2017–18 Boston Celtics season

The 2017–18 Boston Celtics season was the 72nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics originally acquired the number one pick of the NBA draft due to a previous trade involving the Brooklyn Nets, only to then trade it to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for two different draft picks. One of the picks would allow Boston to draft forward Jayson Tatum. Later, they acquired Gordon Hayward in free agency on July 7, 2017. They would also acquire Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers via trade on August 22, 2017 in exchange for Ante Žižić, Jae Crowder, All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected first round pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and a 2020 second round pick, originally from the Miami Heat. The Celtics played the first game of the regular season on October 17, 2017, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2017–18 Boston Celtics season
Head coachBrad Stevens
General managerDanny Ainge
OwnersBoston Basketball Partners
ArenaTD Garden
Results
Record5527 (.671)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Cavaliers 3–4)

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionNBC Sports Boston
RadioWBZ-FM

The team retired the number 34 in honor of former small forward Paul Pierce on February 11, 2018, during a game against the Cavaliers, which ultimately didn't involve a conflict with both Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder returning that night, as they were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz respectively during the NBA trade deadline. Neither Thomas nor Crowder would return to Boston during this season, as the Lakers and Jazz already played against the Celtics in Boston before the trade deadline.

In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the 7th seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the First Round in seven games, advancing to the Semifinals, where they faced the Philadelphia 76ers, winning in five games, advancing to the Conference Finals, where they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, in which the Cavaliers won 4–3. Despite losing both star acquisitions Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving before the playoffs began to season-ending injuries, the Celtics would make this series more hard-fought this time (each game ending with no longer than a deficit of 8 points), but lost in seven games to the Cavaliers, losing 79–87 at home in Game 7. It marks the first time since the 1987–88 season that the Celtics made two consecutive Conference Finals.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 3 Jayson Tatum SF  United States Duke
2 37 Semi Ojeleye PF  United States Southern Methodist
2 53 Kadeem Allen PG  United States Arizona
2 56 Jabari Bird SG  United States California

Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference the previous season, the Celtics would originally win the number one pick at the end of the year because they activated the right to swap their own first-round draft pick (which was pick number 27) with the Brooklyn Nets, who held the worst record of the entire NBA that same season. (The Nets struggled in part because of a previous, infamous trade with the Celtics, that swapped role players Jason Terry and D.J. White and superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for other players and draft picks, including the right to swap first round picks in the 2017 NBA draft.[1]) However, on June 19, four days before the 2017 NBA draft commenced, the Celtics would trade that coveted pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the third pick of the draft (which was projected to be a small forward in either Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum by that point) and either the Sacramento Kings or Philadelphia 76ers' 2019 first round pick, depending on what happens in that year's draft.[2] Other than that, the Celtics also hold three second round draft picks, each of which were acquired by trades, while losing their own second round pick as an added piece of help for the Nets later on down the line.[3] Their first second round pick was acquired from the Phoenix Suns back when it was considered a first round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Brandan Wright.[4] The next second round pick was had from the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside their 2016 second round pick and Keith Bogans in exchange for John Lucas III, Erik Murphy, Dwight Powell, Malcolm Thomas, and the protected rights of the Sacramento Kings' own second round picks from both 2015 and 2017.[5] Finally, their last second round pick was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-way trade with the Phoenix Suns, where Boston would acquire Shavlik Randolph again and a trade exception from the Suns, as well as both Chris Douglas-Roberts and a second round pick from the Clippers.[6]

