Category: .Uncategorized

Does Paul George make the Philadelphia 76ers the Boston Celtics biggest threat in the East?

George will join star 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title.

Free agent small forward Paul George has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. The former Los Angeles Clippers swingman committed during a meeting with Sixers officials this week and will now return to the the NBA’s Eastern Conference to join star 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title.

To talk it all over, CLNS Media reporter Bobby Manning reacts to the move and discusses whether this makes the Sixers the biggest threat to the Boston Celtics in the East next season in terms of title contention.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say about the impact of PG13 to the Sixers.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Report: Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck to sell stake in team

Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck is reportedly looking to sell his stake in the franchise.

According to a report from the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck is planning to sell his stake in the franchise. Fresh off of winning the club’s first franchise in 16 years, change could be on the horizon in Boston.

Grousbeck joined Steve Pagliuca and others in purchasing the club in 2002 for $360 million, and last year Forbes estimated the team was worth $4.7 billion. According to Himmelsbach, the broader ownership of the team will not change. Still, Grousbeck is the principle owner of the club, and has been a big advocate for the team’s aggressive spending in recent seasons to build a championship-caliber club and help Boston return to the NBA finals. The Celtics are expected to have one of the most expensive rosters in the league over the next few seasons, and it will be interesting to see how a regime approaches these financial obligations.

Expect more updates on this to come in the next few weeks.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Woj: Derrick White agrees to four-year extension with Celtics

Derrick White and the Celtics have reportedly come to terms on a new contract extension.

The Boston Celtics have agreed to terms on a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension with guard Derrick White, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a player option, but will keep White in Celtic green for the foreseeable future.

White first came to Boston from the San Antonio Spurs at the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Since then, White has emerged as one of the club’s most important offensive role players thanks to his reliable shooting and playmaking. On the other side of the action, the Colorado native is one of the league’s top defensive guards, and White has landed on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for two straight seasons. Alongside Jrue Holiday, Boston owns one of the most defensively formidable backcourt its in the entire association.

In securing an extension for White, Boston has its core players all locked down for next season. The club will look to defend its title and become the first repeat champions in six seasons.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Spurs rookie Stephon Castle’s favorite player is a Boston Celtic, but which?

Castle looked to the NBA champions of today to name his current favorite player in the league.

Former University of Connecticut champion combo guard Stephon Castle is the future of the San Antonio Spurs’ backcourt. And he looked to the NBA champions of today to name his current favorite player in the league, who just so happens to be star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.

“I just feel like he does so many different things on the court,” said Castle in a recent interview with Sirius XM (via Boston Dot Com’s Trevor Hass). “You can put him really anywhere. He could be the 1 for you, he could be the 4 for you, he’s knocking down shots, playmaking.”

“He’s just getting better, really with his all-around game,” added the UConn standout. “I just like players that are super versatile like that.”

A super versatile player himself, Castle will have the benefit of not being the focus of the opposing defenses when playing for the Spurs alongside rising star San Antonio forward Victor Wembanyama.

And if he ever develops a jumper like Tatum’s, the league will have a very big problem when that team comes to town.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics sign center Luke Kornet to new contract

The Celtics have reportedly inked Luke Kornet to a new deal at the opening of NBA free agency.

Center Luke Kornet is set to remain a member of the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kornet is reportedly signing a one-year deal with Boston, avoiding free agency and instead returning to the Celtics as the team looks to defend its title.

Kornet averaged 15.6 minutes per game during the regular season last year as one of Boston’s key reserves. The Vanderbilt alum also shot 70% from the field and was a steady rebounder. Importantly, he also started in 7 games for the Celtics whenever both Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were sidelined. Given that the latter is set to miss the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Kornet’s flexibility and familiarity with how the team plays will be valuable. In his time with Boston, Kornet has also become something of a fan favorite thanks to his memorable celebrations and post-game press conferences

With Boston’s bloated payroll, the team isn’t likely to make many big splashes in free agency this summer, and re-signing Kornet takes away one of the few unknowns for the Celtics this summer.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Why the Boston Celtics took Anton Watson in the 2024 NBA draft

Watson played 151 games at Gonzaga, averaging 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 23.7 minutes per game.

If you are looking for a reason why the Boston Celtics took Gonzaga forward Anton Watson in the 2024 NBA draft, we have you covered. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning took some time to break down the Celtics’ selection of Watson, picked 54th overall in the second round of the draft on this past Thursday (June 27) night.

Watson played 151 career games (94 starts) at Gonzaga from 2019 to 2024, averaging 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 23.7 minutes per game. He finished his collegiate career with the second-most steals (215) in program history, trailing only John Stockton, and recorded the fourth-most steals in a single season at Gonzaga with 66 steals in 2022-23.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what Manning had to say about bringing on Watson to Boston’s roster.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Porzingis to miss ‘5-6 months’ after successful offseason surgery

Kristaps Porzingis underwent successful surgery on his left ankle and will be sidelined for several months.

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis recently had surgery on his injured foot, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. It is expected he will be sidelined from basketball activities for “5-to-6 months,” the team told Bontemps.      

Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum in his left foot in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals. This is a tissue that keeps in place several important tendons and ligaments in the ankle. and as a result of the initial injury, Porzingis also dislocated his posterior tibialis tendon. He was able to to play limited minutes of Game 5 of the series, but surgery was always expected given the nature of the injury. The initial timeline could see Porzingis make his return around Christmas, but it is too early to know for certain.

Boston was 21-4 with Porzingis sitting during the regular season this past year.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is Boston Celtics alum Rajon Rondo the best floor general of the 21st century so far?

There have not been many (if any) who have equalled his court vision and skill since he came into the league.

Is Boston Celtics champion point guard alum Rajon Rondo the best floor general of the 21st century so far? While there have certainly been giants at the 1 who came before Rondo (and on the Celtics, it is safe to say that the ‘Houdini of the Hardwood’ Bob Cousy and Dennis Johnson were both better), there have not been many (if any) who have equalled his court vision and skill since he came into the league.

To honor the Kentucky alum after his decision to retire as a player, the folks behind the CLNS Media “NBA Legends and Storytellers” podcast put together a clip honoring his contributions to the team and sport more generally.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to see if for yourself.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown named 2024 NBA Finals MVP

Jaylen Brown wins the Bill Russell Trophy after being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.

The Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals Monday night at TD Garden, earning the franchise an NBA-best 18th title. After the game, Jaylen Brown was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, earning the Bill Russell Trophy in the process.

Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists for the series, and was a consistent and crucial offensive weapon for Boston. He also logged 1.6 steals tonight. His defense was arguably more important for the Celtics, as was his leadership. Now the longest-tenured member of the team, he helped guide his team past a high-octane Dallas Mavericks team with relative ease. Outside of Game 4, Boston was the superior club for the entire 2024 NBA Finals, thanks in no small part to the way Brown led his team.

Eleven members of the media voted on the award, and Brown took home seven votes. Jayson Tatum was the only other player to receive a nomination.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Why Kristaps Porzingis could suit up for the Boston Celtics in Game 4

Porzingis has shown some improvement from one day to the next.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told the media recently that star Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis has shown some improvement from one day to the next.

The Latvian center is reportedly fighting hard to play in Game 4 of the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Finals series vs. the Dallas Mavericks in what could very well be a closeout game. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning and Celtics Blog’s Noa Dalzell reacted to Porzingis’ potential return, discussing the impact he could have on the Celtics’ performance and their chances of closing out the series Friday night.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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