It doesn't take much digging to figure out why Brad Stevens won't be coaching the Celtics next season. You just have to listen to his words.
At the Celtics' semi-virtual press conference Wednesday, Stevens was asked numerous times about his stunning move to the front office. While he mostly offered banalities, his phrasing was telling. Stevens said numerous times he wants to do what's best for the organization, which apparently means no longer coaching this underachieving bunch.
"We decided that was what was best," Stevens told reporters. "I told Wyc (Grousbeck) at that moment, my no. 1 thing is if it's good for the Celtics. I love the Celtics. I want to do what's best for the Celtics, and I really have enjoyed coaching. I loved coaching the players, both at Butler and here. But this is the new challenge, and this is what we need to do to hopefully be even better."
According to the Celtics-approved timeline, Danny Ainge started seriously talking with Stevens a couple of months ago about taking over his role — right around the time Ainge says he decided to leave the team. That takes us back to the NBA trade deadline, when it was already apparent the Celtics wouldn't be making another championship run. They were too hurt, undermanned and inconsistent. Worst of all, they didn't appear to give much effort on the defensive end — a previous hallmark of Stevens-led squads.
Later in the presser, Stevens basically acknowledged he lost the locker room this season. He paraphrased the old Theo Epstein mantra about the importance of changing scenery after a prolonged period of time.
"I've been doing this for eight years," Stevens said. "I've been in that locker room with some of those guys for a long time. They're going to get to play for a great coach with some similarities maybe, but also some great new fresh perspectives. I think that's a good thing. People can be reinvigorated by that."
There you have it. Stevens said the Celtics could be "reinvigorated" with a new coach, implying the vigor ran out with him at the helm. The proof was in their miserable play.
With years left on Stevens' contract, the Celtics probably felt compelled to try him in a new role. As Grousbeck said, his basketball brilliance is immense, which further begs the question: Why is a brilliant basketball mind in the prime of his coaching career quitting so he can haggle over the mid-level exception? This is what great coaches do when they're in the twilight of their careers, ala Pat Riley or Bill Parcells. Stevens is 44.
The most sensible answer is, the decision was made for him. Stevens all but admitted it.