With their top pick (and the one that Danny Ainge claimed would have taken as the number one pick instead of Markelle Fultz[7]), the Boston Celtics selected a 19-year-old freshman, small forward Jayson Tatum, of Duke University. In his only season at Duke, Jayson averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in over 29 games there, while also earning All-ACC Freshman Team and All-ACC Third Team honors throughout last season. Tatum would end the season as a near-unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team member. In terms of their second round picks, the first one they took would be another small forward, this time being Semi Ojeleye, a transfer junior from Southern Methodist University (previously from Duke University as well). During his only year at Southern Methodist, Ojeleye helped lead the Mustangs to their second ever AAC Tournament victory by recording averages of 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game there. As a result of his efforts, he became the AAC Tournament's MVP that year, as well as be named to the All-AAC First Team, the AAC Player of The Year, and was an honorable mention via the Associated Press for the NCAA All-American Team. For the second of Boston's three second round picks, at number 53, the Celtics selected senior shooting guard Kadeem Allen from University of Arizona. In his senior year at Arizona, he averaged 9.8 points and 4 rebounds per game, which would be enough for him to be named a member of the Pac-12 Second Team and Pac-12 Defensive Team. Finally, with their last second round pick at number 56, Boston chose another senior shooting guard, this time being Jabari Bird from the University of California. During his last season at California, Bird averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds for the Golden Bears, but he suffered a concussion during one of his last games there. Both Kadeem Allen and Jabari Bird would become the team's first ever players to sign two-way contracts with the team, meaning they get to split their playing time for at least this season between the Celtics and their NBA G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, with Maine holding them for the majority of this season as a result of the two-way contract's stipulations.

Roster

Roster listing
2017–18 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 45 Allen, Kadeem (TW) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1993–01–15 Arizona
C 46 Baynes, Aron  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1986–12–09 Washington State
G 26 Bird, Jabari (TW) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1994–07–03 California
G/F 7 Brown, Jaylen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1996–10–24 California
F 20 Hayward, Gordon  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1990–03–23 Butler
F/C 42 Horford, Al 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1986–06–03 Florida
G 11 Irving, Kyrie  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1992–03–23 Duke
G 8 Larkin, Shane  5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1992–10–02 Miami (FL)
C 55 Monroe, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1990–06–04 Georgetown
F 13 Morris, Marcus 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1989–09–02 Kansas
F 28 Nader, Abdel 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1993–09–25 Iowa State
F 37 Ojeleye, Semi 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1994–12–05 SMU
G 12 Rozier, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1994–03–17 Louisville
G 36 Smart, Marcus 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1994–03–06 Oklahoma State
F 0 Tatum, Jayson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998–03–03 Duke
F 27 Theis, Daniel  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1992–04–04 Germany
F 30 Yabusele, Guerschon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1995–12–17 France
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2018–04–06

Standings

Division

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
cToronto Raptors 59 23 .720 0.0 34–7 25–16 12–4 82
xBoston Celtics 55 27 .671 4.0 27–14 28–13 12–4 82
xPhiladelphia 76ers 52 30 .634 7.0 30–11 22–19 9–7 82
New York Knicks 29 53 .354 30.0 19–22 10–31 6–10 82
Brooklyn Nets 28 54 .341 31.0 15–26 13–28 1–15 82

Conference

Eastern Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 cToronto Raptors * 59 23 .720 82
2 xBoston Celtics 55 27 .671 4.0 82
3 xPhiladelphia 76ers 52 30 .634 7.0 82
4 yCleveland Cavaliers * 50 32 .610 9.0 82
5 xIndiana Pacers 48 34 .585 11.0 82
6 yMiami Heat * 44 38 .537 15.0 82
7 xMilwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 15.0 82
8 xWashington Wizards 43 39 .524 16.0 82
9 Detroit Pistons 39 43 .476 20.0 82
10 Charlotte Hornets 36 46 .439 23.0 82
11 New York Knicks 29 53 .354 30.0 82
12 Brooklyn Nets 28 54 .341 31.0 82
13 Chicago Bulls 27 55 .329 32.0 82
14 Orlando Magic 25 57 .305 34.0 82
15 Atlanta Hawks 24 58 .293 35.0 82

Game log

Preseason

2017 pre-season game log
Total: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
2017–18 season schedule

Regular season

2017–18 game log
Total: 55–27 (Home: 27–14; Road: 28–13)
2017–18 season schedule

Playoffs

2018 playoff game log
Total: 11–8 (Home: 10–1; Road: 1–7)
2018 playoff schedule

Transactions

Trades

June 19, 2017[9] To Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (Pick 3)
2019 Sacramento #1 protected/Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick
(Converted from 2018 protected L.A. Lakers first round pick since it was not conveyed)
To Philadelphia 76ers
Markelle Fultz (Pick 1)
July 7, 2017[10] To Boston Celtics
Marcus Morris
To Detroit Pistons
Avery Bradley
2019 second round pick
August 22, 2017[11] To Boston Celtics
Kyrie Irving
To Cleveland Cavaliers
Isaiah Thomas
Jae Crowder
Ante Žižić
2018 first round pick (from Brooklyn)
2020 second round pick (from Miami)

