BOSTON — In the opening hours of free agency the Celtics, NBA Finalists for the first time in more than a decade last season, watched the competition get better. They watched the 76ers add P.J. Tucker and Danuel House while moving towards a more team friendly deal with James Harden. They eyeballed the Bucks adding Joe Ingles to a team that pushed Boston to seven games in the conference semifinals—without All-Star guard Khris Middleton. They watched the Hawks trade for Dejounte Murray, the Knicks sign Jalen Brunson and the Wizards stock up on point guards to play opposite the freshly re-signed Bradley Beal..
On Thursday, the Celtics stayed quiet.
On Friday, they struck.
