It might be an exaggeration to say Brad Stevens was fired as coach of the Boston Celtics. But multiple players were reportedly in favor of his exit from the sidelines.
According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, "several members" of the Celtics were "welcoming" a coaching change at the end of the season. Stevens' transition to the front office was announced roughly 12 hours after Boston's season-ending loss to the Brooklyn Nets, in conjunction with Danny Ainge's departure from the organization.
It's apparent the Celtics were never right this season. They stumbled to a .500 record and submitted to the Nets in five games. Along the way, not a single member of the team defended the organization after Kyrie Irving had stepped on Lucky at midcourt. When the series ended, many Celtics players showered Irving with hugs.
There was dysfunction building with the team all season, sources tell Weiss. They say Stevens' relationship with Kemba Walker became especially strained, due to the perception that Stevens was harder on the veteran point guard than other players.
"Several team sources felt Stevens was more aggressive with certain players this season, which included Walker who was criticized for his defensive mistakes," Weiss reports. "Those sources said Walker and Stevens began to butt heads, though the pair were considered to have a productive working relationship and mutual respect for one another."
Earlier this month, a story from Bleacher Report added that Walker became disenchanted with the organization when Ainge was shopping him last offseason. The Celtics traded Walker and the No. 16 overall pick to the Thunder for forwards Al Horford and Moses Brown, in Stevens' first trade as the president of basketball operations.
Stevens enjoyed a strong relationship with Horford, who helped develop the team's previously defensive-minded culture, along with Marcus Smart. That changed this season, as the Celtics were prone to allowing their opponents dominate first halves. Players thought Stevens was favoring Smart over others, and thus, tuned him out.
"Despite the continuity in leadership, several team sources suggest the Celtics' culture of competition is eroding — with more than one source pointing to the players' perceived indifference toward Kyrie Irving stomping on the Celtics logo after the final home game of the season as a red flag they did not exhibit the same sense of pride in the organization that has been the Celtics' calling card in years past," Weiss writes.
In addition, Weiss reports that a player on the Celtics dissuaded Blake Griffin from signing with Boston when the Pistons bought him out.
It's apparent more than the roster needs to be repaired here.
Stevens' first step will be hiring his predecessor, whom players on the team reportedly want to be a person of color. The Celtics granted Chauncey Billups, Darvin Ham and Ime Udoka second interviews, per ESPN.
Whomever the Celtics hire will be tasked with developing a strong bond with Jayson Tatum. The budding star has already seen several friends leave the team, including Walker and reserve player Javonte Green. Tatum is also close with Tristan Thompson, sources tell Weiss.
Though Tatum just signed his super max extension last offseason, players in the modern NBA move around more than ever. There must be an enticing reason for Tatum to stay put.
