Celtics: Stevens denies rebuild after trades, focused on Tatum and Brown

In Boston, even before Jayson Tatum limped off the court with an Achilles tendon injury during the Celtics’ loss in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Brad Stevens was already anticipating big changes for the franchise in the offseason. Investment in free agents and contracts had attracted key players like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, who, along with stars Tatum and Jaylen Brown, helped Boston conquer the NBA championship in 2024. However, keeping the core of that team intact for next season, with Tatum possibly absent due to his injury, would have implied a combined payroll and luxury tax bill of over $500 million. Furthermore, by exceeding the second salary cap threshold, additional penalties would have been applied, limiting the ability to sign or trade players.

We knew for a long time that difficult decisions were coming.

Stevens

Now, under that dreaded second threshold, the perspective for the Celtics has changed. Stevens, as the team’s president of basketball operations, knows that the approach will need to be adjusted while Tatum is out. However, as a former coach, he also stated that he will never put a limit on the potential of any team.

My expectations are always the same: to compete to the fullest to win the next game.

Stevens

Stevens made it clear that he doesn’t want to hear the word “rebuilding” this season. That will not be part of the lexicon in our building, and that is how we will focus in the future. Although the team could make additional moves to completely get out of the luxury tax, Stevens indicated that it is not the mandate he has received from the new team owner, Bill Chisholm.

Bill has been quite clear from the beginning that he wants to make sure we are prioritizing basketball assets and the ability to renew this at the highest possible level.

Stevens

Both Tatum and Brown, who underwent minor knee surgery last month, were at the Celtics facility on Tuesday rehabilitating. According to Stevens, Tatum was moving “very quickly” in his walking boot, while Brown was already shooting and is expected to soon receive full clearance for basketball activities. Meanwhile, Stevens feels completely comfortable with Brown as the focal point of the team on the court. He believes it’s a challenge that Brown gladly accepts and in which he has demonstrated his ability to excel on previous occasions when Tatum has been out due to injury. He is ready for any challenge and always has been.