The Celtics midseason acquisition of Grizzlies middle Xavier Tillman will present them with defensive versatility and frontcourt insurance coverage in case Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford need to miss time.
However past the on-court analytics, the commerce implies that Lamar Stevens, who spent almost six months in Boston and shortly turned a beloved man within the locker room, is now not a Celtic.
Jayson Tatum stated Stevens’ absence was notable after final evening’s Celtics victory over the Hawks.
I requested Jayson Tatum in regards to the emotional influence of the Celtics shedding Lamar Stevens:
“To get up from my nap earlier and see that he bought traded was powerful. The locker room type of did really feel empty as we speak, coming to the sport and he wasn’t right here.”
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“To get up from my nap earlier and see that he bought traded was powerful,” Tatum stated. “The locker room type of did really feel empty as we speak, coming to the sport and he wasn’t right here.”
Joe Mazzulla stated that Stevens took the information of his commerce in stride.
“It’s at all times a tough dialog when guys put a lot time in, and also you get to know them from the start of the 12 months, you see him each single day,” Mazzulla stated. “However he was good about it, and I believe simply the best way he carries himself, the professionalism that he has — he by no means missed a day.”
Lamar Stevens spent the primary three years of his NBA profession in Cleveland, the place he turned a rotation participant. Final season, he began 25 video games, averaged 18.1 minutes an evening, and earned a fame as a gritty defender.
There was hope he would crack the Celtics rotation this season, however in addition to for a number of restricted alternatives, he usually solely noticed the courtroom in blowouts. In all, Stevens performed simply 122 minutes for the Celtics this season, capturing 46.7% from the sphere and 37.5% from three, albeit in a really restricted pattern measurement.
Nonetheless, Stevens was one of many leaders of the Keep Prepared group, the self-described time period for the end-of-bench gamers who discovered to embrace an unpredictable function that entails being ready to contribute when your quantity is named, but in addition understanding that as prepared as you might be, a possibility may not come.
Once I spoke to Lamar Stevens final month, he advised me he was actually having fun with his time in inexperienced and embracing the teachings he was studying throughout the Keep Prepared group. Guys had been centered on serving to the staff win, and staying affected person within the course of, one thing he had by no means seen earlier than.
“That is the primary time in my profession I’ve been part of one thing like this,” Stevens stated. “It’s all in regards to the course of – simply having fun with the method, getting higher, and never worrying about when the chance could come or the way it could come, however simply understanding that every day, you’ve ready your self to the very best of your potential. From there, every thing else will handle itself.”
His favourite a part of being a Celtic was the unwavering presence of followers on the street: “It’s like a house recreation, and I believe that’s tremendous cool,” he stated. “Even simply enjoying at TD Backyard, our followers are subsequent stage — simply that vitality, and it’s not even simply once we’re right here. I believe that’s tremendous dope.”
Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have frequently confused the significance of bringing in guys who match the locker room and prioritize successful over their very own private success. It’s a notion that Lamar Stevens wholeheartedly embraced.
“I speak to among the guys about that on a regular basis, only for us to have all of the expertise that we do have and for there to be no points, it’s unimaginable,” Stevens stated a month in the past, at a ladies’s empowerment occasion he spoke at. “You don’t actually see that that usually. Brad did a terrific job placing the precise group of fellows round one another, that get pleasure from coming to work, that get pleasure from getting higher, that put successful on the forefront of every thing.”
Stevens’ absence will possible be missed by pundits and analysts on condition that he didn’t play a visual function within the staff’s on-court success. However Jayson Tatum nonetheless described him as a “key man on our staff” when reflecting on the commerce final evening.
“Possibly he didn’t play as a lot, however his persona, how arduous he labored….” Tatum stated in yesterday’s postgame presser, trailing off. “He was a terrific teammate, and all people cherished Lamar. Hopefully at his subsequent cease, he will get a possibility, as a result of he works extraordinarily arduous and we’re going to overlook him.”
Payton Pritchard, who Lamar Stevens advised me was certainly one of his closest pals on the staff, echoed Tatum’s sentiment.
“Lamar is a good teammate, nice particular person, arduous employee, a real professional,” Pritchard stated. “We valued every thing he introduced, want him a lot success. Only a true professional. Confirmed up on daily basis, labored his tail off, he bought higher, by no means complained about something, and was a terrific teammate.”
Now, Lamar joins a Memphis staff that has been depleted with accidents this season, and could possibly be confronted with elevated minutes, notably within the close to future.
“I’m excited for him,” Joe Mazzulla stated. “He’s excited for the chance, and I’m glad for him.”