Brad Stevens traded away four players, got back a high-level offensive center, and got his team under the first apron and tax. On Friday, he explained the motivation behind it all.
The Celtics made the move for a big man that everyone expected, but he might have been a backup plan. The guy Boston wanted months ago and who seemed off the table ended up moving to a conference rival.
The Boston Celtics appear to be cleaning up the end of their bench, moving away from guys who have fallen out of the rotation. But they've upgraded one of their two-way players to fill one of the guaranteed roster spots.
The Celtics have seen positives from just about every offseason move, but one stood out as not working. Rules now dictate they have to make a follow-up move, but the Celtics have given themselves flexibility to outbid the competition.
Anfernee Simons was traded for Nikola Vucevic, and Chicago's actions after the trade made it seem like he could find a fit there. But there's a chance he might not suit up for the Bulls after all.
The Celtics are actively trying to swing trades, but it takes two to tango, and they haven't been able to find a dance partner. The rejection of one trade offer in particular points to a trade deadline that will require a lot of creativity to swing a deal
The Milwaukee Bucks are open to trading Giannis Antetokounmpo and listening to aggressive offers. The Celtics could be impacted, either directly or indirectly, depending on how the situation plays out.
Brad Stevens is notoriously secretive when it comes to these things, running a tight front office with few, if any, leaks that tip his hand. But he still has to talk to other front offices, and those front offices aren’t quite as tight-lipped.
Enough has been made about the fact that Lonnie Walker signing with the Boston Celtics doesn't seem fair in the slightest knowing what he brings to them. Even more than that, he's on a training camp deal with them knowing the kind of player he is.
While the Knicks paid a premium for Mikal Bridges, doing so makes them arguably the top threat to the Celtics in the East.
But if they need an external upgrade to fortify their front court, they may target multiple players who used to call Boston home.
The Celtics spent the offseason keeping their title team mostly intact. Fifteen of the 17 players who helped the franchise capture its 18th banner will be there to see it raised to the TD Garden rafters on Oct. 22 before a rivalry clash with the Knicks.
Oshae Brissett rejoining the Celtics for their title defense seems unlikely. The reigning NBA champs are already spending $196.6 million in player salaries and $7.6 million over the second apron.
However, he's leaving the door open to return to Boston.
While even a small-scale signing would come with an expensive tax, Lonnie Walker IV has the talent to earn consistent minutes, and the value he'd add in helping the Celtics pace their starting perimeter players could convince them he's worth the cost.