During the summer, Brad Stevens took two big swings in the trade market. He added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday while parting with Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams. Grant Williams was also allowed to leave via a sign-and-trade. Those moves have positioned the Boston Celtics as championship favorites.
However, Boston’s President of Basketball Operations understands how quickly things can change in the NBA. During a recent interview with Steve Bulpett of Heavy on Sports, Stevens shared his thought process during the summer. That thought process is likely driving him to continue looking for ways to improve the roster.
“Being good is really fragile,” Stevens said. “Being good is really hard. And nothing is guaranteed, so you just, again, have to be on the lookout for ways to improve. Most of the time, that’s just within the walls — tweak the offense, tweak the defense, whatever the case may be. But sometimes opportunities present themselves, and you just have to be ready.”
The new collective bargaining agreement is designed to limit a team’s ability to form and maintain a super team. The hope is that championship windows open and close far quicker than we’ve seen in recent years. As such, Stevens has to consistently look at ways to improve the team while keeping the ownership group happy.
Celtics Lab 242: Inside the minds of MVP voters with ESPN's Tim Bontemps https://t.co/L8fKFNX5M0 pic.twitter.com/5cRNjgQP1n
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 21, 2024
Nevertheless, Boston’s window is currently wide open. It will likely remain that way for at least two years. However, as Stevens noted, being a contender is fragile. That’s why the fanbase is eager to see the team bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season.
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