Celtics’ Brad Stevens sends bold statement after Boston trades for St. John’s RJ Luis Jr., signs Chris Boucher originally appeared on The Sporting News
Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens is not punting on the 2025-26 NBA season after Jayson Tatum’s potentially campaign-ending Achilles tear in May during their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the New York Knicks. Boston lost in six games after losing Tatum in Game 4.
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After his latest round of wheeling and dealing – one that followed a painful parting of ways from Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in June – Stevens has built a team that’s low on cost, but certainly not low on long, athletic players.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Celtics traded Georges Niang and a pair of future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie St. John’s Red Storm product R.J. Luis Jr.
Luis is on a two-way contract.
In a subsequent move, the Cs signed Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, per Charania.
In one fell swoop, Stevens offloaded an expiring contract to lower the tax bill, landed a high-ceiling rookie who costs nothing to employ or release, and signed a stretch/rim-protecting big for minimum money. One who wears a championship ring at that.
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Stevens knows what winning looks like, two years removed from the franchise’s 18th title.
His front office moved the needle in that direction, with or without Tatum in the lineup this coming season.
Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Jaylen Brown, Boucher, and Neemis Queta can produce enough points and protect the rim well enough to compete for a postseason seed in a weak Eastern Conference. Especially with a second unit teeming with intriguing young talent like Luis, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo González, with a mix of championship experience in Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Assuming the latter two aren’t moved as well.
The frontcourt leaves a bit to be desired still, but who knows what Stevens has cooking up next.
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Boston will not just become a rebuilding team. Stevens gave Joe Mazzulla enough to keep their heads above water without Tatum.
With No. 0 back? All of a sudden, the Cs have a sky-high ceiling if enough things break right.
