With the promotion of Joe Mazzulla to interim head coach of the Celtics in the wake of the Ime Udoka scandal, Boston still has a vacancy on its coaching staff.
The Celtics were rumored to be looking for an experienced coach — even a coach who might have been an NBA head coach before — to help with the massive transition Mazzulla is undertaking. It was also reported that the Celtics were interested in bringing back top assistant Brad Stevens in Jay Larranaga and have reached out to the Los Angeles Clippers to talk to him.
But after Boston reportedly asked several coaches to join the Celtics, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, they plan to keep Mazzulla’s staff as it is with the team’s regular season just days away from starting.
“A source said Thursday that the Celtics are confident in their current personnel and have decided to move forward without making any additions,” Himmelsbach wrote.
It won’t come as a surprise if Mazzulla, 34, relies heavily on his assistants, which include former NBA player Damon Stoudamire and Ben Sullivan, as he tries to guide a talented Celtics team aspiring to the championship. Mazzulla is the youngest coach in the NBA this season and while receiving tremendous endorsements from his players, he could already be showing his lack of experience.
Mazzulla will continue to show he has what it takes to succeed in his important new role with the Celtics having one preseason game remaining before facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the season opener at TD Garden. next Tuesday.