5 takeaways from Brad Stevens’s pre-draft press conference

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens addressed the media Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s NBA Draft.

He couldn’t get into specifics about the Celtics’ draft strategy, but he did talk about his overall view of the draft class, how NIL’s impact on college sports comes into play, and what being honored by the Red Sox at Fenway Park was like.

Here are five takeaways from Stevens’s latest availability.

No major roster changes expected

Now that the Celtics have won a title with this group, there will be somewhat of a natural inclination to relax, Stevens said. Fighting that inclination will be a major key of the Celtics are to repeat as next year.

“I think the guys that are part of the group that are back all have to understand that the challenge is greater because again, the target, human nature, all those things are real. But we also have to say sometimes you need to have a jolt from within and we’ll always evaluate how to make our team better.”

The Celtics have some time to figure out what kind of jolt to deliver, but Stevens made it clear that he’s expecting most of this group to return.

“I think we would be crazy not to say the character and the foundation of this team is right,” Stevens said. “And let’s see if we can be as consistent as we can grow, develop, get better, improve, try some new things on both ends of the floor to add some juice and jolt that way and then see if we can’t pick up where we left off.”

“But, to answer your question, I don’t anticipate any major changes at least early on because I think this team deserves that.”

Soaking it in

Stevens said he felt like this year’s championship validated the work the Celtics put in during past seasons when they got close, but failed to get over the hump.

Stevens said the championship parade was one of the coolest things he’s ever experienced.

“The parade is the part that’s pretty darn unique. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Stevens said. “I think my wife would say the same, turning that duck boat onto Causeway and seeing all the people smiling all wearing Celtics gear all different ages. Just really a cool moment and very appreciative we got to be a part of that.”

The Celtics also were honored at Fenway Park Monday night, which Stevens called a “nice last hurrah” before players and coaches go their separate ways during the offseason.

Celtics are planning to make picks.

You never know what may end up happening on draft night, but Stevens said he anticipates making a couple of selections. Boston has No. 30 and No. 54 in this year’s draft.

“As far as the picks go, if the right person is available at 30, then we’ll take them,” Stevens said. “If we have a couple people that we think are still the right person, then we’ll see what our options are and what kind of flexibility we have. I anticipate picking a couple picks, whether they’re on roster or two-way, and investing in young players. If they come in and crack our rotation, then they’re really good. And that’ll be a good thing, too.”

Porzingis will have surgery soon.

Kristaps Porzingis will have surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in the coming days, the Celtics announced. He will miss the Olympics.

“Kristaps is still in the middle of consulting with different doctors and specialists,” Stevens said. “We anticipate surgery will be soon and we’ll have more of an update for the timeline of recovery after the surgery.”

NIL is changing the second round of the draft.

Stevens said he hasn’t been paying much attention to the top of the draft because he knew they Celtics wouldn’t be picking around there, but he still anticipates a deep draft overall.

Statistically speaking, the odds of finding someone who can contribute to this team in the late first round are pretty low, Stevens said, but he still has optimism.

Stevens also highlighted the rise of college name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals as a factor that is changing team’s options in the later round.

“The advancement of NIL and how out of control that’s gotten has really impacted the late 40s and 50s and postdraft and that kind of stuff,” Stevens said. “There are a lot of people who went back (to college) who would probably be in that mix, but they just got huge paydays. More than two-ways.”

“So that’s kind of the world that we’re living in now, a little bit. I think that’s where the draft might be the most impacted consistently over the next few years.”