PHOENIX — It’s commonplace for Brad Stevens to journey with the Celtics on the highway.
It’s simply, normally, it’s not within the midst of the franchise’s sale.
On Wednesday morning, on the Celtics’ shootaround in Phoenix, the overall supervisor addressed a handful of reporters for the primary time for the reason that sale to William Chisholm was first introduced.
Right here’s what to remove from Stevens’ first media availability on the sale.
Brad Stevens’ preliminary impressions of Invoice Chisholm are very constructive
Stevens hasn’t spent a ton of time with the brand new Celtics proprietor, however he’s appreciated what he’s seen thus far. The 2 first spoke on the cellphone a few weeks in the past when Chisholm was one among 4 finalists to buy the Celtics. He then met him in-person in Sacramento on Sunday, when Invoice and his spouse Kimberly attended the Celtics-Kings sport.
“He looks like an incredible individual and appears tremendous excited concerning the Cs,” Stevens mentioned. “He’s at all times been a giant fan.”
Stevens, who assumed the function of common supervisor in 2021, additionally famous that he expects Chisholm to be himself and convey his personal authenticity to the function of being the Celtics’ proprietor. He’s additionally gotten the impression that Chisholm, who comes from the non-public fairness world, is keen to find out about the way in which the group has been run to date.
“While you purchase a staff, and if you find yourself invested like that, it’s going to carry nice concepts. And, we’ll function and execute plans if, finally, he desires to, proper?” Stevens mentioned. “However I’m actually impressed with how dedicated he appears to be to studying extra about this entire, how we’ve carried out issues — each the enterprise aspect and the basketball aspect.”
Brad Stevens expects issues to proceed ‘enterprise as standard’
An open query has been how a lot the sale will impression day-to-day happenings, in addition to the way forward for the staff. It’s clearly early days, however Stevens mentioned it seems that Chisholm appreciated how issues have been carried out thus far.
“I believe he acknowledges that we’ve bought a superb factor going,” he mentioned. “And so for me, crucial factor on this entire transition is simply that the those that I work with really feel snug. And I believe that clearly, from each indication of each dialog I’ve had with Invoice, I do [feel comfortable] and I believe everyone ought to.”
On the similar time, Stevens acknowledges that extra readability will come within the coming days as he spends extra time with Chisholm and Grousbeck.
“Each indication is, it’s just about enterprise as standard,” he mentioned. “And so enthusiastic about that. However, once more, you spend some huge cash on this stuff. And so you will have each proper to come back in and put your stamp on it nevertheless you need. And so trying ahead to working with them.
“My solely factor is simply persevering with to be saved within the loop on something I must know from the standpoint of creating selections right here and now — and shifting ahead.”
Brad Stevens performed a really minor function within the sale course of
Stevens met with every of the 4 finalists for an hour or two a couple of weeks again, and that was the extent of his involvement.
“It’s not my say — it’s finally, the Grousbeck household’s say,” he mentioned. “And so it was extra simply ‘meet a number of the those that labored in basketball ops and simply ask any questions that they’d.’”
When he met with every of the finalists, he observed completely different teams had completely different features of the sale they have been most focused on. In speaking to Chisholm, his deep-rooted Celtics fandom stood out most.
“It was actually clear speaking to Invoice how a lot he loves the Celtics and the way a lot it means to him,” Stevens mentioned. “And that’s actually cool.”
His preliminary response to the sale was to contemplate staff personnel
Stevens confirmed he discovered the staff was up on the market about 12 hours earlier than it was introduced to the general public in July. He instantly questioned how the staff would impression the franchise’s many longtime workers — not simply the gamers themselves.
“My preliminary thought goes to not the staff, not, something, however the sixty folks in Basketball Operations. Similar to [team president] Wealthy [Gotham’s] preliminary thought goes to the company aspect, proper?”
Stevens mentioned that making certain belief within the group has been key.
“Finally, I wish to see all of our folks do properly and proceed,” he mentioned. “And I’m surrounded by such gifted folks, to be trustworthy, that carry my ass each day. So I wish to ensure that all of them really feel good and be ok with the transition. Based mostly on the whole lot — assembly Invoice, Wyc being round, listening to from each of them — they’ve given us each indication that that’s going to be the case.
There’s a bittersweet feeling to parting methods with Steve Pagliuca and the opposite house owners
When Grousbeck chosen Chisholm, it meant that Steve Pagliuca, a longtime, seen part-owner of the staff, wouldn’t be an proprietor shifting ahead.
“Joe talked about this, and I believe a few of our gamers have, too — there’s additionally all of the those that we’ve had an opportunity to be lucky sufficient to work for my first 12 years right here which have owned the staff the final 20 plus [years].”
Stevens famous that whereas Grousbeck will probably be sticking round as Governor, the Pagliuca household can also be a relationship he’s cherished.
“That’s exhausting once you see these relationships not be part of it,” he mentioned. “However I’m simply actually grateful that we’ve gotten an opportunity to spend time with all these folks, and we’re actually trying ahead to working with Invoice and his group.”
