Brad Stevens talks about NBA Combine interviews, mentions possible trade
The NBA Draft Combine wrapped up it's second day Friday in Chicago, and Brad Stevens talked to Amanda Pflugrad about what he looks for when interviewing a potential draft candidate. A couple noteworthy things said by Stevens in this clip. One, he talks about how some of the players who are going to be available in the draft are players he's familiar with already from his recruiting days at Butler.
Gary Harris (MSU) tells http://t.co/qipTn2fzJK that he was recruited by Brad Stevens to play at Butler and enjoyed meeting w/ him this week.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 15, 2014Two, he ends the interview by saying "Whether Danny (Ainge) goes through the draft, whether we trade, or whether we're focused on the players that are on our team and develop, we just have to be good in all those areas."
Now granted that's a pretty generic statement, but any time a head coach hints at a possible trade like that fans ears perk up. Let's hope he's not talking about the rumored Avery Bradley-Taj Gibson swap. But it's interesting to hear him mention the word trade when he could have just talked about the draft and given an even simpler answer to Pflugrad's question.
Also from the combine, several players talked to the media about their meetings with the Celtics...
Justin Anderson (Virginia) says Brad Stevens conducted his interview w/ C's and that he enjoyed the meeting. Says he'd add 3-pt shooting/D.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 14, 2015
Kelly Oubre on meeting with the @celtics: "It was a great staff and interview. Coach Stevens and I talked about growing together."
— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) May 14, 2015Terry Rozier at the #NBACombine: "The @celtics were the first team I met with. They like me and I think very highly of them."
— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) May 14, 2015Robert Upshaw said he had a good interview w #Celtics. Coming off as polished, reflective in media session. Said he made lots of mistakes.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) May 15, 2015
Chris McCullough said Cs told him they envision him as a stretch 4 early in his career, potentially SF later. Said he could be healthy by TC
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 15, 2015Kevin Looney said Danny Ainge phoned into his interview too. Ainge stayed silent, just listened.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 15, 2015Willie Cauley-Stein on Celtics: "To be that young and be where they're at is really amazing."
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 15, 2015
And probably the best quote of the day, came from Arkansas forward Bobby Portis, again via Jay King.
Bobby Portis said he models his game after KG. Said he literally envisions that opponents slapped his mom before a game.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 15, 2015
Now that's the kind of answer I think you look for in an interview. It was leaked by King that Portis will workout with the Celtics, one of just six scheduled workouts he has with NBA teams.
A. Sherrod Blakely also reported that Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas will workout with the team later this month, coming off terrific performances in the combine's 5-on-5 scrimmages both Thursday and Friday night.
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Gibson/Bradley photo: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Combine interview photos: NBA.com
