Recapping the offseason for the Boston Celtics
It’s another optimistic season for the Boston Celtics. After losing in six games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals “last season,” the team believes they have all the necessary pieces to gear up for another championship run.
With that being said, let’s take a close look at a recap on how the Celtics offseason went.
1. Taking care of Jayson Tatum
It was only necessary that Danny Ainge took care of his franchise player. Midway through this past season, Jayson Tatum showed big emergence as he was showing the all-star caliber talent that he has.
Tatum’s 23.4 points per game were what was the driving force in the Celtics’ season and what put them in a position to nearly take the crown as the Eastern Conference Champions. Tatum signing a five-year, $195 million extension shows me that he is devoted to bringing a championship back to Beantown. With the pieces he has around him, that goal could be made sooner than later.
2. Adding Tristan Thompson
Last season, I believed that Boston needed another consistent big man next to Daniel Theis. There were key moments in games where I felt that size was a disadvantage for Boston and that it would have benefitted them in many ways.
Adding Tristan Thompson is the perfect signing. Thompson is a career 8.7 rebounder per game who will get physical under the basket to protect the glass. Thompson’s presence in the rotation along with his championship experience could take Boston over the hump as Eastern Conference Contenders.
3. The drafting of Aaron Nesmith
Trust me, the loss of Gordon Hayward is a tough one to swallow. But the future is ahead with new rotation players ready to step up.
Aaron Nesmith is a fantastic catch-and-shoot player who can come off of screens to free himself open. His terrific perimeter shooting could become a huge factor in the Celtics’ success as he could become a huge contributor off the bench. Nesmith showed huge improvements in his few seasons at Vanderbilt. Playing under Brad Stevens could unleash his maximum capabilities as an offensive player.
The Celtics believe they’re the best team in the East. With teams like Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Miami, and others remaining a threat in the playoff race, the Celtics will look to use their familiarity with one another along with their new additions to overcome the challenging conference that they’re in. The spotlight will be on them to figure out how to get back to the NBA Finals.