Doubt swarmed the organization when Brad Stevens took over as the GM of the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2021. Danny Ainge was slated to retire, a choice that quickly came undone, and Stevens would move into a front office role after the Celtics were bounced unceremoniously out of the first round of the playoffs.
The motive behind the move was challenged immediately. Was this ownership’s way of saving money? Did they want to fire Stevens from his coaching gig but still pay him to have a role? Was Stevens even capable of taking on such a position?