Brad Stevens has consistently tried to build the best team he can since taking over the Boston Celtics' front office, but in this day and age, that requires moving many pieces around while letting others go. While most of these players have not been able to replicate the same success upon leaving Boston, there have been some exceptions.
Some well-known Celtics alumni, like Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III, are coming off pretty good campaigns. The one problem being that in the two seasons prior after Boston traded them, they were extremely limited due to injuries.
There are also players like Justin Champagnie, who has come along decently well since leaving Boston, but before you saw his name just now, do you even remember who he is? Or that he even played for Boston?
That's why we have to be fair about this. The following six players aren't just Celtics alumni who have done the best since leaving the team, but also alumni that you are probably familiar with.
6. Svi Mykhailiuk
Mykhailiuk's time in Boston was brief and not too notable, but the fact remains that he was an undeniable part of the stay-ready group that did their part when Boston was undermanned. When the Celtics called his name, Mykhailiuk did what he could, even if it wasn't all that often.
Since then, Mykhailiuk has spent the last two years in Utah, where he's spent time in and out of their starting lineup. More significantly, after spending the majority of his NBA career as a journeyman, it appears Svi has found a home with the Jazz.
By putting up better numbers than ever before, it's fair to say his career is at a higher point than ever before.
5. Josh Minott
Minott was on the Celtics for a shorter time than Mykhailiuk was, but before he was put in the doghouse - for reasons that weren't his fault - he looked like a breakout candidate in Boston. The disruptive defense was there while his floor spacing proved to be... not too bad.
Stevens traded him because there were too many wings that proved to be more valuable. When it was clear Minott couldn't play stretch-five, he was expendable, so they traded him to Brooklyn, where he took it up a notch.
There's a solid chance Minott will break through with the Nets, especially since they will try to win more games this season. Because he's only been more on the up and up, he got his spot here.
4. Dennis Schroder
Schroder was a low-cost addition that ultimately didn't pan out in Boston. He really is a boom-or-bust player. Unfortunately, because Schroder simply did not fit next to Marcus Smart, he and the Celtics couldn't make things work, leading to him getting jettisoned at the trade deadline.
Since then, Schroder has only continued to be either a diamond in the rough or a complete dud for the teams he has played for. Since Boston traded him, he has been on nine teams in the past four years (that includes Charlotte, who just traded for him).
Even if he was a dud for Houston, Toronto, Golden State, Sacramento, and Cleveland, he gets the nod here because of how spectacular he was in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Detroit.
3. Luke Kornet
Kornet has been one of the best success stories of the Joe Mazzulla era. From one foot out of the NBA to getting an eight-figure contract, Kornet's journey to finding his footing in the NBA has been an inspirational story. One that started with the Celtics and has only continued with the Spurs.
With the Celtics, Kornet proved to be a dependable backup by deserting his three-ball and becoming more of a lob threat to go with his rim protection. Not an elite player by any means, but an excellent fit for what Mazzulla wanted him to do.
His success has only continued in San Antonio, as he played a part in how the Spurs went on their surprise run to the NBA Finals. His consistency from his days with the Celtics to now is why he gets the nod over Schroder, despite Schroder being more impactful when he fits with his team.
2. Jrue Holiday
It's fair to believe that Boston may not have dominated as much as they did or win the title if they hadn't acquired Holiday in 2023. It was such an obvious move that Boston didn't hesitate to extend him even if they knew the window was only two years.
Holiday's impact on Banner 18 was incredibly obvious in that he didn't just replace Smart; he was an undeniable upgrade. For that same reason, it made him all the easier to trade when Stevens wanted to cut costs.
Despite his massive contract, there have been no complaints from the Trail Blazers' end on Holiday because he's only kept up his excellent two-way play Yes, Portland's offseason was quite confusing, but even then, there's no reason to think Holiday will be a problem despite being in his mid-30s.
1. Aaron Nesmith
Nesmith is not as good as Holiday, and he probably never will be, so why is he No. 1? Because his career took off the moment Boston traded him. After a disappointing sophomore season where he got outshined by the likes of Josh Richardson and Payton Pritchard, Nesmith has broken out in Indiana.
Playing at 100% has turned him into a fan favorite and a key cog on Pacers teams that made two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals (where they got swept by yours truly) and then came within inches of winning their first NBA title.
In all fairness, he probably wasn't going to get the same opportunity in Boston. Ironically enough, Nesmith was later used in a trade that caused a chain reaction that led to the Celtics getting Holiday, and the rest was history from there. Even so, Nesmith has been pretty impressive since leaving Boston.
So much so that he has been the most impressive, even he isn't the best player on this list.
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