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.

[Moranis]

Brad is better overall than Danny.  Far too often I felt Ainge held out for a homerun when a couple of singles would have been fine. Or he'd make poor moves because he didn't like a guy (like that terrible Antoine trade when he came in). He had to win every trade and every move by a wide margin.  That was especially true after the Ray/KG moves.  Then when he'd pull the trigger he stopped and didn't go far enough (like getting Kyrie but not the 2nd star) or he had to everything be on his timeline (like not getting PG until Hayward was signed).  The success of Ray/KG just made him very fickle.  Now it worked out when he traded PP/KG to the Nets, but I do think Boston should have had more than 1 in the Danny era. 

Brad came in with an excellent starting point because of Danny, but Brad is not afraid to make moves. He will trade a 1st to get Horford even if that 1st ends up being Sengun.  He will trade the longest tenured Celtic (Smart) to balance the roster.  He will trade popular players that were crucial to the championship to better position the team long term (Jrue).  Brad will actually pull the trigger, but does so in the right moves. 

Both great gm's, but I'd take Brad if I had a good starting point. We've not yet seen Brad rebuild so hard to say how he would do with that, but I would trust him in that process as well. 

[Vermont Green]

I vote Red the best ever.  Different era, but Red did it all.

I was happy with Ainge and I am happy with Brad.

Ainge had a period where he was going for guys like Ricky Davis.  He seemed to learn from that and self-correct, but he had to work through some bumps.

[aefgogreen]

We've not yet seen Brad rebuild so hard to say how he would do with that, but I would trust him in that process as well.

This is the key for me - you are absolutely right that Ainge holds out more than most would. I think he's of the philosophy if he turns down a deal another one will come around. It's frustrating, but it is also the reason we got Tatum and Brown. I agree that both are great GMs. Until I see Brad through a rebuild, I'm giving the (slight) edge to Danny.  I can see why others disagree with me, and I certainly wouldn't fault them for it.