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AUERBACH CENTER — On Celtics Media Day, Brad Stevens revealed that two Celtics’ rotation bigs — Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman — had surgical procedure over the offseason.
Kornet had wrist surgical procedure on the conclusion of the season, whereas Tillman had a knee scope on the finish of July. Each must be good to go, Stevens confirmed, with no identified limitations.
Kristaps Porzingis, in the meantime, is recovering effectively, although there’s no timeline for his return.
“He’s very optimistic,” Stevens mentioned. “I don’t know that we’re enthusiastic about placing a timeline on it, as a result of the damage is exclusive. However so far as how he feels and the progress that he’s made, we’re very, very happy with the place he’s — perhaps just a little shocked.”
Nonetheless, with Porzingis out for the beginning of the season, the well being and availability of Kornet and Tillman change into much more vital. Each back-up bigs will doubtless play greater minutes within the wake of their star middle’s restoration, with 38-year-old Al Horford additionally more likely to shoulder a much bigger load.
“These timelines matched up effectively with the beginning of the season, clearly, with some huge depth points doubtlessly,” Stevens mentioned. “So, we’re lucky.”
Final season, Kornet averaged 5.3 minutes and 4.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per recreation, whereas Tillman averaged 4 factors and a couple of.7 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.
Neither Kornet nor Tillman’s surgical procedures had beforehand been reported, nevertheless it feels like neither is a very substantial growth.
“I’m actually inspired by the well being of our workforce,” Stevens mentioned.
Brad Stevens on bringing again the identical workforce from final season:
“Usually, I might say I would not thoughts a tweak or two, simply because I feel that these issues can impress you… I feel that these guys are galvanized by one another.” pic.twitter.com/ejy6GYYc4y
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 24, 2024
Neemias Queta must also be within the combine to reinforce back-up huge minutes. As a two-way participant final season, the Portuguese huge man averaged 5.5 factors in 11.9 minutes per recreation, in 28 appearances. All three gamers — Kornet, Tillman, and Queta — re-signed with the Celtics on minimal offers this summer time.
The Celtics returned almost everything of final 12 months’s championship roster, excluding Oshae Brissett (free agent) and Svi Mykhailiuk (signed with Utah). Stevens mentioned typically talking, it may be galvanizing to tweak a roster and herald some new additions.
However within the Celtics case, they wished to run it again with the identical solid as a lot as potential.
“I feel these guys are galvanized by one another,” Stevens mentioned.
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