Does having Brad Stevens help the Cs attract high profile free agents?

[kiwiceltic]

Most of us will agree that the Cs are 1 or 2 'star' players away from contending again. There have been countless discussions on this forum about this, and the ability of the Celtics to attract these top players during free agency.

With Brad Stevens now considered among the 'top tier' coaches in the league, does his new profile help attract the top free agents that the team needs?

If I was Greg Monroe, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, DJ etc and was looking at signing elsewhere i'd much rather be coached by Brad Stevens than Derek Fisher, or Byron Scott.

I know there are many other factors involved, but surely having a coach with magical powers helps!

[mef730]

If being coached by Brad Stevens comes with a max contract, it might.  If not, Stevens won't matter.

Brad Stevens is a fantastic coach.  I'm sure he's a swell guy.  But from what I've seen, location, chance of winning a championship and the green (and I'm not talking about the 17 banners) are the most influential factors for free agents.  And we fail at the first two, as far as free agents are concerned.

kiwi, I really hope that you are right and I am wrong!

Mike

[kiwiceltic]

If being coached by Brad Stevens comes with a max contract, it might.  If not, Stevens won't matter.

Brad Stevens is a fantastic coach.  I'm sure he's a swell guy.  But from what I've seen, location, chance of winning a championship and the green (and I'm not talking about the 17 banners) are the most influential factors for free agents.  And we fail at the first two, as far as free agents are concerned.

kiwi, I really hope that you are right and I am wrong!

Mike

That is exactly what perplexes me the most... maybe my mindset is totally different than almost every player out there, but I would rather play for a great coach at a legendary franchise for less money, than take a max deal in a warmer climate/bigger city.

[PhoSita]

I'm sure that it helps.

Not nearly so much as being in New York, Miami, or Los Angeles, or having one of the best 20 players in the league on the roster.

[mef730]

If being coached by Brad Stevens comes with a max contract, it might.  If not, Stevens won't matter.

Brad Stevens is a fantastic coach.  I'm sure he's a swell guy.  But from what I've seen, location, chance of winning a championship and the green (and I'm not talking about the 17 banners) are the most influential factors for free agents.  And we fail at the first two, as far as free agents are concerned.

kiwi, I really hope that you are right and I am wrong!

Mike

That is exactly what perplexes me the most... maybe my mindset is totally different than almost every player out there, but I would rather play for a great coach at a legendary franchise for less money, than take a max deal in a warmer climate/bigger city.

I think a lot of it is a lifestyle issue. 

Part of it is also the fact that you tend to compare yourself to your peers.  In other words, If you are getting paid $17m per year, you don't think that you make more than all but 0.00000001% of Americans.  You think about the fact that you are getting paid less than somebody else.

Part of it is that some of these players grew up with nothing.  Unfortunately, we also know that being paid tens of millions of dollars means that you won't end up with nothing, either. 

Part of it is visibility and endorsements.  You'll make more in endorsements out of NY or LA than you would from Portland.

And the rest of it is stuff that I haven't thought of. 

Mike

[CelticGuardian]

Most of us will agree that the Cs are 1 or 2 'star' players away from contending again. There have been countless discussions on this forum about this, and the ability of the Celtics to attract these top players during free agency.

With Brad Stevens now considered among the 'top tier' coaches in the league, does his new profile help attract the top free agents that the team needs?

If I was Greg Monroe, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, DJ etc and was looking at signing elsewhere i'd much rather be coached by Brad Stevens than Derek Fisher, or Byron Scott.

I know there are many other factors involved, but surely having a coach with magical powers helps!

Brad Stevens brings his collegiate experience with him, treats young guys as equals. So yeah he does attract the up-and-coming young players like Jimmy, Greg, and Tobias. It will be interesting to see what Ainge manages to get this summer.

[GC003332]

Depends does the said big time free agent want major minutes and on the offensive side of the ball, want the offence run through him??
Is this Brad Stevens system set in stone or flexible with the infusion of big time talent?
These are questions that free agents may ask when and if the time comes.

[Celtics4ever]

I think players look for a coach after, title chance/good players to play with, money and location.

[JHTruth]

Very few coaches would ever be a major factor in a major FA decision. Coaches get hired and canned all the time, the chances of a player playing for the same coach over a three-year deal are very small. If a star signs with a team and it's a bust, the probable outcome will be a coach firing, not a trade. For better or worse, it's a star's league

[JHTruth]

Depends does the said big time free agent want major minutes and on the offensive side of the ball, want the offence run through him??
Is this Brad Stevens system set in stone or flexible with the infusion of big time talent?
These are questions that free agents may ask when and if the time comes.

If Brad Stevens system isn't "flexible" with big-time talent, he won't be in the NBA coaching ranks very long. This isn't the NCAA..

[Lucky17]

When Gordon Hayward hits free agency again, maybe.

[Evantime34]

While Stevens might not be a huge factor that draws a player to Boston, I think he will be a huge asset for any player that agrees to take a meeting with the C's.

[kozlodoev]

Depends does the said big time free agent want major minutes and on the offensive side of the ball, want the offence run through him??
Is this Brad Stevens system set in stone or flexible with the infusion of big time talent?
These are questions that free agents may ask when and if the time comes.

If Brad Stevens system isn't "flexible" with big-time talent, he won't be in the NBA coaching ranks very long. This isn't the NCAA..

From everything I've seen, Brad's idea of "flexibility" will probably involve playing Kevin Love for 29 minutes if we signed him.

[Ilikesports17]

I don't expect brad to help us bring in established stars. They gravitate towards the guys like doc. Where brad could help is with the rising guys yet to realize their potential. For example I think a guy like Khrid Middleton might be drawn to the C's whereas established stars probably not so much

[LarBrd33]

If we manage to trade a handful of assets for an all-star, it will make it significantly easier to bring in quality free agents.

I think typically free agents aren't lining up to join a below .500 basketball team that just got easily swept by a contender.

But on the flip side, the Celtics are a premiere NBA franchise.  We might not have as large a market as New York or LA, but I have to imagine we have a National fanbase size that rivals any team in the league.  I think last year the Celtics ranked 5th in Facebook and Twitter followers in spite of being a bottomfeeder team.   It's an east coast team with a rabid national fanbase that will never be ignored by media if it's a quality basketball team.  Even the team's worst players generate a following.  It's a good team to play for if you're looking to make money off endorsements.    We have never in our history had cap space to sign free agents.  It's possible it will be rather easy for us to attract players.   We have some of the same advantages as the Red Sox and Patriots. 

From what I have read, players around the league respect Stevens.  He's already seen as one of the best coaches in the league.  The team has built a winning culture in spite of not having winning talent.  We also have one of the best GM's and ownership groups in the league.  Players know that Boston will do everything possible to be a winning organization and they have competent people at every level.   I think free agents will have to consider us.