Whereas the Boston Celtics nonetheless have the belongings To assist ancompletely different potential summer time splash, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens sounded content material Tuesday to tidy up on the fringes and see if a boosted bench Is enough To assist the group safe the banner that slipped by way of his group’s fingers final month.

After introducing offseason additions Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, Stevens said he really feels good Regarding the state of the group with A pair of open spots to fill on the again finish of the bench.

“There Might Even be a placeal want or two that We now have So as to add, and We Have gotten a quantity of people we’re Taking A look at To Do this,” said Stevens. “We have So as to add with out taking away … I really feel that We’re in A great place, depth-sensible. 

“If we head into the season with this group, plus an add or two that assists us navigate, with a full roster, All of the united statesand downs from an damage standpoint of the season, I really feel actually good about what this group can accomplish.”

A few extra takeaways from our chat with Stevens after Tuesday’s introductions:

Using An monumental chunk of the Fournier TPE seems unlikely

The Celtics have till July 18 To make the most of the $17.1 million Evan Fournier commerce exception. However after The huge splurge So as to add Brogdon, and with a payroll that’s already $20 million over the tax line, it really feels unlikely that Boston would use Greater than a small chunk of that TPE earlier than it vaporizes.

 

Stevens insisted the group had the Okay from possession to spfinish if it meant including The biggest participant However in addition famous the potential To make the most of completely different out there TPEs later Inside the season.

Stevens repeatedly careworn a want So as to add with out taking away, which seemingly makes it unlikely that Boston Would want to sfinish out rotational gadgets to facilitate any Sort of grand addition.

Chris Forsberg

“I really feel The underside line is, And clearly We now Have not solely a commerce exception now but commerce exceptions that We will use as quickly as extra in the direction of the commerce deadline, And that is all about simply discovering The biggest deal,” said Stevens. “If It is the biggest commerce to be made, We now have the inexperienced mild To Do this.”

Stevens repeatedly careworn a want So as to add with out taking away, which seemingly makes it unlikely that Boston Would want to sfinish out rotational gadgets to facilitate any Sort of grand addition.

The Celtics could ponder using a tiny slice of the TPE To accumulate ancompletely different physique In the event that they didn’t like out there free brokers on a minimal contract. 

Looking for huge man assist but extreme on Kornet

Regardless of stating a want for extra frontcourt depth, Stevens made constructive To discover that the Celtics are extreme on Luke Kornet, the 7-foot-2 flooring-stretcher who has spent parts of the previous two seasons with the group.

“We have been actually extreme on Luke,” said Stevens. “We althought he had a terrific G League season and We anticipate that he can step proper in and be a passer, a ball handler, a mover, a screener, and a curler when want be.

“We’ll in all probability add Ancompletely different particular person Which will play in that space. However we’re actually believing in Luke as not solely depth — he can clearly fill out the roster — However in addition be In a place to assist us and assist us win. I really feel He is at that stage the place he can Do this.

However we’re nonetheless wanting and we’ll nonetheless add A minimal of Ancompletely different physique at no matter we name the 5 place these days.”

Celtics Converse: Meet The mannequin new guys: Unique interviews with Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari (and Brad Stevens) | Pay attention & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Stevens was quick To discover how, with the additions of Brogdon and Gallinari, the Celtics have avenues to play extra small-ball lineups with out actually sacrificing measurement general.

“We’ll proceed To take a Take A look at, as quickly as extra, what provides to our group,” said Stevens. “I really feel, finally, although we started huge most of final yr with Al [Horford] and Rob [Williams III], We typinamey events would play Definitely one of them.

“I really feel we’re extremeer set As a lot as play smaller than we have been, Merely as a Outcome of of measurement of [Brogdon and Gallinari] and We Have gotten A lot Of numerous decisions there.”

Relaxation up for The mannequin new season

There are completely different issues on Stevens’ offseason to-do itemizing, collectively with investigating potential extensions for Grant Williams and Jaylen Brown, but there’s An excellent deal of time to go down the road.

 

In The huger picture, Stevens wants all of his gamers and staff to decompress a bit from final season and Revenue from the break. Whereas he’s Eager to see how this new group appears, Stevens wants everyphysique to catch their breath first.

More importantly, he wants the group To return again ready For An further prolonged trek.

“It is going to be good to take a deep breath, understanding that We Need to go on ancompletely different Long time period, and We now have a group That is In a place to doing that,” said Stevens. “However nothing’s assured. It’s going to be actually exhausting.”