Stevens excited to add Muscala to the mix
In the decade he’s worked in the NBA — eight years as the Celtics’ head coach and now two as their president of basketball operations — Brad Stevens has made sure to keep his ear open to players around the league who could potentially be a good fit with his team.
Whenever he heard about Mike Muscala, Stevens only heard good things. And so when he had the opportunity to trade for the veteran big man ahead of Thursday’s deadline, he didn’t hesitate to pounce.
“When people described Mike, that I knew well, whether in coaching or playing with him or whatever, they always talked about the way he approached his work, the way he was as a teammate, the way he competed to win,” Stevens said. “That was the most important thing. Anybody that played with him would tell you they love playing with him, which, like, an alarm goes off in your head. That’s a person you want to have around.”
While the C’s certainly needed a backup big man to help spell starters Al Horford and Robert Williams, Stevens didn’t want just anyone. Blockbuster trades around the league involving high-profile stars headlined deadline week but Stevens operated from a position of power leading the first-place team in the NBA and focused on acquiring the right fit, not wanting to mess with the talent and chemistry of a championship-ready squad.
Stevens said the Celtics had been engaged with Oklahoma City for a period of time about Muscala, who represented the qualities they were looking for.
“We thought he was a guy that can fit with really any combination of our bigs,” Stevens said. “And in the last couple years we’ve been good when we played big. He’s versatile enough to do some things defensively, but he’s also obviously super-skilled and makes the right play, ball doesn’t stick in his hands very long, all that stuff. …
“It’s hard to find guys that can play with Rob, can play with Al, can play with our other bigs. And the other thing that’s kind of the hard part about this team is if we were gonna make a move where we bring in a person that’s going to play a ton of minutes, you almost have to subtract somebody that plays a ton of minutes.
“I think our team has a good way about itself,” Stevens continued. “I think we’ve got 13 players that can play and impact each other in a really good way, but we also have a bunch of guys that don’t need to do it every night. So that ability to play but not have to need to play is a big deal, and I think that’s what we need to have as a team. It’s not about an individual. This is a goal and I think Mike understands that and our other players understand it.”
Muscala was active, wearing No. 57 for the Celtics on Friday night against the Hornets. The 7-footer — described as a “sniper” by Williams — received some text messages on Thursday morning telling him he’d been traded by the Thunder and flew from Los Angeles to Boston to join his new team.
“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity here, be part of a great team and here in Boston, I’ve heard so many great things about this city,” Muscala said. “I’m excited to get to know the city more and get to know the fans and go play some ball. …
“I’m just trying to stay in the moment. Still obviously a lot of work to be done, so just trying to take it as it comes and just stay focused.”
How does Muscala think he can help the Celtics?
“My experience, my shooting,” Muscala said. “I play hard. I’m a good teammate. I just want to win.”
Buyout market next
The Celtics, as deep as they are, may not be done filling out their roster. They have an open roster spot and could potentially pursue players in the buyout market.
“We’ll take our time and evaluate that appropriately,” Stevens said. “If we find somebody we feel that can fit, that’d be great.”
The Celtics could possibly use some wing depth, but finding the right fit more complicated than it may seem.
“There’s a lot of different ways to look at it,” Stevens said. “But I think the way (to look at is), ‘Can play but doesn’t need to play.’ And that’s a hard needle to thread, right? And I don’t blame anybody that wouldn’t want to fill that role. But I think we’re really deep right now. And we already have a bunch of guys that are giving up for one cause, and they done it. …
“If there was something that moves the needle even differently, then we have to consider it, obviously. But I think that that’s probably the most likely thing. And so you’ll look at it and you will decide, OK, is there somebody that fits that need and who’s really excited to be here if that’s the case, or is it do you feel like you’ve got that all filled and maybe invest in a younger player. And so we’re going to assess all that over the next few days and try to figure it out.”
Brown down
Jaylen Brown was out for Friday’s game against the Hornets and it’s unclear when the Celtics star will return.
The team announced Friday that Brown suffered a maxillary facial fracture during Wednesday’s win over the 76ers and that his status will be updated next week. The C’s have three more games remaining before the All-Star break. Brown was selected as an All-Star but it seems to be uncertain whether he’ll play in the All-Star Game on Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City.
Brown suffered the facial injury when he collided with Jayson Tatum, who hit him in the face with an inadvertent elbow while both of them were going up for an offensive rebound late in the first half.
Brown underwent further examination Thursday, when he posted a photo on his Instagram revealing that he would wear a mask when he returns.
“It’s just so unfortunate,” Williams said. “Obviously he was just picked to play in the All-Star Game, but more concerned for his health. He’s good. He’s in good spirits. We talked to him. But like I said, it’s just really unfortunate.”
Stevens said it looks like no surgery will be required for Brown.
“He’s already been fitted for a mask. He’s still feeling it, doesn’t feel great. So we’ll see how he feels when he starts moving around and then we’ll get together early in the week and kind of figure out what’s next. But it doesn’t look like it’s going to be too long, which is a good thing,” he said.
Still no Smart
Marcus Smart missed his ninth consecutive game with a right ankle sprain. Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla said the point guard is progressing but there are still no indications of when he will return. Horford missed his second consecutive game with right knee swelling. Williams, who was nursing a left ankle sprain, returned.