The Boston Celtics new direction

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Boston Celtics’ New Direction

The Athletic NBA Daily
Date: July 7, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Jay King (Boston Celtics beat writer)

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores the Boston Celtics’ dramatic decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft picks, what drove the move, how it alters both teams’ futures, and what’s next for Boston. Celtics beat writer Jay King breaks down the surprising trade, the context around it, internal and external valuations of Brown, and discusses the team’s reconstructed roster and future outlook.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jaylen Brown’s Trade: The Details & the Fallout

[03:36 – 07:53]

• Trade Details: Jaylen Brown (recent Finals MVP, All-NBA second team) traded to the Sixers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two seconds.
• Brown was a foundational player — “the leader, the guy who set the tone of intensity and who sort of, you know, gave them belief that they could still be great after losing half their rotation” (Jay King, [04:16]).
• Celtics had a strong regular season but faltered in the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead in the first round.
• A cascade of drama began (rumors, public comments by Brown’s confidants, “weirdness and drama” as Jay King puts it).

Key Quote:

“There was just, like, drama and weirdness... And then it all led to Jalen getting traded for a package that was, I think, very surprising to people around the league.”
— Jay King [04:57]

---

2. Why Did the Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown?

[07:53 – 10:48]

• Success with Brown was no longer seen as sustainable due to CBA and salary cap changes:
  • “A guy making $60 million has to be worth $60 million” (Jay King, [07:45])
  • Decreased projected salary cap and CBA “second apron” limitations forced rethink.
• Per Jay King, “the Celtics...felt like they would have a problem if they brought Jalen Brown back next season.”
• Gap between Brown’s self-perception and the franchise’s view.
• Celtics had considered big swings (e.g., Giannis rumors) and canvassed the league for Brown trades.

Notable Quote:

“They clearly reached a point...where they felt like it would not be beneficial for them to bring Jalen back.”
— Jay King [10:51]

---

3. Jaylen Brown’s On-Court Value and Assessment

[09:35 – 12:55]

• Discussion on how numbers don’t fully capture Brown’s impact. Referenced Fred Katz’s critique:

  “If you’re just grading a guy on points, rebounds and assists, you’re doing it wrong. There are a lot of guys who are better than their numbers... and worse.”
  — Fred Katz, cited by Zena Keita [08:20]

• Brown’s weaknesses: turnovers, inconsistent defense, playmaking.
• Counterpoint: winning culture, constant improvement, ability to “bounce back” from setbacks.

---

4. The Sixers’ Perspective: How Does Brown Fit?

[13:28 – 15:57]

• Brown joins Maxey, Edgecombe, and Embiid for a younger, highly athletic core.
• Emphasized the value of Brown’s durability compared to Paul George.
• Sixers can now forge a strong regular season identity and withstand Embiid’s absences better.
• “There’s an identity there that you can have when Embiid is out that will help you get through the regular season.” (Jay King, [14:03])
• Philadelphia’s added depth and youth could translate to playoff success.

---

5. The New Boston Celtics: Roster, Fit, Strengths, and Questions

[19:18 – 28:47]

Paul George & Mitchell Robinson Additions

• Trade for George, but Jay King sees this as less about George and more a “reset” for flexibility.
• Mitchell Robinson: “arguably the greatest offensive rebounder of all time...same [offensive rebound] rate as Dennis Rodman” (Jay King, [20:07]).
• Celtics doubling down on offensive rebounding and three-point shooting.
• Paul George likely in a more complementary role to Tatum; less usage than Brown, but better spot-up shooter.

Frontcourt Evolution

• Concerns about frontcourt playoff viability:
  • Nehemias Queta needs to cut down on fouls, Mitchell Robinson must adjust to bigger playoff responsibilities.
• “They need to prove that that can be a playoff viable front court.” (Jay King, [22:30])

Young Talent and Internal Growth

• Ugo Gonzalez: “Just electric...picks up guys full court. He’s a great defender already…did that as a teenager at 19” (Jay King, [26:23]).
• Other wings to watch: Baylor Shireman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr.
• Celtics saw enough promise to extend Harper, who even started a game 7 in last year’s playoffs—a “crazy move” that reflects trust and depth ([27:29]).

