Early February signifies one of the busiest periods on the NBA calendar as teams prepare for the impending trade deadline.
Although Boston’s big trade addition came on the eve of training camp this season, when the team acquired Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trailblazers, that doesn’t mean Brad Stevens isn’t looking to improve a roster primed for championship contention.
However, landing a significant game-changer without disrupting the current rotation presents challenges.
Despite surpassing the luxury tax threshold and being among a handful of teams over the NBA’s second apron, ownership has granted Stevens the “green light” to expand the team’s payroll. Utilizing the $6.2 million Traded Player Exception generated from the Grant Williams sign-and-trade during the offseason presents the most efficient means of adding to the team, as the TPE can consume a player earning that amount or any lower figure.
So, if Boston is to make a move, which many suspect they will, that player wouldn’t necessarily be considered a needle-mover. Instead, provide some insurance on the back end of the bench.
Stevens previewed potential inactivity at the deadline when speaking after practice last month. Noting that the team could look to improve from within and that the deadline addition could “already be in the building.”
Stevens discussed the financial burdens the team would face if they were to make a move while emphasizing the delicate balance between enhancing talent and preserving team cohesion – a perspective echoed by people around the league, as reported by Heavy.com’s Steve Bulpett.
According to Bulpett, a league source advised caution to the Celtics. “‘I’d be afraid to mess up what they have,’ he said. Adding later that the loss to the Lakers might end up being a good wake-up call for [the Celtics]. They seem like a real together group from the outside, and I’m getting the same thing from a few of their guys that I’ve talked to. I mean, if you can go out and get someone who you’re sure is going to make an impact on your rotation, you’ve, obviously, got to do that. But how many of those guys are going to be available? And what’s it going to cost you?’” writes Bulpett.
Getting an entire locker room to embrace the concept of “sacrifice,” a cornerstone for the Celtics, is no simple task. Everybody on the roster understands their role, leading to the team thriving. Something that can’t be said about some of these exceptionally talented “super teams” we have seen in recent years.
The fragile nature of team dynamics is often overlooked. Yet, it’s a consideration the Celtics are mindful of as they strive to position their team for success, an element underscored by head coach Joe Mazzulla after practice on Tuesday.
“Not to say that, you know, there are bad people, but I think when you develop a locker room character over the course of the season, it’s very hard to replicate,” Mazzulla said when asked about what there is to preserve in the locker room.
“Then I think really just familiarity. I think one of the keys for a roster and locker room is for role guys to find their niche within a team, within a system. And really, you know, the relationship between your stars and the role players and the trust they build amongst each other is super important. I think both parties really facilitate that trust in that relationship. So, having a change will kind of start that process over. And then obviously, just the language, offensively and defensively, the culture aspect of it. So there’s just a lot that goes into it.”
Within the Celtics, there’s a solid unity in the locker room that spreads across all levels of the team, and that should not go unnoticed.
“Everyone is so together from top to bottom. It’s just great, man. Everyone’s just such good vibes,” Dalano Banton told WEEI.com last month. “It’s so family-oriented. Everybody is so together. I feel like everybody is on the same page. Everyone knows what they need to do in order for us to be successful. That’s what’s been great for us from day one.”
“Everybody cares for one another. From the top to bottom, we have great guys in that locker room,” Derrick White added Tuesday. “We definitely got a special locker room.”
It’s reasonable for Celtics fans to seek insurance at the deadline, especially considering the health concerns surrounding Porzingis and the durability of 37-year-old Al Horford. Yet, the reality is that there is simply no way to replace the impact of those players if something is to happen, especially considering the tools Boston has to work with.
Furthermore, both Stevens and Mazzulla have expressed confidence in the current makeup of their roster. After all, they have no reason not to be.
“I’m very comfortable with our roster and very confident in one through 17,” Mazzulla said Tuesday. “Everybody on our roster has done something to impact winning, and that’s the most important thing. So that’s kind of my focus.”
While it would be a surprise if the Celtics don’t make a minor trade, it will likely be a relatively quiet trade deadline for Boston.
“At the end of the day, like, we have one of the best teams in the league, and I think we have one of the best rosters,” Mazzulla said. “So my focus is to try and maximize that, and I think that’s kind of the mindset you have to have.”
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