BGleas

I think they have a pretty long leash. Wyc and Danny love Stevens, and they don't make decisions on fan pressure. With that said, 9 years is a long time for an NBA coach. Wyc and Danny know that this season isn't on Stevens, its more on Ainge. But, I think if Ainge leaves it will be a mutual agreement to retire, not a firing. But I think Wyc believes in him, and Danny can get this back on track quickly. I've actually always thought there was a greater chance that Danny would retire and Stevens would become President/Coach, than there was of Stevens coming back to college.

I do. Knowing them first hand,, there's no way imaginable that came from the Celtics PR people. I think Stevens probably thought he was speaking directly to the Boston media and trying to be funny. Those pregame media sessions are not scripted, etc. But there's zero chance the Celtics PR people told him to do that. Though I do think Indiana fans are blowing it out of proportion.

Definitely not that. I worked for the Celtics head of PR for 5 years. He's the senior most PR guy in the league. Has been there since '84. Hugely respected in the NBA by players, coaches, etc. Absolutely, 100% not his style. He's the epitome of laid back, nice, and keeping it simple.

Yeah, I think you're wrong. NBA players expend an incredible amount of energy. Since you've said you don't watch the NBA, you're probably just not seeing it. Take Stevens own team, Marcus Smart is constantly diving for loose balls. The guy puts his body on the line every time he steps on the floor. And, Stevens has already "lasted" in the NBA. Its rare that a coach remains with the same franchise for 9 years, and he's been one of the top coaches in the NBA over that time.

My bad...doing multiple things at once.

Sorry, should I delete my post?

I'm 99.99999999999% sure the Celtics would have to publicly announce a change to his contract terms. Not the actual terms, but that they renegotiated his deal. On the other point, Wyc and Danny don't care what the fans think as far as the coach. I dont mean they don't care about fans, but they don't operate by fan pressure. They never have. They love Stevens and were always going to try and keep him.

There's not much better than Boston in the spring when the Celtics are in the playoffs and baseball season has started. The weather is gorgeous, the city is popping and there is so much to do.

That would be a Celtics-Stevens thing, not a Celtics-IU thing. I know Ainge has this perception of being a jerk, he's literally one of the nicest dudes. I've been around Wyc and Danny, if they love you they're not going to treat you poorly (player trades notwithstanding). They have a saying in the front office, "once a Celtics, always a Celtic." They love Brad and if he wanted to leave for IU they're not going to rake him over the coals to squeeze a few bucks out of IU. I'm not eve sure its possible for IU to pay a pro team to get their coach?

What could the Celtics possibly get from IU? The rights to IU's next one and done? The Celtics own Stevens NBA rights, but Stevens is free to resign and go coach a college team if he wants.

Going on the fly here, but I can't think of an instance of an NBA team just releasing their coach who they want to keep and is under contract, so that he could go sign with another NBA team? I can't imagine Ainge is trying to get something from IU.

Ok, my bad. Your use of the phrase "the Celtics forced the Clippers..." came off as if you were implying the Celtics were doing something unreasonable or wrong. They did Doc and the Clippers a favor. The Celtics didn't want Doc to leave, but Doc expressed he didn't want to be part of a rebuild.

You make it sound like Danny was doing something wrong? The NBA isn't college. NBA teams can't poach other NBA teams coaches. The pick the Celtics got for letting their coach who was under contract go was completely reasonable.

Great to hear from you, HH!! It's been a number of years since I worked there, but my direct boss is still the Head of PR for the Celtics. You're exactly right, this isn't something they would send a press release on. The head of PR, Brad, Danny and probably the owner would huddle on how Brad and Danny should answer the questions, that's about it. It is a bit striking to me that the hard, 100% not happening answer has not happened yet.

Thanks! I hadn't read all the posts when I replied.

More importantly probably for whether that dinner took play is that I believe it would have been against the NBA Covid protocols.

That's where the private planes fly out of in that area. Also, if he's really stepping down to take the IU job, which I still think may be a long shot, he'd be working with the Celtics on that exit. Regardless, even if this is all coming together, id be really surprised if Stevens was flying to Indiana today.

Yes, this is the airport the Celtics use. I've been on the team flights.

Hanscom Airforce Base is where someone with the Celtics would fly out of from Boston.

Yeah, this is true. It was the first season Hayward was back from the leg injury. 2018-19. The year Kyrie said he was re-signing and then everything fell apart during the season and they lost in the first round to Milwaukee. Stevens started Hayward the entire season when he clearly wasn't ready. I think the organization thought Hayward would round into form, but it never really happened until the following season (last season). They even had Brown coming off the bench sometimes because of it.

Haha! I'm trying to be balanced. Like I said earlier, I can't lose, either way Brad Stevens is coaching one of my favorite teams. Its also been a long time since I worked for the Celtics, but most of the same people are all still there. So I'm by no means an insider, but I do know how those people think and typically operate from the inside. With that said, I don't think the timing has ever been better for a Stevens/IU marriage. While i know Danny and the Celtics ownership love him, and the rational fans love him, 9 years is still a long time for the NBA. I still don't think it will happen, but the timing seems as close as it has ever been, but if it does it will be Stevens' choice, not the Celtics firing him.

The honeymoon isn't over for Wyc and Danny though. I'm just saying, Wyc and Danny don't operate by fan pressure, they never have. Fans were screaming for them the fire Doc from 05-07 and it was never a consideration. Stevens might be coming to IU, I don't know one way or the other, but I'm pretty certain it won't be because the Celtics fired him or fan pressure. This is the best the timing has felt for Stevens/IU, but if he comes it will be because Stevens thinks the timing is right. I'm 99% sure the Celtics aren't firing him anytime soon.

The Celtics are getting healthy too. They've had the 4th most starting lineups in the NBA due to injuries and Covid. Kemba missed the first part of the season, then Tatum had Covid, then Smart got hurt, and then Brown was in and out. Now Thompson has been contact traced. They've had a lot of people in and out of the lineup, and Smart just came back a few games ago and is still on a minutes restriction. Not saying Stevens won't leave, but its been a very up and down year roster wise.

The fanbase is not done with him. Some knuckleheads on Twitter are not the fanbase. The Celtics ownership and Danny Ainge also don't make these decisions based on upset fans on forums or Twitter. I was there when fans were screaming for Doc Rivers to be fired (pre KG), and it was never even a discussion in the front office. Never even a conversation. The owners and Ainge loved Doc and believed in him, its the same with Stevens. That doesn't mean Stevens won't take the job, but Celtics fans on Twitter will not be a reason that Celtics move on from Stevens.

Either way, I get Brad Stevens coaching my team!! For real though, he's not getting fired. Celtics Twitter can scream all they want, the vast majority know Stevens is a good coach, one of the best in the league. Wyc and Danny don't operate on fans being upset. They're not firing him. It would have to be Stevens deciding he's ready to come back to Indiana. I'll admit, his comments pregame sounded different than when the IU job was open last time, and Dolson seems much different than Glass last time. But, I still see this as a long shot.