Boston made a move for the former Washington Wizard before NBA free agent begin

The Boston Celtics have experienced a lot of success in recent years, but they still haven’t won a title. They’ve made the playoffs nine times in a row and have had several chances to win their 18th championship in the last two seasons.

The C’s came up just short against the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals, losing in six games after squandering a 2-1 series lead. As the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in 2022-23, Boston had another shot at a championship. However, heartbreak ensued when the Celtics failed to overcome a 3-0 series disadvantage against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

While the championship window is clearly open in Boston, the Celtics must climb over the hump. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck acknowledged in a recent interview with The Boston Globe that something has to change for the C’s to ultimately reach their ultimate aim.

Boston made a move for the former Washington Wizard before NBA free agent begin
   Boston made a move for the former Washington Wizard before NBA free agent begin

“The general tone was, how do we take this energy we’re feeling right now that was built up over having two good seasons but then didn’t get all the way,” Grousbeck explained. “It would have been OK if we had all agreed to keep things the same. However, the thought of bringing in another skilled big came up early in the conversation, and we ended up carrying it out.”

That “talented big” was star center Kristaps Porzingis, who was signed by the Celtics before NBA free agency began. To acquire the 2018 All-Star, the front staff had to make the difficult decision of trading point guard Marcus Smart, the team’s longest-tenured player, to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Grousbeck’s comments, interestingly, provide some light on how close the C’s were to sticking put. If another star couldn’t be found, Smart would have stayed, and the club would have looked very similar to what it did last season. Instead, the Celtics acquired Smart in exchange for veterans Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala, leaving Grant Williams without a viable role on the club.

The acquisition of Porzingis set off a chain reaction, but as Grousbeck pointed out, prior Celtics teams failed to reach the championship game. Porzingis has had huge health difficulties throughout his career, so this shakeup poses a significant danger for the Green Team. If the three-headed monster of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis can hoist a banner, the loss of Smart and others will not be in vain.

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