Key Concerns

• Brown’s shot creation against playoff defenses will be difficult to replace.
  • “His ability to just go and get a bucket against the toughest defenses will be what they miss most.” (Jay King, [28:47])
• How Celtics manage “Hack-a-Mitch” with Robinson’s free throws, especially in late games ([24:20]).

---

6. Big Picture: Step Back or a Recalibration?

[29:12 – 31:03]

• Jay King sees similar regular-season results; “They didn’t play with Jayson Tatum for most of last year and won 56 games. Now Tatum is back...” ([29:33]).
• “I actually think they’re more talented right now than they were going into last season.”
• Playoff outlook more uncertain: regular season performance may hold up, but missing Brown could hurt in the postseason.
• Celtics betting on flexibility, cap relief, and pick accumulation to rebuild a supporting cast over coming years.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Celtics’ trade deadline mindset:
  “The Celtics, like, they were open for Jalen Brown business...they canvassed the league...” — Jay King [11:19]
• On Brown’s mentality:
  “He’s a gamer, like, deep in the playoffs. He’s a guy you can trust, is never going to shy away from things.” — Jay King [12:42]
• On Mitchell Robinson:
  “Celtics finished 5th in offensive rebound rate last year... You add [Robinson], they might lead the league.” — Jay King [20:07]
• On the post-trade adjustment:
  “Do I think they’re closer to championship level right now because they traded Jalen Brown for Paul George? No...But in the regular season the difference won’t be as pronounced as maybe it is in the playoffs.” — Jay King [30:17]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:36] — Deep dive begins: Why and how did the Jaylen Brown trade happen?
• [07:53] — The salary cap/CBA backdrop and changing market valuations of stars
• [09:35] — How Brown should be evaluated; cited Fred Katz quote
• [10:51] — “They felt like they would have a problem if they brought Jalen back”
• [13:28] — Analysis: Brown’s fit in Philly and why Sixers prioritized him
• [19:18] — Celtics’ new look: Are George and Robinson enough?
• [22:23] — Celtics’ big man rotation: Queta & Robinson
• [26:23] — Celtics’ young wings: Ugo Gonzalez, roster depth
• [28:47] — Challenges in replacing Brown’s playoff shot creation
• [29:12] — Big question: Does this move knock Boston out of contention?
• [29:33] — Jay King’s season forecast: “I think they’ll be about the same as they were last year.”

---

Conclusion

The Celtics’ “new direction” is less a total reset and more a strategic recalibration for the post-supermax, post-apron CBA world. Though the loss of Jaylen Brown is seismic, Boston has pivoted toward flexibility, young depth, and a more balanced roster. Philadelphia, meanwhile, gets a rejuvenating star in his prime who fits their timeline and needs. The debate now shifts to whether Boston can maintain their status as an elite contender and if Philly’s bold trade is the missing piece.

---

Transcript

[Stamps.com Announcer]

Still waiting in line again, that's time you will never get back. Save time and money with stamps.com over 4 million businesses have skipped the line with stamps.com join them to save up to 90% off carrier rates from your computer or phone right now. Print postage for certified mail, registered mail and packages in seconds. Then schedule a pickup right from your home or office for a limited time. Go to stamps.com and use code podcast for a free welcome gift. Taxes and fees apply.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat, trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots. No unlimited data for $25 a month forever.

[Boost Mobile Store Announcer]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the boost $25 unl.

[SoFi Announcer]

Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing. A SOFI personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a SOFI personal loan. Visit sofi.com stunt to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891

[Dave Dufour]

Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily for July 7, 2026. I'm Dave Dufour, here with Zena Keda and Jay King. Coming up, we're gonna do a deep dive on the Jaylen Brown trade. I gotta ask Jay, what the heck happened?

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

A lot.

[Zena Keda]

What a start.

[Jay King]

That is a very broad question and in this case, encompasses a lot.

