Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla (left) shares a laugh with owner Wyc Grousbeck Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics owner pinpoints moment he decided to retool the roster

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 10/25/23

The Boston Celtics have been to an NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference Finals in the last two seasons. The franchise has been incredibly successful during the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era. However, consistency has eluded them at every turn. Stellar stretches of play are marred by strings of inexplicable losses. Losing from a winning position has been a common theme in recent years.

Wyc Grousbeck knew it was time to make some changes. Boston's second-half performance against the Miami Heat in game seven of the 2023 conference finals was the final straw.

“I sat there, probably the whole second half of that game, starting to think about it,” Grousbeck said via WEEI.“Then I took two days because I had everything settled down. Then went and met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla, and we formulated a plan. I just said, ‘We’re not bringing back the same team.'...It’s been two seasons in a row of really good play but inconsistencies. They showed in the Finals two years ago and the semifinals, the conference finals last year. It just felt inconsistent, and I said, ‘I just want to change the mix.’"

The Celtics made some big changes. In came Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Out went Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams. The end of the bench has changed, too. Boston is now widely seen as a championship favorite. They have a roster full of All-Star talent. Tatum is expected to be an MVP candidate.

A significant tax bill is the cost of constructing such a deep team. There is a clear-cut window for the bill to come due, so Boston has to raise a banner in the coming years. Otherwise, the roster could get torn down. Grousbeck and the front office took some big risks. They swung for the fences and put their trust in Joe Mazzulla, and time will tell whether the bet will pay off.

You don't get anywhere by playing it safe. Boston had stuck with their core for multiple years. Alterations had to be made. A new coaching staff. Fresh faces in the locker room. A common goal. Grousbeck and his ownership partners have done their part. They put their money firmly on the table. What happens next is out of their hands.

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