Brad Stevens' Hot Boy Summer Continues To Heat Up For The Celtics

The Celtics GM follows a strong rookie season, with an impressive offseason by landing a much-needed playmaker (Malcolm Brogdon) and a stretch big (Danilo Gallinari) without touching his core.

During Brad Stevens’ tenure as the Boston Celtics head coach, he left little doubt about his acumen as an NBA head coach.

In eight seasons, Stevens made it to the playoffs seven times which included three trips to the Eastern Conference finals.

He won 354 games, fourth all-time among Celtics coaches behind Doc Rivers (416), Tommy Heinsohn (427) and Red Auerbach (795).

As good as he was on the sideline, Stevens has been even better in the front office as a driving force behind Boston being among the biggest winners of the still-young offseason after coming two wins shy of an NBA title in June.

The praise for Boston has been pouring in after coming to terms on deals involving Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari after he was put on waivers by San Antonio.

Here's CBS Sports' take on Boston's offseason.

"Brogdon is really good. He adds to Boston's ridiculously stacked defense and is another ball-handler and scorer to live well in a flowing, egalitarian offense. Shocker: Another Celtic who can shoot, create and defend. Good luck finding a hole on this team.” - CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin

As much as Ime Udoka deserved major props for the job he did in his first year as the Celtics’ head coach, major kudos should be given to Stevens as well for the work he put in during his first season as the Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations in constructing a team that came within two wins of the NBA Finals.

And the scary part for the rest of the league, is it looks like Stevens is just getting started, delivering the kind of offseason upgrades few anticipated he would be able to pull off.

The Brogdon deal was particularly impressive when you consider the most signficant player in the deal from Boston's side, was Daniel Theis - Boston's third-string center.

Stevens made no secret about wanting to add another playmaker to the mix as well as another big who could stretch the floor - areas that the Celtics were woefully inept at as the postseason rolled along last season.

So what did he do?

He added former rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon from Indiana by essentially cleaning out all of the Celtics’ non-factors on the bench.

Brogdon has been riddled with injuries the past couple of years. But the idea of him coming off the bench or filling in as a pinch-hit starter for Marcus Smart, leaves no doubts that the Celtics are building a roster to be on the prowl for an NBA title for years to come.

Adding Brogdon should hopefully put to bed some of those way-off base narratives about the Celtics ownership group being cheap when it came to adding talent.

Majority owner Wyc Grousbeck has said repeatedly that he and the Celtics ownership group will not hesitate in adding talent that puts them in the chase to win a title, even if it means significantly exceeding the luxury tax.

During the Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett-Ray Allen days, the Celtics didn't flinch when the tax bill came due, which they reasoned was the cost of doing business when you're building a team that can walk away with the biggest prize of them all - an NBA title.

Since the NBA's luxury tax system started in 2001, the Celtics have spent more than $50 million in luxury taxes which ranks 12th among NBA teams. The Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans are the only teams that have yet to be luxury tax-paying clubs.

With the Celtics' ownership group on board, all Stevens has to do is find the right players to bring home Banner 18.

While it is easier said than done, so far Stevens has made it look relatively easy.

Prior to the start of last season, he hired Ime Udoka over a host of qualified candidates, some of whom had more experience. Stevens later traded for Al Horford while dumping Kemba Walker, a former All-Star whose best days are far behind him now. Meanwhile, Horford became a central cog in the team's ascension to the NBA Finals.

There were other in-season moves that added depth, such as the trade with San Antonio to acquire Derrick White.

But what Stevens has done in adding Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari this summer is nothing short of impressive. Stevens addressed both of Boston's biggest needs by acquiring players who, among those traded and were free agents, rank near the top of the list of best available talent.

And he did so without having to move anyone fron his top eight players.

The moves put Boston squarely at the front of the Eastern Conference pack when it comes to getting to the NBA Finals.

They already had a talented roster.

Now they have talented depth with a coach who understands winning.

And a GM in Brad Stevens who is having the kind of Hot Boy Summer Celtics fans have been clamoring for.