[Dave Dufour]

Well, we're gonna. We'll get to that in a second. Jake King, our Boston Celtics beat writer over at the Athletic. Been a minute man. You've been watching World cup, like outside of the Jalen Brown trade fallout.

[Jay King]

Yeah, so I've, I've never really been a soccer guy, per se.

[Dave Dufour]

Yeah.

[Jay King]

But there's not really a lot of sports on the World cup is in the United States. And so I've been watching it. United States actually seems okay at soccer this this year, and so that's pretty cool. Although I have a suspicion that Belgium's gonna knock him out.

[Dave Dufour]

And we're recording this before the Game. So no chance of a spoiler if you guys.

[Jay King]

I'm a Belgium. Belgium believer, unfortunately.

[Dave Dufour]

Oh, interesting.

[Jay King]

Okay.

[Dave Dufour]

You're just a waffle fan. I. Is what it sounds like.

[Jay King]

I would like to see America win, but I just.

[Dave Dufour]

There's also basketball World cup qualifying happen right now. Shout out to the Georgians. They came back from a 22 point deficit to beat Spain as they try to get back into the World Cup. So, Dave, I have a lot of

[Zena Keda]

respect for you for knowing that.

[Dave Dufour]

Well,

[Zena Keda]

he was a coach.

[Dave Dufour]

I got to represent.

[Zena Keda]

I know I don't. It's not just about Georgia. It's just like knowing that the World cup and like there's all these other things that are happening. I'm thinking Wimbledon.

[Dave Dufour]

Toko Shingelia had 37 points. He had five threes. Ridiculous game out of him.

[Jay King]

Legend.

[Zena Keda]

I love it.

[Jay King]

Legend.

[Dave Dufour]

These guys never stop. Yeah, it's amazing. So there's a lot of. Of good sports. I mean, I was watching Serena Williams play tennis last week. It's amazing.

[Jay King]

Get bounced in the first round. That's tough.

[Dave Dufour]

Hey, sometimes you just got to see

[Jay King]

where you're at, you know, that's fair.

[Dave Dufour]

All right, Jay. Speaking of. Okay, where are we at with this man? Jaylen Brown gets traded to the Sixers for. For Paul George. And, you know, two firsts, two seconds. That's not very much for Jalen Brown, who was just sixth in MVP vote, you know, second team, all NBA. He's a finals mvp. He's a conference finals mvp. How did this. How did this happen in this way?

[Jay King]

So there's. There's a lot there, but I will. The last two months in the Celtics for the Celtics were just kind of stunning to me. And the way everything went down with Jaylen Brown from. They have a 56 win regular season. He's amazing during that. His teammates all point to him as like the leader, the guy who set the tone of intensity and who sort of, you know, gave them belief that. That they could still be great after losing half their rotation, including the injured Jayson Tatum from. From the championship rotation. And so they win 56 games. They go up 31 in the first round. Tatum has come back and he looks better than anybody really anticipated. And then they blow a 31 lead. And then there's like just small piece of drama after piece of drama with Jalen starting from that point forward. Basically, his close friend Tracy McGrady came out and talked about how Jalen was frustrated with the Celtics organization. And then TMAC walked that back. And Jalen, you Know said he would stay with the Celtics for 10 years. But it just started, like, from that point on, there was just, like, drama and weirdness. And then it all led to Jalen getting traded for a package that was, I think, very surprising to people around the league that a guy at 29, in the middle of his prime, would go for such a small price and that the Celtics would feel compelled to move him right now with three years left on his contract. I think the reasons for them doing that there were a lot. But it started with. He was up for. Well, it started with their last two playoff exits. They lost in the second round. They lost in the first round. And I think if you look back at the. The team that won the championship in 2024, like, they had an absolutely loaded supporting cast, former all Stars everywhere. They were proven. They were experienced. They had no holes. And to recreate that I think probably would have been impossible given the current CBA limitations and how much Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were now making. And so I think that started it right. Like, how do we get. They were thinking, how do we get back to a championship level if we can't put together the type of team we had that allowed this core to win it? And so I think it all started from there. And then Jalen's value around the NBA, I don't think it was as high necessarily as the general public perceived it to be after he finished sixth in MVP voting. I personally think, like, he's really good at basketball, but there are a lot of questions in today's CBA about, like, a guy making $60 million has to be worth $60 million.

