Given how heavy the stake is for the Boston Celtics and the way totally different they’re about to look, the joy is actual. Not often do you see a crew this shut make this vital of an offseason blockbuster, not to mention obtain the deal’s greatest participant.
“I’m in all probability extra excited to look at them than any crew I might keep in mind in latest reminiscence simply due to how a lot totally different they will be and the stakes which are on them. To Brian’s level, they’ve leaned thus far into what Joe Mazzulla needed to do and so far-off from what they had been underneath Ime simply a few years in the past.” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective on July 17
If it weren’t already clear with the Marcus Good-Kristaps Porzingis deal, Stevens and the Celtics’ brass have absolutely invested themselves within the Mazzulla regime. Windhorst describes it as high-volume three-point taking pictures with huge offensive versatility.
The Grant Williams-Dallas noise got here to fruition with Boston getting a TPE again. One other hard-nosed defender reduce from the identical fabric as Good is now not in inexperienced. Grant was a notable instrument to the C’s 2022 Finals crew that stored the protection intact outdoors of the core for the bench.
Although, in consolation of Williams’ anticipated exit, rookie Jordan Walsh gave the Celtics a ton of promise throughout the Summer season League in Las Vegas. Walsh has prematurely returned that aggressive grit that lied inside the two departing fan favorites. Ranked the fifth-best rookie within the exhibition, the 19-year-old supplied loads of skillset offensively as properly that perhaps wasn’t absolutely on show as a Razorback.
However on protection, a whole fire-breathing disruptor is a pest that’s at all times bringing that vitality and depth. That Celtic edge that many followers fall in love with, which Walsh instantly acknowledged when he was launched, means he is aware of that, together with his size, he suits as properly.
Walsh, Oshae Brissett, together with his thunderous chopping, shot-blocking, and size on the glass, and Sam Hauser can all play into the minutes that Williams left. There have been highlighted moments final season within the common season and playoffs the place Williams didn’t obtain any enjoying time as a result of Hauser’s elite taking pictures and good plus-minus defensively.
