1 transaction + 1 signing! What is the level of Stevens’ operation?

The Celtics have another magical operation.

The latest report from famous reporter Shams, the Celtics reached a deal with the Jazz, which was:

—The Celtics gave George Nian and two future second rounds

—The Jazz gave rookie RJ Louis

After reaching this deal, the Celtics signed free agent Chris Boucher with a minimum salary of 3.3 million yuan in one year.

First sigh, Stevens is really a god.

Nion played for the Cavaliers and the Hawks last season, and was then sent to the Celtics by the Hawks in the Porzingis trade this summer.

Although he experienced two trades within half a year, objectively speaking, Nian's performance last season was really good:

—As a Cavaliers, he averaged 20.6 minutes per game, scored 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 three-pointers, and his three-point shooting percentage was 40.0%

—As a space insider, Nian's shooting performance was already very good, but he also had some shortcomings, such as his athletic ability and frame protection ability (he also gained some weight), which is also the main reason why he clearly has 40% of three-pointers but can only get an annual salary of 8.2 million.

I thought that Nian's three-point ability would be very suitable for the Celtics system. After all, the Celtics are the strongest and most dependent three-pointers on active duty. Last season, they averaged 48.2 three-pointers, the first in history, per game. However, judging from the results, the Celtics chose to save money.

Previously, the Celtics Hawks traded. The Celtics sent away Porzingis (30.73 million), who played last season's playoffs without spending a first round, and achieved a huge tax cut, and also received a second round pick.

In this Celtic Jazz deal, the Celtics' goal is still clear. They spent 2 second rounds to replace Nian with 8.2 million draft pick RJ Louis. Since the latter is undrafted, they naturally cannot have too much expectations in terms of strength. Therefore, the Celtics signed Boucher with a minimum salary of one year.

Boucher has played for the Raptors in the past seven seasons. Last season, he played in a total of 50 games, all of which were substitutes, averaged 17.2 minutes per game, scored 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers, shooting percentage of 49.2% and three-point shooting percentage of 36.3%.

Compared to Nian, Boucher's three-pointers were not that stable. Last season was his three-pointer year (33.9% of his career three-pointers), but his athletic ability is stronger than Nian and he can occasionally make good blocks.

However, Boucher's ability is not as good as the data. He is essentially a thin and rough man. The reason why he has beautiful data is mainly because he plays in the Raptors, his real strength and basic salary is just right. Joining the Celtics is an opportunity, and he is expected to perform above the basic salary next season.

Summary: The Celtics replaced Nian with 8.2 million with Boucher with 3.3 million and RJ Louis, who was the same position and age as Nian, but he was regarded as a substitute for Nian. His three-pointers were not as good as Nian, but his athletic ability was better and his annual salary was smaller.

At this point, you might as well take a look at the Celtics' operations this summer:

1, Send Holiday, get Anthony Simmons

2, Send Porzingis, get Nian and one second round

3, and let Cornett go, who joined the Spurs for 41 million in four years, let Horford go (not signed yet, but basically joins the Warriors)

5, 5.5 million in 2 years, signed with Garza

6, sent away Nian + 2 second rounds, got the undraft RJ Louis

7, and signed with Boucher

without follow-up operations, the Celtics' main rotation next season (not counting Tatum with Achilles tendon injury): Brown + White + Prichard + Hauser + Anthony Simmons + Boucher + Garza + Kerta + Tyrman + Walsh + many rookies.

It is said that this lineup has declined significantly compared to the past two seasons. It is hard to say whether it can enter the playoffs. With Tatum's high probability of being reimbursed for the season, the key is to see whether Brown can achieve some evolutions to prove his ability to lead the team (difficulty).

But what you need to know is that the Celtics' goal this summer is never to strengthen, but to save money.

Before the first operation sent Holiday away, the Celtics' total salary and luxury taxes next season had originally reached a exploding 540 million yuan.

But after sending Nian away, this number has now dropped to 239 million, which means that without spending a first-round pick, the Celtics saved 300 million yuan in spending. From this perspective, Stevens is completely God Tevens.

If you don't have any idea about this, you might as well take a look at another huge spending team last season. To solve the salary problem, the Suns' solution is to sell their assets Durant + extended to buy out Bill (of course, it is also the impact of the transaction veto).

Celtics almost used positive assets to throw away Holiday + Porzingis, who performed negative assets last season. At the same time, while ensuring that each position has the ability, the management of the two teams immediately made a decision on the high and low operating capabilities.

Pure personal opinion, the Celtics will definitely have no hope of competing for the championship next season, but when Tatum returns and with Stevens' operating ability, vision and Boston's attractiveness, it is really not impossible for the Celtics to rise again in the future. Let's look forward to it slowly.