A couple of days after Sports Illustrated gave the Celtics a “C” grade for their offseason, The Sporting News has declared the C’s one of the winners of NBA free agency.
The Celtics join the likes of James Harden ($230 million deal) and Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti (landing Paul George in a lopsided trade) on the winning side of the NBA's frenzy, according to Sean Deveney.
Boston got the big score of the offseason by signing Jazz free agent Gordon Hayward, pairing him with his former college coach, Brad Stevens, and putting the Celtics that much closer to the Cavaliers in the East. The Celtics now have a core of Hayward, Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas, as well as some young players who shined in summer league—No. 3 pick Jayson Tatum, last year’s No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown and rookies Semi Ojeleye and Ante Zizic. They still have, potentially, two top five picks in next year’s draft, so the Celtics have emerged from this summer with an all-star caliber core of veterans and a budding group of youngsters behind them.
Deveney's biggest “loser” award goes to the New York Knicks and their inexplicable signing of Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year, $71 million deal.