Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has had plenty of late nights at the Auerbach Center this month, but there’s still work to be done as the Celtics reshape both their roster and coaching staff after falling short of championship expectations last season.
So what exactly is on Stevens’ to-do list going forward? Let’s start with a reset of where Boston stands in the aftermath acquires Kristaps Porzingis in a pre-draft blockbuster:
Depth chart and salary check
The Celtics have 11 players under contract for next season and could add a 12th if No. 38, Jordan Walsh, is signed to the parent roster. A look at Boston’s potential depth chart:
The Celtics could add another ball handler if 2022 second-round pick JD Davison is elevated to the parent roster after being a two-way player last season. Kornet is on a non-guaranteed deal, while Champagnie, who was picked up at the end of last season, would see a good portion of his salary guaranteed on opening night if he were on the roster.
With Porzingis and his team-high $36 million salary now on Boston’s books, the Celtics are committed to about $175 million. That leaves them about $7.5 million out of second place ($182.5 million).
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Boston could use the taxpayers in the mid-$5 million cap space, but would be cracking down on the second front line, potentially handcuffing the team as part of any in-season maneuvering. The Celtics would probably prefer to add without immediately using that route.
Boston will almost certainly extend an $8.5 million qualifying offer to Grant Williams this week, but it’s hard to see any realistic path for the Celtics to match any offer Williams receives in restricted free agency.
The Grant Williams enigma
The Celtics are no longer in a position where they can easily afford to pay to keep Williams (at least not without moving Brogdon’s salary first). The reality is that if head coach Joe Mazzulla was reluctant to play Williams at times last season — including in the postseason — the team can’t afford to pay $12-plus million for a depth piece.
Boston could help a team land Williams by facilitating a potential sign-and-trade, but don’t expect much of a return. A team with cap space doesn’t necessarily need the Celtics’ assistance. What’s more, Williams’ status as a base-year compensation player complicates sign-and-trade deals.
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If Boston viewed Williams as a must-have piece of its core and someone who could eventually elevate to a starting role, it would be worth paying to keep him and simply paying a large luxury tax bill. The addition of Porzingis simply makes it hard to see the team matching what others could offer.
The Malcolm Brogdon situation
After the initial three-team iteration of a Porzingis deal fell apart, Stevens called Brogdon, hoping to make sure the player knows he’s still valued in Boston.
“Malcolm is really important and it was tough,” Stevens told NBC Sports Boston. “He certainly doesn’t deserve that. I feel for him and obviously we’ve talked since then.
“There are many stories out there because [the failed trade] which are certainly inaccurate. The bottom line is that right now he is going through a 4 to 8 week period of rest and rehab [an arm injury]as suggested by our docs, as suggested by the third party doctor he went to see.
“He is doing well and we expect him to be back again [at the] start the season and have the amazing year he’s had every year he’s been in the league. So we are excited about that. But it is difficult for him. That’s the other part, being in the rumors and stuff that stinks.”
The question is whether Brogdon will stay on Boston’s roster or be traded in a new trade. Reports suggested the Clippers could not get a physical in time and a tight window to complete a Porzingis deal given his opt-in deadline prevented the possibility of Brogdon landing in Los Angeles. The teams could certainly revisit a deal, but the salary comparison becomes more complicated.
The Celtics stockpiled second-round picks on draft night, which could help facilitate a move, and Stevens joked that we might be waiting a while for him to actually use a first-round pick. He has now traded Boston’s first-round pick in each of the last three drafts.
Jaylen Brown and supermax
It feels strange that such a monumental moment in the offseason is buried so deep in a story about priorities. But barring the unforeseen, both sides should be motivated to put ink to paper.
The Celtics can put a supermax contract offer of $300 million in front of Brown on July 1. Brown couldn’t be traded for at least six months, but the supermax is far bigger than any other deal he could make in the short term.
Stevens told NBC Sports Boston that he spoke with Brown in mid-June before Brown started some summer travel and suggested the player is eager to get back on the court after a disappointing finish to Boston’s playoff run.
Considering a Kristaps Porzingis extension
Porzingis arrives with just one season left on his own max contract. Initially, we wondered if that flexibility might help the Celtics explore options next summer when Brown’s supermax deal would kick in. But all indications are that Boston will instead examine the possibilities for an extension as early as July, when Porzingis would be eligible for a two-year, $77 million extension. A longer extension would be possible from December onwards.
Why would Boston rush to secure an extension, especially with an injury-prone player? Most importantly, you don’t want to lose an asset after one season, especially after shipping out a primary part of your core (Marcus Smart) to facilitate the trade. While there is undoubtedly injury risk, Porzingis is coming off his healthiest and most productive season since his ACL issues. We also wonder if he chose to facilitate the deal came with some sort of agreement that an extension would be explored. Now on his fourth team since 2019, Porzingis is likely longing to stop the constant transition.
Boston’s finances are getting complicated in a hurry as the supermaxes for Brown and Tatum start to kick in, and adding a third bulky salary would be difficult. But Stevens seems to prioritize building a championship-caliber roster and figuring out how to piece together the money puzzle further down the road.
Still, it’s hard to see how Boston can have Brogdon’s hefty salary on the books next season, making it feel like there’s still some shuffling to take place.