The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks met in the NBA Finals last year. The folks in green won the tilt, but that was generally expected. Dallas wasn’t. They persevered through a difficult Western Conference and defied expectations to reach the Finals. So, when it came time to make roster changes over the summer, they took a major swing.
Klay Thompson signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks, abandoning his longtime team, the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks struggled with off-ball shooting at times during the 2024 postseason, so it made logical to bring in one of the best shooters of all time.
Adding NBA talent is impossible—but not for the Celtics.
An anonymous Eastern Conference executive recently spoke with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, saying that Thompson’s fit in Dallas has appeared clumsy thus far.
“Klay has been an awkward fit so far,” an Eastern Conference executive explained. “Derrick Jones shot the ball better and played better D for them last year.”
Concurrently, a scout informed Windhorst that nothing could be determined until the playoffs.
“Klay has been fine,” one scout reported. “His impact will be determined in the postseason, and if he has a few big games, then no one will remember what he shot from 3 in November.”
Regardless, the fact that a player who appeared to be a perfect match next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has been wobbly demonstrates one thing: adding skill in the NBA is difficult.
Players who appear to be ideal fits in a certain environment are frequently unsuccessful. That’s why what the Celtics accomplished last offseason is so astounding.
Boston added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to a core that has been together for years. Furthermore, it marked Joe Mazzulla’s first full offseason as head coach.
But when the season arrived, things seemed good. Holiday returned to a limited offensive role, focusing more on a new defensive style (mostly as an off-ball roamer), whereas Porzingis adopted a more post-heavy style of play.
Everything appeared to be running smoothly, and they went on to win the NBA Championship in one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
While many teams in the NBA struggle to locate talent that complements their stars, the Celtics did the opposite. Thompson could be a perfect fit by the playoffs, but for the time being, things are a little odd.
In just a few months, Boston discovered two amazing pieces that match their stars. They have the greatest front office in the NBA, as seen by Thompson’s fit in Dallas and other league-wide moves.
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