[Dave Dufour]

He's got to be a top 10 player.

[Jay King]

Yeah. And I think there's a gap between where. How much teams actually thought he was worth versus the contract. I don't think there's any. Like, I know the Bobby Marks thing with the front office guy who said Jalen's, like, seventh best. I think most. Most people in the NBA are very comfortable saying that Jalen Brown is very good at basketball and. And that you'd be lucky to have him on your team. But to. To get him means he's at $60 million. And then how do you build a team around him appropriately? That's. That's where the questions and concerns came in.

[Dave Dufour]

I think I saw a graphic on social media. I think it was like, hoop informatics or something like that, that the projected salary cap is about $35 million lower for next season than it was projected to be. Just like three years ago or something. So I also think that that's a big part of this, is that teams don't have the same amount of money to build around these guys that they, that they thought they would.

[Zena Keda]

And also wrote about when it cut the second apron bill and the whole situation with that. I wanted to ask, to go back really quickly, Jay, on your point of assessing Jaylen Brown and how good he's been and particularly how good he is with the right people around him. It makes me think of Fred Katz on slam and Jam over the weekend. And he said, I'll quote him, just talking about Jalen Brown. Jalen Brown had a really, really, really good year this past year. I put him second team, all NBA, et cetera, et cetera. He continues on and he goes, it's like, you know what? I actually watched this as in Jaylen Brown playing. And I'm like, I think everyone is wrong. Like, I think everyone's wrong. If you're just grading a guy on points, rebounds and assists, you're doing it wrong. You're just doing it wrong. There are a lot of guys who are better than their numbers. There are a lot of guys who are worse than their numbers. And if you're just grading a guy on his on offs, you're definitely wrong, too. So you're like, you're all wrong. And I just wanted to know what your thoughts were on Fred Katz and the way that Jaylen Brown's been assessed in this time that he's been with the Celtics and then particularly how he'll be assessed for the success or non success that he finds in Philadelphia. Like, what would be his measuring stick for success in Philadelphia?

[Jay King]

Yeah, look, are there holes in his game? Is it just like the spreadsheet says there are holes in the game? No. Like, the guy turns it over a fair amount. He doesn't. He's not the level of playmaker that a lot of guys of his caliber or have his usage rate are. He can fall asleep off ball defensively and get beat back door and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, I don't think it's a coincidence either that the Celtics just happened to win games every year during his 10 years with the team and went to the conference finals six times and reached the finals twice and won a championship. And by the way, he was finals mvp. Like, so some of the conversation just got out of control over Jaylen Brown and. But like I said, at the same time, the, the Celtics, like, do they look at the numbers? Yeah, of course. Every front Office knows the numbers, but also the people calling the decisions, calling the shots. In Boston, they've watched every game that Jalen has ever played. Brad Stevens was the first head coach of Jalen Brown's NBA career. Like, these guys know his game better than anybody.

[Leesa Mattress Announcer]

And

[Jay King]

the thing that surprised me the most about this whole saga, though, was that they clearly reached a point, the Celtics did, where they felt like it would not be beneficial for them to bring Jalen back. And based on the way that they operated, the urgency that they seem to have through these negotiations and the final price that they accepted, like, it just. It was pretty clear that they felt like they would have a problem if they brought Jalen Brown back next season. And I think, like, at some point, I don't know exactly when that was, but at some point, maybe it was when the Celtics had conversations about Giannis. Maybe it was just the overall approach they took to the off season and how they. Like, it wasn't just the Giannis thing. Like, even before all the Giannis stuff became public, the Celtics, like, they were open for Jalen Brown business, as I would put it. And then after the Giannis stuff, they. They canvassed the league and looked for everything. And I don't know whether it was through all of that, maybe even before all that. And they valued Jalen differently then he valued himself. They, you know, saw they wanted him to go back to playing, having a little less freedom moving forward because Jason Tatum is back and going to be healthy again. But somewhere there was a. A fracture. And I don't think it was like, anything personal on either side. Maybe from Jalen side, it did become personal because of the way the Celtics, you know, treated him. He did say he felt disrespected, but it's obvious that, like, the two sides just weren't on the same page anymore, and that the Celtics felt like they weren't going to be able to get back on the same page with Jalen. And at the same time, like, there's a lot of respect for the way he went about his career in Boston. He always seemed to improve. He's a gamer, like, deep in the playoffs. He's a guy you can trust, is never going to shy away from things.

