5 Boston Celtics who definitely shouldn’t be back next season

Joe Mazzulla

This one should ruffle feathers. While Mazzulla led the Boston Celtics to within a game of the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season — one that he wasn’t expected to be the head coach of the Celtics in until right before training camp –, he also failed to have his team ready for a Game 7 that only happened because his team was ill-prepared for the series at the start of it.

Mazzulla is a net positive for the organization as far as the Houdini can tell, but his best role was proven to be that of an assistant coach behind Ime Udoka. Given Brad Stevens’ view that Mazzulla is a mentee of the C’s President of Basketball Operations, it’s tough to see Mazzulla leave the organization right now.

But hiring a proven name could be the best way to raise the championship ceiling in 2023-24, and the market does have several intriguing names (Doc Rivers, Frank Vogel, Mike Budenholzer) with proven track records available.