Boston Celtics rated among best offseasons in NBA’s Eastern Conference
The Boston Celtics made some of the more talked-about moves to kick off their 2022 NBA offseason earlier than many teams caught up in the epic staredown games that have become the Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant trade sagas. But rather than let the front offices of the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets dictate the terms of how their offseasons might play out, Boston instead got to work making moves few saw coming until they were more or less settled.
That included signing veteran forward Danilo Gallinari to the team’s mini- midlevel exception, and trading veteran big man Daniel Theis, reserve forward Aaron Nesmith, and seldom used deep rotation players plus a draft pick for Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon. Lauded as one of the better offseasons in the NBA, ESPN senior writer Kevin Pelton weighed in on how he thought the Celtics’ offseason has gone.
“Armed only with their taxpayer midlevel exception and a 2023 first-round pick we can safely expect to fall late in the first round, the Celtics managed to add a pair of veteran contributors to last year’s East champions,” observed Pelton.
Celtics Lab 134: Beating back the summer doldrums with Jayson Tatum https://t.co/MJDT85Lhna
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 5, 2022
“Malcolm Brogdon is the big addition, giving Boston a sure-handed playmaker without sacrificing the elements (shooting and size at every position) that made the Celtics so good in the playoffs,” he added.
“Additionally, Danilo Gallinari (signed with the midlevel) gives Boston another shooter and scorer in the frontcourt. Gallinari’s presence will make it easier to lighten the load on Al Horford during the regular season, keeping Horford fresh for the playoffs.”
“Durant trade rumors won’t make it any easier for second-year coach Ime Udoka to keep everybody happy, but he can’t complain about the roster he’s been given,” assessed the senior ESPN analyst.
“I always said you were my favorite player to watch,” related the elder Celtic star to the younger. https://t.co/PZbaeD00wU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 5, 2022
By all accounts, the Celtics did quite well to gear up for another run at an NBA title in 2023, and Pelton has rated out Boston quite highly for their efforts among Eastern Conference teams.
Granted an “A” for their offseason moves, only Atlantic Division rivals the Philadelphia 76ers received such high marks in this assessment.
Let’s take a look at the two assessments of the Celtics, https://t.co/Hotdbb9snO
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 5, 2022
Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
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Will the Celtics make the NBA Finals in 2023?
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