Celtics’ strong start to offseason downgraded to C-minus after injuries, suspension

At the start of the 2022 NBA offseason, the Boston Celtics were the first club to make major moves to fortify a roster that had just fallen two wins shy of an NBA title.

First, they traded non-rotation players and a draft pick for All-Star caliber guard Malcolm Brogdon. They followed that by signing Danilo Gallinari to a mini-midlevel exception.

But then the offseason started going sideways. First, the team lost Gallinari for at least the entire regular season and perhaps beyond due to injury. A scandal blew up out of nowhere, resulting in second-year head coach Ime Udoka being suspended for an entire season.

Add a lengthy recovery for big man Robert Williams III and his surgically-repaired knee, and the team’s once league-leading offseason has fallen off, which the folks at Bleacher Report took note of in their final offseason grades on all 30 teams in the league.

“The year-long suspension of head coach Ime Udoka is going to matter for the Boston Celtics, who’ll begin their defense of the Eastern Conference crown still reeling from the stunning late-September shakeup on the bench,” writes Grant Hughes.

“This team is too deep, talented, and experienced to fold, but Udoka’s leadership and defensive acumen will be missed.”

“His tactical tweak midway through last season transformed Boston into the league’s most fearsome defense, unleashing Robert Williams III and freeing up Marcus Smart to wreak havoc en route to a Defensive Player of the Year award,” adds the B/R analyst.

“Compounding matters, Williams, who needed surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee back in March, went under the knife again in late September.”

“Those who watched Williams struggle with that knee throughout the postseason might have seen this second operation coming, but it’s no less disappointing that Boston’s elite defensive center may not debut until late December,” offers Hughes.

“New addition Danilo Gallinari’s recovery will take even longer. The veteran forward tore his ACL while playing for Italy in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and the typical recovery time for that injury is in the 12-month range. Even if he miraculously returns in time to see playoff action, Gallo, 34 and now coming off the second ACL repair of his career, shouldn’t be counted on to contribute. At least Malcolm Brogdon is healthy. His presence means the roster is still improved over last year.”

“Nonetheless, what was once a stellar offseason with a straight “A” grade is now below average because of injury and scandal-driven coaching turnover,” closes the author fairly.