It’s been a busy summer for the Boston Celtics. The team extended All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown on a five-year, $304 supermax deal, locking in the duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum for the foreseeable future. But the club also swapped defensive stalwart Marcus Smart for former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, ending an era for Boston.
According to For the Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, there’s plenty to like about how Boston shuffled the deck. As part of his annual NBA Free Agency grades column, Kalbrosky granted the Celtics a B+ for their efforts this offseason, tied for the highest mark for any team in the Eastern Conference.
Landing a B+ is a solid grade for Boston’s front office, but it does imply there was room for improvement. Still, Kalbrosky believes the Celtics “project as a potential No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.”
Let’s dig deeper and evaluate the offseason that was for the Celtics.
Walsh has been dubbed the steal of the draft. https://t.co/3BD87keTFR
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 16, 2023
What went well for the Celtics this offseason
Again, a B+ is a strong grade for a team that has become a mainstay in the East playoffs. Bringing Porzingis aboard elevates the team’s ceiling by injecting a dynamic scorer into the fold. It may be a big three of a different stripe, but this, when healthy, is a big three of consequence.
Boston’s summer shakeup also gives Derrick White a more defined role, something that could be a boost for the Celts in the long run. Likewise, head coach Joe Mazzulla has the benefit of a full offseason to prepare himself and a new-look coaching staff at the helm.
The Celtics established establishing a long-term vision while also taking some risks. There are still questions remaining about how the depth chart will shake out, but Boston looks poised for another deep postseason run.
Brown might be the owner of the NBA’s most valuable contract, but he was not ranked its best shooting guard heading into next season. https://t.co/rvnCQFqhWB
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 16, 2023
What did not go well for the Celtics this offseason
Boston likely failed to secure a top grade because there are still a few questions surrounding the team. Depending on how these get answered, we may feel differently about the offseason with the benefit of hindsight.
In trading for Porzingis, the Celtics took on injury risk. Only time will tell if that gamble pays off. Likewise, Boston nearly shipped out Malcolm Brogdon instead of Marcus Smart in that deal. Will that relationship look the same moving forward? And can this expensive roster pivot if things do go south?
Boston’s chief rivals in the East have similar concerns. Things are chaotic with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat are still figuring out their own depth charts. Even if the Celtics didn’t do enough to earn more than a B+, things are looking up in the Hub.
Boston Celtics fans are watching this situation with an extra large bucket of popcorn. https://t.co/Eb40uIMcCV
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 16, 2023
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