[Zena Keda]

He.

[Jay King]

If he has a failure, like, he learns from it, he bounces back from it. He never lets it keep. Keep him down. And so he's the type of person I would want to build a franchise around or have around, like, just from. From the standpoint of his competitive makeup. And I think the Celtics valued that. But Also, at the end of the day, I do think there was a gap between how they saw him and how he saw himself, and that that contributed to sort of the stunning way that. That this summer unfolded for them.

[Dave Dufour]

How do you like him in Philly? I mean, how do you like that fit?

[Jay King]

So I think the perimeter guys, I sort of love the fit. Like, they're all. They're all so athletic and tough to stop off the bounce. And, like, I just see. It just feels like there's a vision there. And, like, they can play really fast. They can get up and down the court. Jelen's always wanted to play really fast. I think at times it bothered him that the Celtics didn't play any faster than they did. And obviously, with Maxi and Edgecomb, like, those guys are both going to push the pace, attack, and transition, and then you have Embiid, like, if they can figure things out and. And maximize all those guys, that's so dangerous. And I think also it'll just help them. Paul George. This is why some people thought the Celtics got, you know, the wrong end of the trade here. Paul George has played 60 games once in the last six or seven seasons. I forget which one. And he just hasn't been available. So I think for the 76ers, it will help a lot that Jalen Brown is more available. And even if you go through, you know, Embiid missing time, like, he often does, like, you have three guys that. That you can lean on. I think there's just. There's an identity there that you can have when Embiid is out that will help you get through the regular season. And then if you get through the regular season, you have a better seed. You probably have a better chance at going on a deep playoff run. So I think getting seven years younger for them was really important. There are a lot of reasons that this could go. That this could go really well for Philadelphia. And. And so, yeah, I like it for the 76ers.

[Zena Keda]

What do you think about the depth for Philadelphia?

[Jay King]

Yeah, I mean, the minutes without Embiid are always like. Like, what do they do? How do they survive? And. But now I think, like I said, I just think you can rely on the two young guards, and now you can rely on Jalen Brown so that you have an identity without that. So to me, having four guys like that, of that caliber, I. I'm. I'm into what they're building in Philadelphia. I think they have a chance to be really good, and I think Jalen. Jalen should help them, especially just kind of navigate the regular season.

[Dave Dufour]

All right, we're going to take a quick break and when we're back, we're going to talk to Jay about what's next for the Celtics.

[Leesa Mattress Announcer]

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, but it can also just be full of chaos. I got the NBA draft that we're covering, got all these trades happening and between all of that and kids and everything else happening, I'm trying to enjoy some longer days here and I can feel like there's no time to like really unwind. The one thing that really helps me keep up with everything and get better sleep is this Reserve Hybrid mattress from Leesa. This mattress has become my sanctuary at the end of my long busy day. Leesa has a lineup of beautifully crafted mattresses tailored to how you sleep. Each mattress is designed with specific sleep positions and feel preference in mind. Leesa mattresses are meticulously designed and assembled in the USA for exceptional quality and they back it all up with free shipping, easy returns and 120 night sleep trial. Plus Leesa is committed to eco friendly materials and sustainable manufacturing practices and partners with organizations like Clean Hub to help remove harmful plastic waste from the environment. Plus the Leesa mattress, especially my reserve hybrid mattress that I have, it not only like looks great. When I remember when I unboxed it and showed it to my wife, she was like that's our mattress. But it is so soft. Like I could not wait to get back into my Leesa bed. I was on a trip and slept terribly in whatever the mattress was at whatever the hotel was. And I got home, slept like a baby. I laid down. I was almost, I felt like I almost instantly went to sleep. I was so comfortable. I love my Leesa Reserve Hybrid Mattress. Go to Leesa.com for 25% off plus an extra 50% off with the promo code Athletic MBA exclusive for my listeners. That's L E-E-S A.com promo code Athletic MBA for 25% off plus an extra50 off when you use our code to support the show. Lisa.com promo code athletic NBA.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Announcer]

