What Brad Stevens said about Celtics’ offseason additions

Many of the concentrate on the Celtics thus far this summer season has revolved round what a championship-caliber crew has misplaced.

Past Jayson Tatum probably lacking your complete 2025-26 marketing campaign as a consequence of a ruptured Achilles, the Celtics needed to commerce away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation in a pair of salary-shedding strikes.

On the free-agent entrance, Boston misplaced depth heart Luke Kornet to the Spurs, whereas Brad Stevens acknowledged Tuesday that veteran Al Horford can also be “unlikely” to return to Boston for an eighth season.

However amid the ache of Boston’s stacked squad being splintered, Stevens pressured on Tuesday that the Celtics have some high-upside expertise becoming a member of the roster for the upcoming season.

Boston acquired capturing guard Anfernee Simons from the Trail Blazers as a part of the Vacation deal, whereas additionally bringing in Massachusetts native Georges Niang as a part of the commerce centered round Porzingis. 

Regardless that Boston didn’t have the cap flexibility to focus on a number of the prime free brokers in the marketplace this offseason, the Celtics additionally rounded out their depth chart by signing Luka Garza and Josh Minott to cheaper, short-term contracts. 

With Tatum probably sidelined all season, the Celtics might depend on a scorer like Simons to tackle a number of the burden of producing offense alongside key gamers like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. 

Over the past three seasons with Portland, the 26-year-old Simons has averaged 20.7 factors and 4.7 assists per contest whereas capturing 37.4 % from 3-point vary.

Simons’ 3-point capturing can even turn out to be useful on a roster coached by Joe Mazzulla. 

This previous 12 months, Simons transformed on 36.3 % of his 3-pointers whereas making an attempt 8.5 makes an attempt from 3-point vary per contest — which might have ranked third on the 2024-25 Celtics behind Tatum and White.   

“I believe Anfernee is a man that folks out right here in all probability don’t see as a lot due to the time that they play,” Stevens stated. “However his capability to attain, his capability to shoot the ball and make actually laborious pictures is fairly elite. 

“And also you take a look at a man that’s 26 years outdated, that’s averaged 20 [points] a recreation for 3 straight years, I believe he’s a very good participant. And I believe he can get higher, and that’s an enormous a part of it.”

Niang averaged 9.9 factors, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 79 video games (three begins) between the Cavaliers and Hawks final season. Very like Simons, Niang can also be an efficient 3-point shooter — sinking 40.6 % of his pictures from that vary final season. 

“Niang has simply added worth to profitable on every crew he’s been on,” Stevens stated. “He’s a ache to play towards, which I very a lot admire. And he is aware of what he does effectively, and he is aware of deliver out the most effective in his group. 

“It’s not a coincidence that he was part of the rotation on these actually good Philly groups. He was part of the rotation this 12 months in Cleveland earlier than the commerce. The man is a winner, is aware of play, is aware of deliver out the most effective in individuals. Pleased he’s right here.”

Regardless that each Garza (5.6 minutes per recreation final season) and Minott (6.0 minutes) earned restricted reps with Minnesota in 2024-25, Stevens believes the forwards might capitalize on the minutes out there on a shorthanded Celtics entrance courtroom transferring ahead.  

“We’re on the lookout for guys on these contracts which have upside, which might be rivals, which might be staff, that wish to be good, that haven’t hit their peak but — however we’ve seen one thing in them that we predict provides them an opportunity to be very impactful,” Stevens stated. “Luka clearly has been a stats darling, however in restricted time behind very, superb gamers.

“And identical factor with Minott. Minott is a man that brings quite a lot of versatility to the desk. [He’s] an individual that may guard a number of positions, can shoot just a little bit, however performs with nice vitality and size, and each these guys actually rebound. And in order we’ve a crew that’s being retooled, proper? I believe the most important factor is bringing in guys that may complement our greatest gamers and our core, but in addition have some upside, and perhaps some unrealized upside up to now.”

Over the past week, the Celtics have additionally been linked to some potential star gamers who may very well be out there for an inexpensive worth in Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal.

Lillard was bought out by the Bucks last week, whereas the Suns are reportedly planning on following an identical plan with Beal. 

Each Lillard and Beal would help the Celtics moving forward, albeit in 2026-27 in Lillard’s case as a consequence of his season-ending damage this previous postseason. 

However Stevens didn’t budge when requested if the Celtics had been planning on making any further strikes. 

“I believe the fact of the schedule of issues is there’ll in all probability be some conversations that each one the groups, all 30 groups, have in Vegas [for Summer League],” Stevens stated. “But it surely’s lots lower than across the draft. … And so I’d say that who is aware of what’s going to occur. However so far as us, we’re very comfy with this group heading into the following season.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.