Year after year they somehow retool around Tatum and Brown or other stars and other teams help them. This year it was Porzingis and Jrue for Smart (injured), Brogdon (injured), Rob Williams (out for year), and a few first rounders that will be worth dust. Last year, they got Brogdon for Nesmith and a first rounder, there’s the Cavs giving them Kyrie for a busted IT and the Nets pick, the Spurs gifting them Derrick White for dirt cheap value of Langford, Josh Richardson, a late as hell first rounder, and a 2028 swap, Suns giving them Isaiah Thomas for a first rounder. Not really understanding why teams keep doing bad business with this franchise
I don’t root for the Celtics, but I like their mindset.
Though it’s definitely worth noting that Smart and R. Williams weren’t injured when they were traded, Boston has showed they aren’t just cool with keeping “status quo.”
They’ve been one of the best teams in the league the last few seasons. They have as many NBA titles during that stretch as my daughter’s 5th grade team.
They (the Celtics - not my daughter’s team lol) could have just run it back this season with the same squad, but knew they needed to switch it up.
I also like that Milwaukee did the same thing. Though their core had won a title together, it appeared they maxed out. Giannis being praised as the best player in the league (though Jokic may well have that now) for many seasons and only having one Finals appearance isn’t enough. Now, will swapping Jrue for Dame lead to more Finals appearances? IDK. But, they had to do something different.