Danny Ainge Stepping Down in Boston, Brad Stevens Moving to Front Office
Big NBA news here:
Brad Stevens is moving into the front office on a full-time role, and Celtics are expected to start a search for a new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Celtics staff and coaches have been informed of the changes. https://t.co/yPf6ERS6NK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2021
The Celtics knocked the Sixers out of the playoffs twice in the last three seasons. There were a couple of draft trades between the squads as well (resulting in the selections of Matisse Thybulle and Markelle Fultz). Boston was sort of a bogeyman team for the Sixers, but that changed this season with a Philly sweep as the banged-up Celtics went on to lose 4-1 to the Nets in the first round.
It’s interesting to think about all of the assets Boston compiled over the years, and the good moves Ainge made, and yet they haven’t been to the Finals in 11 years now. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals four times in that span and ran into prime LeBron James on three different occasions. Right now they’ve got a couple of stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, but Kemba Walker is owed a lot of money and they don’t have anything on the interior after Al Horford and Aron Baynes left town awhile back. It’ll be intriguing to see what they do with that roster.
And who is the next coach of the Celtics? Brett Brown?! Jay Wright?! Let’s get the speculation train going. Choo Choo!