability to excel during the previous time, the tatam has been sidelined by injury.
“He is ready for any challenge and he has always been,” Stevens said.
