There was a common denominator that led to the Celtics’ downfall last season that ultimately ended with their painful Game 7 loss to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals: Defense. Inconsistency on that end, to be specific.
“It was the issue,” Malcolm Brogdon said. “I think this was a team in the last year that prided themselves on defense. I think defense was our calling card. This year offense was our calling card. I don’t think you win championships with … a better offense than you have a defense.”
The Celtics relied too much on 3-pointers and couldn’t rely on their defense consistently. They suffered too many breakdowns. They weren’t tough enough over seven games against Miami. The C’s needed to get better defensively as they went back to the drawing board to plan their championship pursuit next season.
But less than a month into the offseason, the Celtics – at least on paper – have objectively gotten worse defensively.
In the matter of two weeks, the Celtics have traded away both Marcus Smart and Grant Williams, two of their most valuable defenders. Both certainly weren’t perfect, but their best attributes aren’t easy to replicate. While Smart admitted that his defense slipped this season, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year returned to form in the playoffs as the quarterback of the defense and set the tone with tough hustle plays.
Williams may have fallen out of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation, but over the last two seasons had emerged as arguably the Celtics’ most versatile defender, unafraid to take on difficult assignments such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetekounmpo and Joel Embiid, and succeed in those matchups.
Call it a necessary sacrifice as the Celtics build their roster under the new collective bargaining agreement and its salary cap limitations. Brad Stevens acquired Kristaps Porzingis to improve his team’s roster balance at the expense of Smart, and Porzingis’ presence made it unrealistic to bring back Williams and his sizable contract – reportedly four years, $54 million – into a crowded frontcourt.
The Celtics certainly have many capable defenders left. Derrick White was a selection on the All-Defensive second team. Jayson Tatum is an underrated defender. Robert Williams, when healthy, is one of the best defensive bigs in the game. Al Horford, even at his age, has shown to be impactful. But the departures of Smart and Grant Williams will require everyone to step up their game. Their weakened depth will be challenged. Barring further moves, guys like Sam Hauser and Oshae Brissett will have to help fill the void.
The Celtics still have the talent to be a championship contender. But in Smart and WIlliams, they’ve lost a couple of pieces of their DNA, personality and defensive identity that they need. That will be hard to replace.
Other notes and thoughts in the aftermath of the Grant Williams trade:
– Barring any more big moves this offseason, the Celtics have a couple of open roster spots but not much money to spend. Who could they add to fill out the roster? How about bringing back Blake Griffin?
Griffin is an unrestricted free agent after his one season in Boston, where he played admirably in a reduced role and was a favorite in the locker room. The 34-year-old loved being with the Celtics as he chased his first championship and he didn’t cost much at $2.9 million, so a reunion isn’t out of the question as the free agency smoke clears.
The Celtics could use some insurance behind their top three bigs – Porzingis and Robert Williams have injury histories and Horford will likely sit the second night of back to backs again – and Griffin played well in spot starts throughout last season. He could help fill the hustle void left by Smart. Griffin led the Celtics with 15 charges taken last season despite playing just 569 minutes.
– The departures of Smart and Williams aren’t just a loss for the Celtics. On a lesser note, it’s a loss for Celtics media members, too. Williams was last season’s recipient of the Jeff Twiss Award, which is given to the Celtic who goes above and beyond their regular media responsibilities with exemplary kindness and professionalism. Smart and Williams were two of the most accessible players on the team, and almost always available for interviews in which they were always thoughtful in their answers. That’s certainly appreciated by the media as we aim to tell great, detailed stories and offer the proper context about what’s going on with the team.
– Next on the Celtics’ to-do list this offseason? It’s almost certainly hashing out Jaylen Brown’s supermax extension. Brown – who was an All-NBA selection last season – was eligible for the five-year, $295 million supermax beginning on July 1 but an offer and deal has not been completed yet. That is likely, at least in part on the Celtics’ side, because there have been more pressing, time-sensitive items to do first, like the opening of free agency and the Grant Williams trade. Brown and the Celtics are expected to begin talking at the Las Vegas summer league which starts on Friday, according to the Globe.
– The Celtics begin summer league action with games on Saturday and Sunday against the Heat and Wizards, respectively. The roster is headlined by 2022 second-round pick J.D. Davison and Justin Champagnie, who signed with the C’s last season. It will also serve as a first look at Jordan Walsh, who was the No. 38 overall selection in last month’s draft. Dalano Banton, the 6-foot-9 guard who reportedly signed with the C’s on Monday, is also joining the summer league roster, per the Globe.
Walsh and the Celtics agreed to a four-year, $7.6 million deal on Thursday, according to HoopsHype.