Ahhh the NBA off-season. Full of trades, signings, and moves that really change the hierarchy of the game.

We’ve already seen some big names being moved. According to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarwoski, Russell Westbrook will be heading to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are hoping to add one more title before the aging LeBron James (will be 37 in December) finally decides to call it a career- but that’s a story for another day.

Once Danny Ainge was out the door and Brad Stevens came in, it was a real shock to see what our future would hold. However, Stevens has wasted no time in making moves. Now I may be a prisoner of the moment in saying this, but, I already like what Stevens has done in these two moves more than what Ainge has done these past two years.

Stevens’ first order of business was hiring new Coach Ime Udoka. Udoka was a former NBA player known for being a defensive rough rider and made scrappy plays. Similar to a Tony Allen/Marcus Smart type. Udoka spent time as the Spurs assistant coach from 2012-2019, the 76ers assistant coach from 2019-2020, and the Nets assistant coach from 2020-2021. Udoka is hoping to change the culture of the team and offer a fresh voice. It was no secret that Jayson Tatum and the crew seemed to have tuned out Brad Stevens towards the end of last season. It was time to bring in a new face and offer a different perspective. And, it helps that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown approved of the hiring.

Stevens next order of business was trading Kemba Walker and bringing back an old familiar face in Al Horford. The move allows us to be more flexible financially in hopes to bring in a third star to pair alongside Tatum and Brown.

And now, just last night, reports from ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic NBA Insider Shams Charina stated that Tristan Thompson was part of a 3 team trade with the Celtics, Hawks, and Kings. The move sends us Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando, and a 2023 2nd round pick. The move is similar to Kemba’s deal, which gives the Celtics some room to breath now being $3 Million under the luxury tax.

Dunn can provide the team with size at PG. Remember, Kris Dunn was drafted the same year as Jaylen Brown, and many Celtics fans wanted Dunn instead of Brown. Dunn’s career hasn’t been what many had hoped, but can still *hopefully* be a solid rotational piece to a team without a current starting PG. Fernando was never really given a chance in Atlanta, so Stevens may see him as a rotational piece as well.

The other move Stevens made last night was using the rest of the Gordon Hayward trade exception. There was about $11 million left over in the trade, so Boston used it to acquire SG Josh Richardson from the Dallas Mavericks. Richardson, 27, is a defensive minded guard who can also be a decent playmaker and score when asked to. He had a really rough season last year in Dallas, but I never saw him fitting well there to begin with. He can be our starting 2 guard and play off the ball to create more opportunities for Tatum and Brown, and be strictly a perimeter defender.

With Free Agency opening up in a few days, Stevens now must make the decision on Evan Fournier. He is seeking $19-20 million in free agency, and it may be in our best interests to S&T him rather than bring him back. Bringing him back would log jam our back court with these new moves, unless Stevens has other tricks up his sleeve. For now, Stevens must make a decision on whether it’s worth bringing him back, and finding a quality Point Guard to add to the roster.

Brad Stevens has wasted no time making moves. Is it too early to call him “Trader Brad” yet? It certainly feels close.