Zolak & Bertrand: Jayson Tatum vs. Anthony Edwards on Team USA
Anthony Edwards made some comments about being the first option on Team USA, but Zolak and Bertrand question if that is the best approach, especially after Jayson Tatum’s pro-team remarks after winning a championship.
Tatum would never say what Anthony said…
Bertrand: When [Edwards] walks into the room and Steph Curry’s standing there, Steph Curry says, ‘Oh, you know what? I’m just here to set you up and play around you. That’s what I’m here for.’
Zolak: Jayson Tatum’s really good. It’s the first time I’ve heard him say. ‘We’ve got to do what’s right for the team. It’s not about scoring points. It’s not about 3-pointers.’
Bertrand: Between LeBron and Kawhi and Steph Curry and Tatum now, how many rings are in that room? How many NBA championship rings could they bring in and set down on the table for [Edwards] to take a look at to see what it is he will maybe someday have for himself?
Zolak: A bunch.
Bertrand: How many gold medals are there in the room already?
McKone: A lot.
Bertrand: Guys that have been there and done this already. How many of those can they put down on the table? If you’re LeBron — you’re the old man on the team — what do you say to that kid? ‘Hey, chill.’ You never heard LeBron say something like this. No, you never, ever heard him say something like this.
Zolak: There are ways to handle it and set the tone too. I don’t know if you remember the Kobe Bryant one, but I think it was LeBron telling the story that, just to set the tone for what we’re going to do and what we’re going to do here, he says, I’m telling you when Pau Gasol, who he played with on the Lakers, he was his teammate. He’s on the other team. First play of the game, I’m taking out his chest, and he leveled him, flattened him. LeBron is like, ‘Holy eff, this thing’s for real.’ You need a Kobe like that on the team to check this kid.
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Celtics offseason to-do list: What's on tap for Brad Stevens this summer?
Celtics President of Basketball Ops Brad Stevens just got his team to the summit, but he still has work to do if he wants to stay there.
The entire main roster will remain intact for the 2024-25 season, if Stevens stands pat on what he has. But there’s at least one, if not two major contract extensions to get done, and even the defending champions could use some reinforcements or tweaks to the formula. Stevens also has the draft and some possible coaching moves to consider.
Stevens has proven to be a forward thinker who is unafraid to make bold moves, so another active summer can’t be ruled out. But even if Stevens stands pat with all his primary pieces, he’ll still have some key tasks on his plate that Celtics fans should familiarize themselves with before the next few months unfold.
Here’s a look at seven things for Stevens to work on in the off-season…
Get Jayson Tatum’s supermax done
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a play during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The C’s made Jaylen Brown the highest-paid player in NBA history last summer. One year later, they’re about to do it again with Jayson Tatum.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Tatum is expected to be offered the richest contract in NBA history this off-season. That would be a five-year deal worth $315 million, or $63 million per season. It’ll be the most expensive no-brainer ever.
This is sort of an obvious one – they aren’t going to walk away from Tatum now. Re-up and go for multiple championships, with Tatum and Brown leading the way in the prime of their careers. It’s just a matter of when the deal is finalized.
Extend Derrick White
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 09: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a made basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
White reportedly wants to stay in Boston long-term, so this will be another contractual task for Stevens, and a less obvious one than Tatum.
For some teams, signing a player to a supermax and having the two biggest contracts in the NBA might preclude them from continuing to spend exorbitantly on the pieces around them. But Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck has shown a willingness to pay the luxury tax, and it appears that he will simply continue to do so. You know, for the banners.
White is signed through the 2024-25 season at just over $20 million. A new extension could pay him closer to the range of his teammate, Jrue Holiday, who is on the books for $33.6 million.
Get some big man insurance
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 09: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
When Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are both healthy and available, the Celtics have a formidable frontcourt. Unfortunately, Porzingis has had enough injury-shortened seasons to prove that he can’t be relied upon to be healthy by the end of the season, and Horford turned 38 years old earlier this month.
So, it would behoove Stevens to add another big that can play legitimate minutes – that is, unless he wants to retain Luke Kornet, or the undersized Xavier Tillman. But preferably, someone with the appropriate size. To find a two-way threat at that spot would be to discover a unicorn, which Stevens already did with Porzingis.
Despite Porzinzgis’ skills at both ends of the court, the Celtics missed his rim protection more than his shooting when he was out. They may want to lean that way for a new addition, whether it’s a free agent or a trade acquisition.
Fill out the bench
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks watch Pritchard’s half court buzzer beating shot during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The aforementioned big man would be part of what may be a prudent plan for the C’s to build themselves a legit bench, so they wouldn’t have to rely so much on their top 5-7 players throughout the season. Their depth was tested during the playoffs when Porzingis went down, and while they passed with flying colors, it may not be sustainable going forward to have limited depth beyond their starters.
As detailed earlier, it would also help them preserve their aging/injury-prone bigs for the long haul if they had more frontcourt players that they could play for extended minutes and exercise some good-old-fashioned load management.
Figure out Sam Hauser’s contract
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The Celtics have a club option for $2 million on Hauser, who is coming off a solid season as a sharpshooting reserve wing who gives a good, honest effort on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a solid fit and should be considered for a long-term deal.
It may be best for both sides to simply forego the club option and iron out a new contract. Hauser has grown into a valuable bench piece, especially after performing reasonably well in the playoffs.
Draft someone 30th overall
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Stevens traded away so, so many draft picks to make this roster happen. Now, it’s not the worst idea to start using those picks again, especially the 30th pick in the first round of next week’s NBA Draft. The Celtics haven’t drafted in the first round since 2020, when they selected Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, and Desmond Bane (good haul!).
Stevens apparently was ready to
Was told the Celtics are preparing to host a 6-player draft workout at the Auerbach Center.
Almost the entire front office is there, and some of them have not slept at all.— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 18, 2024
" target="_blank">get right back to draft scouting
after the Celtics won the championship, so he appears ready to make his first selection in the first round since becoming president of basketball ops.Replenish the coaching staff
Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reacts after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
The Celtics are already losing Charles Lee and Jeff Van Gundy off Joe Mazzulla’s staff, and assistant Sam Cassell could possibly find a new gig after a championship run. So, Stevens is going to have to find new assistants to add under Mazzulla.
It’ll be interesting to see the Celtics’ approach this time, with Mazzulla a year older, having shown real growth as a head coach in the 2023-24 season. Perhaps they won’t need to flood the staff with veteran assistants this time.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
