Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck has given President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the front office the green light to do whatever it takes to bring an 18th banner to the TD Garden rafters in 2023.
That could seem to indicate that deals previously thought to be off the table could happen. And by that, we’re talking about swings like Bojan Bogdanovic — who’d cost several role players, draft capital, and Danilo Gallinari’s deal — not a core-breaking star-for-star swap.
Grousbeck told NBC Sports Boston that he’s all about this year, not about two or three years from now (h/t MassLive):
"“The conversation that I had with Brad is: It’s about this year. It’s not about this will pay dividends in three years or this will do this next year. It is this year. Muscle up and let’s go get the job done. That’s his instructions, and that’s what we’re going to try to do. If there’s anything to do, we’ll do it. If not, we love this team. We’re top of the league right now.”"
Why Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck isn’t worried about the future
NBA title windows are precious because of how scarce they seemingly are — minus the ageless Golden State Warriors and physics-bending LeBron James. Teams typically don’t have unlimited chances at breaking the glass ceiling. It seems the Boston Celtics are particularly vulnerable because of the built-in volatility of Boston media and the pressure imposed on the team’s two star players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to make it work.
The C’s window won’t be open forever, and things could take a quick downturn if the team continues to struggle together to finish the job heading into Brown’s 2024 free agency after next team.
Going too aggressive could cost the team assets, but there are enough tradeable talents to recoup that over the next five years. Hearing Grousbeck green light the front office to spend whatever it takes to win should be music to the ears of Celtics fans that know there are higher levels the team can reach with the right addition(s).