The best and worst of Brad Stevens’ front office

It has been an enchanting few years for Brad Stevens since he took over as Celtics GM and President of Basketball Operations. It’s an inconceivable job to do completely, however from the skin trying in, it’s straightforward to see that he has a knack for the job.

He’s made massive trades, eclectic draft picks, however most significantly, he’s constructed elite rosters. With one other offseason coming to an finish, let’s look again at Brad Stevens largest trades and see if he got here out on prime.

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Kristaps Porzingis commerce:

Boston Celtics acquired: Kristaps Porzingis, 2023 1st, top-4 protected 2024 1st
Memphis Grizzlies acquired: Marcus Good
Washington Wizards acquired: Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, 2023 2nd

We’ll begin with the latest headliner. Buying Kristaps Porzingis for Marcus Good will probably go down as a defining commerce second for the Brad Steven’s Celtics. Not solely are you shifting on from a pillar of the group in Good, however KP indicators an enormous change in the best way the Celtics will play basketball for the following couple seasons at a minimal.

Now, we’re within the enterprise of giving grades and saying who gained and misplaced a commerce, so with out basketball having been performed, this stays an incomplete. On paper, buying KP for principally Good, Gallinari, and Muscala is a reasonably excellent return. We gained’t know concerning the metaphorical modifications with Good going till we, once more, get into the season. For now, I say we give the Celtics the profitable shade and modify accordingly later.

Grade: Incomplete
Winner: N/A

Picture by Kim Klement – Pool/Getty Photos

Al Horford commerce:

Celtics acquired: Al Horford, Moses Brown, 2023 2nd
Thunder acquired: Kemba Walker, 2021 1st, 2025 2nd

We began with the latest commerce of Brad Stevens tenure, how concerning the first commerce he made? Turning Kamba Walker’s contract and his knee points into Al Hoford stays not just one the most effective trades of Steven’s profession, however actually of any commerce made previously few years. Horford has as soon as once more grow to be an integral a part of the Celtics rotation. His protection, 3-point capturing, and management are principally irreplaceable on this Celtics roster. It’s onerous to think about this workforce with out him and re-acquiring him within the first place has confirmed to be a grasp stroke. This can be a fairly straightforward A+ grade. Celtics come out as massive winners.

Grade: A+
Winner: Celtics

Picture by Issac Baldizon/NBAE through Getty Photos

Derrick White commerce:

Celtics acquired: Derrick White
Spurs acquired: Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, 2022 1st, 2028 1st swap

The Derrick White deal was the primary commerce Stevens made that was met with a good quantity of preliminary backlash. Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 1st spherical choose, and one other potential choose swap for simply Derrick White was not initially fashionable among the many plenty. Hilariously, most individuals have been frightened concerning the choose swap six seasons sooner or later. Fortunately, there’s nothing to fret about anymore. Derrick White has gotten higher by the season and now enters his 2nd full season with the workforce, turning into the de facto beginning PG with Good out the door. His 3-point capturing and courtroom imaginative and prescient have each improved since becoming a member of Boston, including onto his already elite perimeter and rim protection. I believe it’s protected to say that that is one other A+ commerce and a giant win for Stevens.

Grade: A+
Winner: Celtics

Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos

Malcolm Brogdon commerce:

Celtics acquired: Malcolm Brogdon
Pacers acquired: Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, 2023 1st

Trying again on this commerce, it’s a bit stunning that the Celtics have been capable of purchase Brogdon for what in the end grew to become Aaron Neismith and a primary spherical choose. Brogdon had a number of seasons in a row with harm points, so Stevens positively took benefit of his price ticket and bought him for about 75 cents on the greenback. Brogdon was a giant piece of the 2022 Celtics, however his harm points caught as much as him as soon as once more, as his elbow harm severely inhibited his play through the Jap Convention Finals. This can be a powerful commerce to evaluate. It was positively a win of Stevens and the Celtics, however I’m unsure I’d name it the identical stage of success because the White or Horford trades. Let’s grade it a B/B+ for now and reevaluate as soon as the reigning Sixth Man of the Yr is wholesome once more.

Grade: B/B+
Winner: Celtics

Mike Muscala commerce:

Celtics acquired: Mike Muscala
Thunder acquired: Justin Jackson, 2023 2nd, 2029 2nd

We’ll preserve it fast on this one. Muscala was the large ticket acquisition on the commerce deadline for the Celtics and by “massive ticket” I imply it was all they might purchase after buying and selling their 1st spherical choose for Brogdon a number of months earlier. Muscala barely performed, however he did find yourself being a pleasant commerce piece to make use of through the Kristaps commerce. I believe we may give this one a C and provides the Thunder the win since they bought a number of property for Muscala.

Grade: C
Winner: Thunder

And that it’s up to now! Up to now, Stevens has a 4-1 document in his trades with all 4 wins being main elements of his profitable roster with out giving up main long-term property. For me, I say the Al Horford commerce continues to be his most interesting. Flipping the Kemba contract to convey again a man that has outlined an period of Celtics basketball and him taking his sport up one other notch is a factor a magnificence. It set the stage for the three different massive trades he made and his dealing with of Horford the following few seasons shall be a significant a part of the way forward for the Celtics roster. Anyway, it’s been a superb begin to Stevens tenure as Celtics GM. The KP commerce begins the following chapter. Let’s see the way it seems for the boys in Inexperienced.