For the first time since becoming the Boston Celtics' President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens can offer a relatively expensive contract either via sign-and-trade or offer the non-taxpayers mid-level exception of $14.1 million. This will actually be a rather intriguing subplot this summer because Stevens' history with free agents is surprisingly complicated.
To start this off, Stevens has had an eye for finding diamond-in-the-rough free agents who have worked out pretty fantastically for Boston in the long run. The best examples of this have been Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta, all of whom came along quite nicely in the Celtics' system.
There have also been others who turned out much better than anyone could have anticipated because of the low expectations going in, like Blake Griffin and Luka Garza. It's not like Stevens has always hit bulls-eyes with his low-cost signings, but his track record in that specific regard is impressively extensive.
Where it gets odd is that the bigger names Stevens has added in free agency for more substantial money have actually backfired on the Celtics.
Both times Boston added a big name on big money, it didn't work out
It's actually been a few years since Stevens had a substantial enough sum to offer a free agent. In fact, he's only had the opportunity twice in 2021 and 2022. Who did he add with the MLEs at his disposal? Dennis Schroder and Danilo Gallinari.
Celtics fans don't remember those two very fondly. Schroder is a wild card of a player who proved himself to be a clunky fit in Boston. Before Boston had even traded him, it had become pretty clear he was never going to figure himself out with the team.
Gallinari was more of a tragic tale because he actually never got to suit up for the Celtics. Tearing his ACL in the FIBA tournament weeks before training camp was about to start, Gallinari (who grew up a Celtics fan) became nothing more than salary fodder in the Kristaps Porzingis trade in the end.
So Stevens doesn't have the best track record when trying to add players in that specific context. Now, he's presented with the opportunity to add someone potentially better with even more money.
The sneaky twist about this year's free agency class is that it's not that good. The very few free agents who definitely deserve to be paid the full non-taxpayer MLE likely won't be available either. Isaiah Hartenstein would make sense, but that appears not to be an option, and he would have been among the best options.
It will be interesting to see how Stevens approaches this offseason. He knows that Boston has to choose wisely with free agency. He's been pretty on the money on guys he's brought in for pennies, but hasn't had the same luck with guys he's actively paid, though one could argue that wasn't on him.
Stevens has definitely earned the trust of the fanbase because his moves have more often than not worked out wonderfully. This summer will be the opportunity for him to show how smart he is when it comes to spending the money he has at his disposal.
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