LAS VEGAS — Brad Stevens spoke at Summer time League on Wednesday and mentioned the little work left to do for the Celtics this offseason. He famous that Boston will possible stay affected person with the fifteenth and last customary roster spot over the approaching months, addressing their wants as Kristaps Porziņģis begins a protracted rehab course of.
That leaves Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk free to discover their choices for each cash and extra enjoying time out there to them. Brissett mentioned on his YouTube channel that he additionally hopes to listen to extra information about his future quickly after declining his participant choice earlier this summer season and changing into a free agent.
“Oshae had a terrific yr, not solely when he received the chance on the court docket, however as a teammate and as an individual. In his sneakers, there is perhaps the will to play extra too,” Stevens instructed reporters on Wednesday. “I at all times need to be respectful of that. We beloved having Oshae. So far as how we fill out the remainder of the roster, we stored 14 many of the yr final yr, then we added two on the finish of the yr. We’ll see how the subsequent few months play themselves out with regard to folks’s availability. Clearly, Kristaps goes to have a protracted rehab course of forward of him. Then we’ve to find out what’s the perfect want for our crew in that fifteenth spot? Each Oshae and Svi, to me, are good NBA gamers, that whether or not right here or elsewhere are good matches for any crew. They’re simply terrific folks.”
Stevens additionally reacted to the primary time for Wyc Grousbeck putting his share of the Celtics on the market, saying that it caught him off guard as a lot as anybody else when it occurred days after the crew’s 2024 championship one month in the past. He doesn’t count on the method to impression his job as crew president for now, with the crew’s launch on the sale noting that the method might take a number of years the place Grousbeck will stay as governor of the crew.
“I realized not lengthy earlier than everyone else did that was going to occur,” Stevens mentioned. “I’m clearly very grateful for Wyc and his household and all the things they’ve completed. I’m wanting ahead to seeing what occurs from right here. I don’t need to get too far into the weeds of all of it, however how does it have an effect on us? It doesn’t actually proper now … we’re simply head down doing what we predict is finest for the now of the Celtics and the long run … we’re fortunate we received a superb crew.”
Boston did that by extending Jayson Tatum and Derrick White this offseason, whereas negotiations proceed with Sam Hauser a few potential long-term deal. Stevens mentioned that the Celtics are fortunate to have each gamers and that they wished to stay with Boston long-term. Tatum, White, Brown and Jrue Vacation have all created an surroundings that values successful and a crew dynamic.
Stevens additionally reacted to feedback by Brown expressing his frustration with being left off Staff USA. It’s a superb alternative for individuals who went, like many Celtics have through the years, however believes Brown is simply as deserving of that recognition and will get it sooner or later. Stevens sees him dealing with himself the identical means whether or not he’s awarded or snubbed.
“Jaylen’s an incredible participant. I don’t assume there’s any doubt that Jaylen could possibly be on any crew, any Olympic crew in any yr. However on the finish of the day, his strategy, he talked about how he referred to as Derrick, he talked about his personal emotions,” Stevens mentioned. “Whether or not he has success, or he will get all of the accolades, like Finals MVP or jap convention finals MVP, or he appears like he received left off the crew. He’s going to be motivated and hungry regardless. That’s what I’ve at all times beloved about him. He at all times goes again to work.”
