Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 Brad Stevens' strategy is quite clear. Keep the Celtics very competitive this season while setting the financial stage for next off-season to make a solid push for Banner 18. The three new acquisitions (Kris Dunn, Josh Richardson, Enes Kanter) are all on expiring deals this coming season. Jabari Parker has a team option this season. Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard and Carsen Edwards all have "Team Option" attached to their 2022-23  contracts. Marcus Smart will be in the final year of his latest contract this season, and no information is coming out relative to an extension. This all equates to the Boston Celtics potentially having some real cap room this summer.  The free agent class for summer of '22 includes James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal - all having a player option. Julius Randle and Zach Lavine look to be unrestricted free agents. It appears that the Celtics are looking at that one-year perio...

      Brad Stevens as a coach was known for taking many different pieces and ingredients and making them work as a cohesive unit early on in his Celtics coaching days. It's like a masterful chef who can turn leftovers into an award winning dish. Later in his coaching career he had the top of the line ingredients and some of those meals weren't up to standard. Now as we watch him develop in his new role, what do we think?      He was able to unload Kemba Walker and his albatross of a contract for basically Al Horford, who in his time, brought a lot of consistency to Boston. This past week he traded away Tristan Thompson who spent a ton of time on the Covid list for Kris Dunn who may, if still on the roster, bring some toughness and defense off the bench.. Following that, he traded for Josh Richardson who always seemed to kill the Celtics. Maybe now that he's wearing Green, he can take it to other opponents as well.       Richardson is...

 Recently-acquired 6'3" guard, Kris Dunn , may supply the defense sought by Brad Stevens , but his durability comes into question. Dunn, taken at number-5 in the 2016 NBA draft, was never expected to be a major scorer, but his defense and facilitation prompted the high-lottery pick . His best season occurred in his sophomore season with Chicago when he averaged 13.4 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.3 RPG and 2.0 SPG . The trouble is that he never has produced those numbers in the following seasons as injuries continued to plague him. Brad Stevens always seeks the 4-Ds in his pick-ups - defense, durability, dollars (right contract) and dimensions (vertical, as in height). Kris checks only two of the boxes - defense and dollars ($5 million expiring deal). But that may suffice if he can avoid injuries and stay on the court. At 6'3" and 205 pounds, he does not present a significant liability on defense, and he could fill some critical minutes this coming season - although Stevens may ...

 Thursday's quiet draft night for the Boston Celtics has turned quickly into a trade whirlwind, starting with sending center Tristan Thompson on his way while acquiring Kris Dunn . The Celtics are trading Tristan Thompson to Atlanta for Kris Dunn, and a 2023 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021  You may remember that many Celtics fans were promoting Dunn as the Celtics choice for the number-3 pick, when Danny Ainge instead went with Jaylen Brown . Kris will earn $5 million this season in the final year of his contract. Now we have B rad Stevens working a deal to bring Josh Richardson to Boston. The 6'6" guard/forward fits right in with Boston's all-wing corps. The Dallas Mavericks are finalizing trading G/F Josh Richardson to the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . Richardson is exercising his $11.6 million player option for the 2021-22 season for the deal. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 31, 2...