Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Sign Multi-Year Extension

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Boston Celtics have signed Joe Mazzulla to a multi-year contract extension. Mazzulla first became head coach of the Celtics in 2023 following the indefinite suspension of Ime Udoka. The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals in Mazzulla's first season, followed by the NBA championship in 2024.

“This is truly a blessing,” said Mazzulla. “I would not be here without my faith, my wife, and my children. We are thankful for the partnership with our ownership groups, Brad’s mentorship, and the support of our staff. Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston.”

“We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics,” said Brad Stevens. “He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivaled by our most die-hard fans. He’s worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach – including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA Championship. Joe is a gifted leader who brings a consistent commitment to learning, improving, and maximizing each day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”

Via RealGM Staff Report

[deeps6x]

How does Joe feel about tanking this season?

[Pickled Prunes]

How does Joe feel about tanking this season?

You've seen the East, right? The Celtics would have to shoot with their off hands for the entire season to finish in the bottom 3 out there!

[Cyclonus12]

How does Joe feel about tanking this season?

You've seen the East, right? The Celtics would have to shoot with their off hands for the entire season to finish in the bottom 3 out there!

Agreed. All things considered, even losing the guys they lost this summer, and with Jason Tatum out for the entire season, really trying to tank to get a top 3 draft pick would involve Jaylen Brown getting pulled out of games really early, or racking up a bunch of "DNP - CD"s. Which would actually be the best thing for them to do in the long run, but would be essentially impossible for them to justify to their fans or to the league, even with the justification of "giving the young guys some run". Absent major injuries during the season, a middle of the pack / play-in type of finish seems likely.

This is the kind of scenario where it would be interesting if NBA teams had the ability to "loan" players to another team for a season, as sometimes happens in European soccer. I mean, I know it obviously can't happen given how the financial structure of the NBA is much different than that of soccer, but it's an interesting hypothetical to think about.

[Phantom1974]

Perfect case of being in the right place at the right time, he's really not that good a coach and has been shown up often.
Even in their championship year with the most talented team in the NBA, they didn't exactly cruise to the title. And before Tatum's injury I doubt they still even beat the Knicks.
Now with injuries and departures can see him obviously struggling. Luckily they're in the Leastern conference but Knicks, Cleveland, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta are definitely above them, Philadelphia can be anything from contenders to lottery, Chicago will hover around their usual plan in position, Indiana IMO has better coaching and probably can cover their own superstar loss better (still will be around playin mark), Milwaukee will be interesting, so best case scenario for Celtics is around the 10th seed.
Then the next season they will regain Tatum, but only really have White and Brown plus guys like Pritchard and perhaps a high lottery pick.
Think their title window has definitely closed.

[boston_fan_ct]

Boston Celtics are a winning franchise they won't tank. My expectations are a fringe playoff team. Things could go south with a key injury or 2 but I expect draft pick in the teens and full effort to make the playoffs. And to mazullas defense he is a good coach love the way people trash him with nothing to really back it up. He kept a bunch of stars playing together and won a title.

[Pickled Prunes]

How does Joe feel about tanking this season?

You've seen the East, right? The Celtics would have to shoot with their off hands for the entire season to finish in the bottom 3 out there!

Agreed. All things considered, even losing the guys they lost this summer, and with Jason Tatum out for the entire season, really trying to tank to get a top 3 draft pick would involve Jaylen Brown getting pulled out of games really early, or racking up a bunch of "DNP - CD"s. Which would actually be the best thing for them to do in the long run, but would be essentially impossible for them to justify to their fans or to the league, even with the justification of "giving the young guys some run". Absent major injuries during the season, a middle of the pack / play-in type of finish seems likely.

This is the kind of scenario where it would be interesting if NBA teams had the ability to "loan" players to another team for a season, as sometimes happens in European soccer. I mean, I know it obviously can't going to happen given how the financial structure of the league is set up, but it's an interesting hypothetical to think about.

I actually think BOS should play Brown his usual minutes and try and correct some of his deficiencies. Get the AST up and the TO down. Less dribbling and quicker first step. He isn't a finished product yet. He should see significant growth this season!