The Celtics already had a solid case for being happy about Mike Conley’s arrival. A one-year, $3.88 million deal for a seasoned veteran who can steady a room and guide younger teammates is the kind of low-risk move teams love to make.
Now there’s a little more to it: Conley didn’t just land in Boston by chance. He wanted this.
In a recent episode of the "Celtics Daily" podcast, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said Conley had his sights set on the Eastern Conference, a flagship franchise, and head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“What appealed to him about Boston was A) he's never been in the Eastern Conference, but B) I was told that Mike really wanted to at least spend one year playing for a flagship franchise,” Krawczynski said about Conley. “It's nothing against the Grizzlies, or the Jazz, or the Wolves, but none of those teams are royalty with the NBA.
The Boston Celtics are historic. They have a history and a gravitas about them.
Conley wanted to experience what it was like playing for that kind of a franchise, with that kind of a fanbase and that kind of allure about them."
"I also know that he has a lot of respect for Joe Mazzulla and the way that he coaches and the way that he goes about things. ... I think he's really looking forward to just being in that organization, being in that building every night, seeing what the differences are with that kind of a franchise versus the ones that he's used to playing with.”
That gives Boston’s signing a different kind of shine. The Celtics needed a true veteran presence after Al Horford and Jrue Holiday were gone, and Conley fits that bill. He may not be the same player he was in his prime, or even three years ago, but the leadership piece still matters.
Boston’s recent stretch has been rough in plenty of ways, from a failed championship defense to Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Holiday, Luke Kornet, and Horford, along with the Jaylen Brown trade. Even so, the Celtics still carry a level of stature that pulls players in.
Conley has been around long enough to know the difference, and Boston clearly meant something to him. There were probably plenty of teams interested, but the one-time All-Star chose the Celtics, and this could be his final season in the NBA. He may not play a huge on-court role, unless Boston decides to start Payton Pritchard and make the 38-year-old the primary backup point guard, but he can still help shape the team.
That was already a smart signing. Knowing Conley wanted to be here makes it feel even better.
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Jayson Tatums latest signature shoe is being introduced with a clear basketball-first message, built around control and responsiveness rather than flash for flashs sake. The Jordan Tatum 5 includes a dynamic utility strap, a 10mm forefoot Air Zoom unit and a herringbone traction pattern, while its design nods to Bostons skyline and Tatums No. 0, tying the release directly to the Celtics stars place in the city.
The rollout begins in China on Sept. 24 before a global launch, with several colorways and pricing tiers already set. For Boston fans, the shoe is another reminder of how firmly Tatum sits at the center of the franchise's present and future, with even his signature line reflecting the identity he has built in green. [Read more 🡒]
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The Celtics are always watching the margins of the roster, and Walter Clayton Jr. has become one of the more interesting names to surface as Memphis works to get down to the NBA limit. The Grizzlies have to waive four players, and that kind of squeeze can turn a lesser-known prospect into a possible bargain for a team looking to add a cheap flier with some upside. Claytons path and past production have made him a player worth monitoring, especially for a Boston front office that is never shy about looking for value where other teams are forced to make cuts.
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Celtics Could Face A Tough Trust Call On Former Lakers Guard
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For Boston, the conversation is less about a sure thing than about another potential backcourt option if the right opening appears. Russells game draws some comparison to Anfernee Simons in the sense that he can create offense and handle pressure on the ball, but the bigger question is whether he would be a priority or simply a fallback if the Celtics decide they need one more veteran guard for the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]