On February 7, the Boston Celtics traded Lamar Stevens to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal to acquire Xavier Tillman. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens likely made the decision to include Stevens as part of the deal so that Boston could retain an open roster spot.
While the decision to send Stevens to the Grizzlies makes sense, it still hurt some of the Celtics’ roster. When speaking to the media following the Celtics win over the Atlanta Hawks, Tatum revealed that Stevens’ presence within the locker room was missed. He also noted how the defensive-minded wing was a good teammate and hard worker.
“Maybe he didn’t play as much, but his personality, how hard he worked,” Tatum said. “He was a great teammate, and everybody loved Lamar. Hopefully at his next stop, he gets an opportunity, because he works extremely hard and we’re going to miss him.”
Stevens joined Boston as a free agent during the off-season. His addition was seen as a win for the Celtics, as his defensive mindset and physicality were both areas that Joe Mazzulla‘s team needed to improve. However, the addition of Oshae Brissett quickly pushed Stevens down in the pecking order, and he struggled to earn a consistent role with the team.
I asked Jayson Tatum about the emotional impact of the Celtics losing Lamar Stevens:
“To wake up from my nap earlier and see that he got traded was tough. The locker room kind of did feel empty today, coming to the game and he wasn’t here.”
(🎥 @CelticsCLNS) pic.twitter.com/ab7N3u6H1J
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) February 8, 2024
By joining the Grizzlies, Stevens will have a legitimate opportunity to prove he can be an impactful player. Memphis is dealing with multiple injuries this season, which should allow Stevens to have a significant role within the rotation. From there, it’s up to him to prove he can stick once everyone returns next season.
Tatum appreciated what Stevens brought to the table. It’s likely his new teammates will too.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
