Tonight's NBA Draft Is Easily One Of The Most Important Nights Of Brad Stevens' Tenure Running The Boston Celtics

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It's not exactly a secret that the Celtics are currently going through their "retooling" phase. In the last 48 hours, we've seen them offload Jrue Holiday and his contract for Anfernee Simons, yesterday they salary dumped Kristaps Porzingis, and they now enter tonight's NBA draft with a couple of additional 2nd round picks and financial and trade flexibility that comes with no longer being hamstrung by 2nd apron restrictions. 

Those were the two steps we all knew were coming ahead of the Draft, and now here we are. We knew these steps were coming because in the NBA, everything is about leverage. By getting under the 2nd apron ahead of the draft, the Celts don't have to do anything drastic from a 2nd apron/salary perspective. They don't have to make a trade just to make one, or even overpay on a Draft night trade because of their constraints. That shit is over and is why this is where things truly get interesting when it comes to the future of the Boston Celtics and what they might look like when Jayson Tatum returns from his achilles, whenever that ends up being. 

Since Brad Stevens took over, there really hasn't been any pressure on the draft. In his first year running the show, the Celts picked at #45 (Juhann Begarin), who never played a second for the team. In 2022, they again picked in the late 2nd round, taking JD Davison at #53. He also has been a non-factor. In 2023, we saw Brad trade down several times in the 2nd round to accumulate assets and draft Jordan Walsh, someone who also hasn't really played. Last year was the first time Brad Stevens ever had a 1st round pick selection (Baylor Scheierman), and his 2nd round pick (Anton Watson) has already been cut. 

The point is, given the roster's composition and the team's status at those drafts, Brad's picks were largely inconsequential. If he hit on one, great. If not, whatever, it's a 2nd rounder.

Now in 2025, with how the roster looks and the new CBA world in which we now live, that is NOT the case when it comes to this year's Draft. 

This is an inflection point in the entire direction of the franchise that Brad Stevens now has to navigate. There are essentially 3 paths to go down in my mind.

Path #1: Trade high salary players (Jaylen/White) for younger player and a fuck ton of picks, including high lottery picks this year

Path #2: Keep those players, make smaller moves to move up slightly in the draft

Path #3: Stay where they are and make picks at #28 and #32

You could also see him offload some expirings (Niang) for future picks etc, but to me, those are the 3 main options, all of which come with their own level of pressure.

If it's Option #1, it's a franchise-altering decision. Not only do you have to get the young players right, you absolutely need to not just draft a good player with that lottery pick, it needs to be an All NBA level player. For a GM that hasn't made a pick above #30 in his entire GM life, that's certainly risky. Can he do it? Sure! But the immediate Draft history is spotty at best, even while accepting the fact that the picks from prior drafts are almost always nothingburgers all throughout NBA history.

Option #2 feels plausible, especially if you combine what people are saying and the rumors of the Celts being interested in trading up

Path #3 may not be "sexy" but that doesn't mean it isn't important. I also wouldn't be surprised if Brad found a way to trade down (or future 2nds) to accumulate some additional 2nd round picks in years 2027-2030, seeing as how at the moment the Celtics do not own a single 2nd round pick in any of those 4 years. Let's not forget what he had to say in 2023

Given this new world we live in, the time has come for Brad Stevens to show that he can evaluate draft talent and then hit on picks. You essentially have to walk out of tonight with at least 1 rotational player through the draft. Not just because of positional need, but you also need playable players who are on cost-effective contracts. Getting under the 2nd apron was huge for right now, but you're going to be forced to go back over once Tatum is back and you retool this team. That is why tonight is so important.

If this is the "reset" season, then you cannot swing and miss tonight. You got one shot to recalibrate, and a huge part of what that looks like depends on how tonight goes. 

That's why no matter how you slice it, this is easily the biggest night of Stevens' GM tenure. Whether you think that's resulting in a MAJOR move like Option #1 or some sort of combination of #2 and #3, that is now their reality. You could make the case that the entire future and direction of the franchise comes down to whatever Brad Stevens decides to do tonight, and I don't think you'd be being dramatic. 

No pressure. Good luck!