Shipping, Billing, admin, Payroll, marketing. You're managing all the things so why waste time sending important documents the old fashioned fashioned way. Mail and ship when you want how you want with stamps.com print postage on demand 247 and schedule pickups from your office or home. Save up to 90% with automated rate shopping. That's why over 1 million small businesses trust stamps.com go to stamps.com and use code podcast to try stamps.com risk free for 60 days.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him and carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the non stop group chat trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots. No unlimited data for $25 a month. Forever.

[Boost Mobile Store Announcer]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan.

[Dave Dufour]

Okay, so the Celtics are a much different team without Jalen Brown. This is a different team from that title team. You, you mentioned it. They don't have all the former all Stars filling out the roster. It's a lot of young guys. They don't have a lot of real size. They did sign Mitchell Robinson, but the, the big piece that they're adding is Paul George. Does. Does he fit with what they're doing? Like, do you see him as a. As a good fit on the court? I mean, forget about the contract and forget about the health stuff, but, you know, day one, does he just plug and play right into what they're trying to do?

[Jay King]

Yeah, look, I'll, I'll say this. I don't think that trade was necessarily primarily about Paul George.

[Dave Dufour]

Oh, I doubt it had much to

[Jay King]

do with him at all. Yeah, it wasn't like the Luca thing where the Mavs were like, we need to get Anthony Davis. I don't think this. This was that. That said, I think all the moves the Celtics made this summer should amplify what they already did. Well, and you look at Paul George, he's a better catch and shoot shooter than Jaylen Brown. You look at Mitchell Robinson. Celtics finished fifth in offensive rebound rate last year. He's arguably the greatest offensive rebounder of all time. Like, same offensive rebound rate career wise as Dennis Rodman. And so you add him to that, they might lead the league in offensive rebounding last year. And that was a huge piece of why they finished second in offensive efficiency last year, is that they were incredible on the glass. Some of that went away against Philadelphia in the playoffs, but they shored up their front court, which was a real problem in that series. And now with Keita and. And Mitchell Robinson should be able to keep that going, that offensive rebound rate, that strength for them, keep that going. And then the other piece of this is like, Paul George is a very different player at this stage than Jalen. Like Jalen was by the end of his tenure with the Celtics. Super high usage. And I think Paul George is more of a complimentary, complimentary piece at this age. He's also going to miss just a lot of time. So I think some of that usage will go to Peyton Pritchard. Some of that usage will go to Derrick White. Some of it will go to Jason Tatum. All those guys handle the ball very well. And one of the things that Jalen did poorly was that he could turn it over a little bit. And, and the Celtics, like, they have always been great or they, they. They were great last year at winning the possession game offensively, and I think they're even stronger at that. Like, this team could, could do an incredible job at, at creating more possessions in another team. Does that all. Do all Celtics fans want to hear that necessarily? Like, like, oh, they're going to create a lot more possession. Sweet, bro. How about getting Jalen Brown back? But I think, I think that's a big deal. And, and they should still shoot a ton of threes. They. But the things that they did best last season While they won 56 games, I think they're actually going to do those even better now out of Hugo

[Zena Keda]

Gonzalez or Nehemiah's Kaeda, who has to make a bigger jump to make an impact on what Boston could look like

[Jay King]

next year, I don't think either of them have to make necessarily a jump to make a big impact, but like, they need to prove that that can be a playoff viable front court. Keda couldn't stop fouling in the playoff series against Philadelphia, which was basically the first real playoff action of his career.

[Dave Dufour]

And it's put him on like a backpack man. Like he didn't have. He didn't have a chance.

[Zena Keda]

Not too much. Okay to now don't. Not too much.

