Brad

[timpiker]

As I've been watching the No Names play game after game after game with intelligence, hustle and all sorts of skills, it occurred to me again - THANK GOD FOR BRAD STEVENS.

Way back when for many years I thought Red was the best GM.  Especially after the ways he acquired Parish, McHale and Bird.  Then, over the years I realized that sometimes Red made mistakes.

Then, along comes Danny and I thought he was the best ever.  Even better than Red.

Now, today, I think it's Brad without a doubt.  I love this team.  Brad was a very good coach, but when he took over for Danny, it just proved that God is a Celtic fan.

[aefgogreen]

As I've been watching the No Names play game after game after game with intelligence, hustle and all sorts of skills, it occurred to me again - THANK GOD FOR BRAD STEVENS.

Way back when for many years I thought Red was the best GM.  Especially after the ways he acquired Parish, McHale and Bird.  Then, over the years I realized that sometimes Red made mistakes.

Then, along comes Danny and I thought he was the best ever.  Even better than Red.

Now, today, I think it's Brad without a doubt.  I love this team.  Brad was a very good coach, but when he took over for Danny, it just proved that God is a Celtic fan.

Brad has been awesome but I'm not sure he is better than Ainge.  Danny got us the 2008 ring and than set up 2024 by making moves to get Tatum and Brown - neither of which were the obvious choice. And we've only missed the playoffs once since 2008.  We've been blessed with two strong executives.

[Roy H.]

Both Danny and Brad were / are brilliant executives.  Both could have multiple titles under their belts with a little less bad luck with injuries.

Titles are what bring recognition, but I think that our front office is the envy of every ownership group in the NBA right now.  I don't think that there's a fan or analyst out there that thought it was possible for the Celtics to both get below the luxury tax and contend for the Finals this season.  Brad had to let go of two starters and two rotation players, and somehow got this team better set up to win a title in the near future than if we'd just brought back last year's team.

[aefgogreen]

  Brad had to let go of two starters and two rotation players, and somehow got this team better set up to win a title in the near future than if we'd just brought back last year's team.

And without taking on any bad contracts or trading any first round picks.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

It's fairly obvious to me that he and his team are masters of the CBA and cap, and know how to maximize opportunities with the numbers.

It's also obvious that Stevens and Mazz are fully aligned on scheme and goals.

Those two factors already put the front office as one of the best in the league.

I think he has improved as a talent evaluator over the last decade. It seemed like at the end of the Ainge's time that the team was constantly flush with upside players that were not productive. Brad almost always wrung the most out of those players. But I think that has shaped Brad a bit. He prefers productivity now, even in limited minutes.

Over the next 5-10 years, if he is able to draft a couple more productive players with late 1st round/second round picks, and if he is able to get guys that can be developed like Kornet and Queta, then he would be stringing together one of the best eras for a NBA front office ever.

[aefgogreen]

It's fairly obvious to me that he and his team are masters of the CBA and cap, and know how to maximize opportunities with the numbers.

It's also obvious that Stevens and Mazz are fully aligned on scheme and goals.

Those two factors already put the front office as one of the best in the league.

I think he has improved as a talent evaluator over the last decade. It seemed like at the end of the Ainge's time that the team was constantly flush with upside players that were not productive. Brad almost always wrung the most out of those players. But I think that has shaped Brad a bit. He prefers productivity now, even in limited minutes.

Over the next 5-10 years, if he is able to draft a couple more productive players with late 1st round/second round picks, and if he is able to get guys that can be developed like Kornet and Queta, then he would be stringing together one of the best eras for a NBA front office ever.

He's also been great at selling high.  He traded Smart at his peak. Jrue and KP have been productive when on the court, but staying healthy has been a challenge for them.

[Redz]

It's fairly obvious to me that he and his team are masters of the CBA and cap, and know how to maximize opportunities with the numbers.

It's also obvious that Stevens and Mazz are fully aligned on scheme and goals.

Those two factors already put the front office as one of the best in the league.

I think he has improved as a talent evaluator over the last decade. It seemed like at the end of the Ainge's time that the team was constantly flush with upside players that were not productive. Brad almost always wrung the most out of those players. But I think that has shaped Brad a bit. He prefers productivity now, even in limited minutes.

Over the next 5-10 years, if he is able to draft a couple more productive players with late 1st round/second round picks, and if he is able to get guys that can be developed like Kornet and Queta, then he would be stringing together one of the best eras for a NBA front office ever.

Part of the improvement on evaluation is not just when they pick the right guys and/or do great developing them, but also knowing when to cut their losses with a bust.

[Celtics4ever]

Brad has been a great GM, one of the best.   What he did getting up to the first apron and staying competitive this year is nothing short of wizardry.

Sometimes I think Mazulla is crazy but he is criminally under rated.  He refused to throw in the towel on an off year and held the whole team accountable.


They are great pairing.

[wdleehi]

It is amazing how his draft picks suddenly look a lot better when it came time for them to play.   

[Celtics4ever]

2021-Juhann Begarin (2ND RD, 45TH OVR)
2022-JD Davison (2ND RD, 53RD OVR)

Did not work out but they were late picks.

[Silas]

2021-Juhann Begarin (2ND RD, 45TH OVR)
2022-JD Davison (2ND RD, 53RD OVR)

Did not work out but they were late picks.

Can't win them all...

[tenn_smoothie]

Yes, Danny and Brad have been great, though I expect better than 2 titles in 20 years (given we've had some bad luck).

But to say they are better than Red Auerbach ?  Sorry, No.  Red didn't build two contenders. Red built, from scratch, three championship eras.

Of course, he put together the original Celtics 60's dynasty because he was smart enough to understand the value of Bill Russell and then had the ability to get in position to acquire him. After the 60's teams finally ran out, Red built the 70's juggernaut in just two seasons mostly with genius draft picks (Havlicek, Cowens, JoJo and Chaney) and the acquisition of Paul Silas. The late 70's brought John Y. Brown's ego that almost destroyed the franchise followed by possibly Red's greatest rebuild, drafting Larry Bird as a junior eligible and then executing the most lopsided trade in league history that brought McHale and Parrish to Boston. He also drafted Cedric Maxwell and traded for Dennis Johnson, two crucial pieces of the 80's title teams. Red then made yet another genius move to acquire the draft position to take Len Bias along with picking Reggie Lewis to insure the continuation of title contention, only to suffer the most disastrous losses of any franchise in league history that sent us into the 90's tailspin that took years to recover from.