Brad Stevens knows the Celtics need to make changes this offseason if they want to stay in contention among a group of improved rosters that will seek atop the Eastern Conference next season.
But no one should expect the president of operations to overly upset a team he sees close to finishing the job after falling two wins short of the NBA title.
“We have to walk a fine line. I think teams are fragile, I think the way teams operate together is delicate,” Stevens said Tuesday. “I think identity as a team, when you find one that is successful — which we did this year defensively and when we were at our best offensively — it’s a fragile thing. If you only add players you take something away from the group.
Although Stevens is pleased with the way the Celtics rebounded from an 18-21 start to the season to clinch the second-seeded spot in the East and the Conference title, he believes the slow start was key to the Warriors overtaking them in the finals.
“When you start 18-21 you have to fight to make the playoffs, get a good seeded spot, home court,” Stevens acknowledged. “You have to do everything and without margin of error.”
It means they had fewer breaks during the season, and the manager believes that affected the team — especially star Jayson Tatum, who didn’t produce the same numbers in the Finals as the rest of the playoffs.
Stevens will look for another point guard to join the group of Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, as well as develop the bench.
If Boston wants to add outside pieces, Stevens said the front office has been given the go-ahead to spend what is needed. But having the permit doesn’t mean he intends to exceed the ceiling of what he called “limited resources.”
The Celtics barely managed to get under the luxury tax before this season’s trade cap and don’t expect to break it unless absolutely necessary.
They have just one second-round pick (53rd) before the NBA draft on Thursday. But they also have three trade exceptions up for grabs totaling $30 million, including the remaining $17 million they created by signing and trading Evan Fournier last August.