[Jay King]

It seemed like, like every game he was picking up two fouls in the first three minutes and putting them at a big disadvantage. And Mitchell Robinson, he's been really good in the playoffs. His offensive rebound rate, I think last year was like 23%, which is unheard of. And for that to be in the playoffs is crazy. Everybody saw the offensive, the free throw, offensive rebound against Victor Wembanyama. That, that basically sealed that series in the finals. But he was behind Carl Towns and, and playing because of that limited minutes, a limited role. What happens when you have to amp up those minutes that playing time.

[Leesa Mattress Announcer]

Right.

[Jay King]

And, and obviously like the Knicks at The end of the day, most of the time, in key situations, they were going to have Carl Towns on the court. Well, you know, the Celtics, it might be a little different where, where he's going to be relied on more. He's going to be on the court more often, and, and so he'll have more responsibilities from that perspective. So I don't think it's necessarily about, like, taking a leap for those guys, but they will have different types of responsibilities and, and Cato might. Might be the same responsibilities, but he has to handle them better than he did in the first round last year. Has to be more disciplined and able to stay on the court.

[Dave Dufour]

I mean, you hit the possession battle thing, and I think, you know, adding Mitchell Robinson certainly is going to age you in that he's also one of the best offensive rebounding passers. So those kick out threes after an offensive rebound, which is basically the most efficient shot in basketball, they're going to get more of those looks. The biggest concern I have, though, is the. The hack. A Mitch, I think, can disrupt the Celtics maybe a little bit more even than the Knicks because just they want to play fast. They want to, you know, try to get stuff in transition.

[Jay King]

I'm going to fight back on that a little bit, actually.

[Dave Dufour]

You are?

[Jay King]

Oh, that's before you get through the play fast. The hack of Mitch Bartles, I think it might be less of a problem. So he was always going to come off the bench behind Towns. Right, Right. The Celtics can just start him. If you're playing him at the beginning of quarters, you're not just going to put him in the. In the argument. And so I think if they do start him, I think that's the most obvious way to turn that into less of an issue. Where, where it could become an issue is like the, the when it. When he was getting fouled late in the games, the Knicks could just go back to Carl Towns, whereas the Celtics, they might actually want him on the court, you know, and so he might be their best center. And so that's when it becomes an issue to me. But, but as far as like, actually stopping people from hacking Mitchell Robinson, I think the easy answer is just playing at the start of quarters, and that's.

[Dave Dufour]

You just got to worry about the closing.

[Jay King]

Yeah, exactly. And then you feel comfortable with Namias Kada, and also that keeps him out of foul trouble, too, and allows him to save up those fouls and be ready for more down the stretch.

[Zena Keda]

Is there anyone that we haven't heard about or we should be Keeping an eye on in terms of their young talent, in terms of any of their more recent picks. I mean I feel like I'm not this year. Yeah, like I, I feel like I have especially with summer league. My guys were in summer league. I feel like I've been kind of out of the loop just listening to NBA daily. But keep us up to date with a Celtics up and coming talent that we should keep an eye on.

[Jay King]

Yeah, I think their young wings are the ones who could all take steps forward. And I think number one is Ugo Gonzalez. He didn't play much in the playoffs last year, but whenever he stepped on the floor it just seemed like he was just electric and he's, he picks up guys full court. He's a great defender already. He can take on the toughest defensive assignments and he did that as a teenager. At 19 he has some holes like his shooting is, isn't great, but he just has a great feel for the game and a physicality, a strength, an athleticism that, that the Celtics are very high on moving forward. Then the other ones I think Baylor, Shireman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. Even Ron Harper Jr. He was on a two way contract for most of last season but they, they just extended him. He'll. And they seem very confident that that f. And when he gets a chance that he'll contribute. And he, he typically did that last year. He started game seven against Philly which was kind of a crazy move by Joe Missoula.

[Dave Dufour]

Insane move.