Additions

Player Signed Former Team
Gordon Hayward[12] 4-year contract worth $128 million Utah Jazz
Abdel Nader[13] 4-year contract worth $6 million Maine Red Claws
Aron Baynes[14] 1-year contract worth $4.3 million Detroit Pistons
Daniel Theis[15] 2-year contract worth $2.2 million Brose Bamberg
Guerschon Yabusele[16] 2-year contract worth $4.9 million Maine Red Claws
Shane Larkin[17] 1-year contract worth $1.5 million Saski Baskonia
Jarell Eddie[18] 10-day contract worth $86,119 Windy City Bulls
Greg Monroe[19] 1-year contract worth $5.0 million Phoenix Suns

Subtractions

Player Reason New Team
Tyler Zeller Waived Brooklyn Nets
Kelly Olynyk[20] 4-year contract worth $50 million Miami Heat
Amir Johnson[21] 1-year contract worth $11 million Philadelphia 76ers
Jordan Mickey Waived Miami Heat
Demetrius Jackson[13] Waived Houston Rockets
Jonas Jerebko[22] 2-year contract worth $8.2 million Utah Jazz
James Young Waived Wisconsin Herd
Gerald Green[23] 1-year contract worth $1.3 million Houston Rockets
Jarell Eddie 10-day contract expired Windy City Bulls

Awards

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Brad Stevens Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (December) December 2, 2017 [24]
Jayson Tatum Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month January 4, 2018 [25]

References

  1. "Celtics Complete Trade With Brooklyn Nets". NBA.com. July 12, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  2. "NBA Draft: Celtics officially trade number-one pick to 76ers". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  3. "Nets Draft Picture: Brooklyn has picks, just not a lot of them". SBNation. Vox Media, Inc. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  4. Aldridge, David (January 9, 2015). "Suns bolster frontline with acquisition of Wright". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  5. "Cavs Complete Trade with Boston". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. September 25, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  6. "LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS ACQUIRE AUSTIN RIVERS IN THREE-TEAM TRADE". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. January 15, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  7. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-gm-danny-ainge-on-jayson-tatum-we-would-have-picked-him-with-first-pick/
  8. "Return to the Mecca". NBA.com. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. Reynolds, Tim (June 19, 2017). "Boston Celtics trade No. 1 overall draft pick to Philadelphia 76ers". NBA.com. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  10. "Boston Celtics Acquire Marcus Morris". NBA.com/celtics. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  11. "Celtics Acquire Four-Time All-Star Kyrie Irving". NBA.com/celtics. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  12. "Boston Celtics sign Gordon Hayward". NBA.com/celtics. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  13. "Boston Celtics sign Abdel Nader". NBA.com/celtics. July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  14. "Boston Celtics Sign Aron Baynes". NBA.com/celtics. July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  15. "Boston Celtics sign Daniel Theis". NBA.com/celtics. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  16. "Boston Celtics Sign Guerschon Yabusele". NBA.com/celtics. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  17. "Boston Celtics sign Shane Larkin". NBA.com/celtics. July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  18. "Celtics sign Jarell Eddie to 10-day contract". NBA.com/celtics. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  19. Snow, Taylor (February 8, 2018). "Celtics Sign Veteran Big Man Greg Monroe". Boston Celtics. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  20. "Heat signs Kelly Olynyk". nba.com/heat. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  21. "Sixers sign veterans JJ Redick and Amir Johnson". nba.com/sixers. July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  22. "Jazz sign forward Jonas Jerebko". nba.com/jazz. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  23. "Rockets sign free agent Gerald Green". nba.com/rockets. December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  24. "Brad Stevens Named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month". Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  25. "of the Month-20180114 Jayson Tatum Named Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month". Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
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