The Boston Celtics will hope to have two of their primary contributors healthy in time for the start of the NBA season.
The Boston Celtics are heading into another NBA season as one of the favorites but will need their roster to stay healthy to push for a title. Kristaps Porzingis and Malcolm Brogdon have spent the summer dealing with injuries and GM Brad Stevens has given a health update on the players and the entire roster.
“Everybody’s in Boston, everybody’s healthy, knock on wood. If everybody gets through the rest of the week, we should be full next Tuesday when we start practice. We’re excited about that.”
Stevens specifically spoke about Porzingis’ current health situation after the Latvian missed the FIBA World Cup due to plantar fasciitis.
“Kristaps has been running up and down the court the last few days. I thought the progression that his trainers there [in Latvia], our trainers here, and everybody came up with to get him back so that he could avoid anything lingering was key. He feels great. I just literally talked to him on the phone on my way here. He said he feels good.”
Porzingis was acquired in a trade this summer where Marcus Smart went to the Memphis Grizzlies. Initially, the trade saw the Celtics try and send Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers, but injury concerns meant the deal fell through.
Brad Stevens Opens Up On Malcolm Brogdon’s Situation
The Celtics tried trading away Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers in the summer, just a few months after Brogdon was awarded Sixth Man of the Year in his debut season with the franchise. Brogdon’s injured elbow led to the deal falling through and leaving bad feelings for the guard who knows the team tried to get rid of him. Stevens has commented on that and said Brogdon has reconciled with the franchise.
“Of course, and I would say he had every right to feel [upset]. We said that this summer. But he’s a real pro and so we’ve had several discussions. He’s looking forward to getting started. We’re looking forward to getting started and here we go.”
Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists last season, and was one of the Celtics’ key contributors in the regular season. Unfortunately, his elbow injury meant he averaged only 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in the playoffs. He couldn’t help the Celtics, as they crashed out in the Conference Finals yet again.
Brad Stevens’ True Feelings On The Roster
Stevens was the man behind the audacious moves the Celtics made this summer in a bid to break the championship hump. They’ve been contenders since before they drafted Jayson Tatum but have only one Finals appearance to show for it. Thankfully, it seems Stevens is coming into the season optimistic about their chances.
“I like this team. We’ve been lucky that year in and year out we’ve been in the mix and we have a chance. We’ll see if we take all the appropriate steps to put ourselves in that position. But we have a lot of flexibility. We can play big and small. I like obviously our experienced guys that everybody knows their name. I like those guys a lot, they can help lead it.
Stevens also admitted he feels a sense of urgency in making this team win a championship. With Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis already having signed extensions, the Celtics will hope to win and give Tatum good reason to continue staying with the franchise in years to come.