[Jay King]

But also speaks to the level of confidence that they have in him. And, and so I think that that's one reason too for them that I think adding Paul George and his lack of availability isn't as much of a concern during the regular season because they do have a super deep crop of wings and they had guys that even guys that weren't playing many minutes at all last season like Ron Harper Jr. Like if you need to push those guys into action, I think when Paul George misses 30 or 40 games, whatever it is this year, that, that they'll be fine during the regular season. It's, it's the playoffs when losing Jaylen Brown and his shot creation I think is going to be become an even bigger issue because one thing Jalen did like he had some bad series, the 20, 23 series against the Heat. But if you look at the overall picture, he was one of the few guys who was able to keep his efficiency in from the regular season into the playoffs. And that's a really tough thing to do against top defenses and going as deep as the Celtics did so many years. And so I think that his ability to just go and get a bucket against the toughest defenses will be what they miss most at the end of the day.

[Zena Keda]

Should we expect Ugo to play in summer league this summer?

[Jay King]

I think he is playing in summer league. Yeah. He also played, he's playing for Spain in on their national team. So he's going to be pretty busy this summer.

[Dave Dufour]

Just lost to the Georgians, which just

[Jay King]

lost to the Georgians after a huge comeback.

[Dave Dufour]

I don't know, in case you guys missed that, just.

[Zena Keda]

Oh, there it is. Full circle.

[Leesa Mattress Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jay King]

Shout out to Toko Shanghal. That's right.

[Dave Dufour]

Okay, Jay, look man, before we go this was this a huge step back or a small step back? One way or the other you got, you lost the best player in the deal. But have they made other moves and do you believe the internal growth will make it so that this is not, you know, this is not a play in team next year?

[Jay King]

I think they'll be about the same as they were last year. I think Mitchell Robinson was a huge addition to their front court like they went into last year with, with Luca Garza as their number two. Totally unproven at that time. Now you can feel comfortable in him as an innings either during the regular season at least. And then I think like at the end of the day, they didn't play with Jason Tatum for most of last year and won 56 games. Now Tatum is back and, and you, you did add Paul George. Like I actually think they're, they're more talented right now than they were going into last season. You can also like their, their young guys could all take a step forward. And so I think there are a lot of ways to growth for them. But at the end of the day, like, do I think they're closer to championship level right now because they traded Paul George for Jalen Brown? No. Or Jalen Brown for Paul George? No. That said, they're hopeful that with the flexibility that they get moving forward with the picks that, that they added that they'll be able to, to build a, a better supporting cast and eventually allocate their resources better and hopefully build a championship team. That's their hope. But I like, like I said, I think regular season wise the difference won't be as pronounced as maybe it is in the playoffs.

[Dave Dufour]

Guys, go and read the Kid J. King over at the Athletic. He'll have a big story on the Celtics and Brad Stevens press conference after the Jaylen Brown trade. That'll be up on the website today for Jay King and Zena Keda. I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for waking up with us. Thanks for listening. Make sure you hit the subscribe or Follow button so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed it, drop a like, leave a rating or let us know in the comments. Thank you guys for waking up with us.

[Stamps.com Announcer]

Still waiting in line again. That's time you will never get back. Save time and money with stamps.com over 4 million businesses have skipped the line with stamps.com join them to save up to 90% off carrier rates from your computer or phone right now. Print postage for certified mail, registered mail and packages in seconds. Then schedule a pickup right from your home or office for a limited time. Go to stamps.com and use code podcast for a free welcome gift. Taxes and fees apply.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him Carrier contracts tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge edge of the box. He cuts past the non stop group chat trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots no unlimited data for $25 a month forever.

[Boost Mobile Store Announcer]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan.

[Jay King]

Lemonade multi Pet Discounts are way better than Multi Pet Group chats.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Announcer]

Hey, it's Bubbles. Your cat. Your idiot dog, Jingles just barfed up a sock puppet.

[Jay King]

Hey, it's Jingles. I'm fine. Just that stupid sock was looking at me fun. Oh, he's doing it again.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

Jingles.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Announcer]

He ate it again and puked it up again. He might need a vet.

[Jay King]

Yeah, I might need a vet. With Lemonade Pet insurance, you save 10% per policy when you protect multiple pets. Get a'@lemonade.com pet.