The Celtics' first step in strengthening Joe Mazzulla's coaching staff proved significant.
Boston's bringing in Sam Cassell, one of the top assistants on the market. The 15-year NBA floor general relates to players, and the respect between the two sides allows him to take a firm approach when necessary.
Since transitioning to a career in coaching, Cassell's experiences include lengthy stints with the Wizards, Clippers, and Sixers, where he's had a hand in developing John Wall, Bradley Beal, Tyrese Maxey, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander before the latter got traded to the Thunder.
The three-time champion, who won an NBA title with the Celtics in 2008, is a home run hire for Boston.
But for a coaching staff undergoing a significant shake-up, with multiple assistants leaving, mostly to reunite with Ime Udoka in Houston, there's more work to do to strengthen the group flanking Mazzulla.
On the Good Word pod on Ball Don't Lie, Vincent Goodwill and Jake Fischer from Yahoo Sports conveyed Bucks assistant Charles Lee is another name on the Celtics' radar.
Lee came with Mike Budenholzer from Atlanta to Milwaukee in 2018. He's one of the top assistant coaches, but he's felt the squeeze from the supply of deserving candidates far exceeding the head coaching jobs that become available.
It seems like stating the obvious to say the Bucks should see if new head coach Adrian Griffin will retain Lee as his lead assistant and spend what it takes to keep him like the Suns are doing with Kevin Young. Phoenix is making the latter the NBA's highest-paid assistant, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
But with Milwaukee hiring former head coach Terry Stotts, a move first reported by Wojnarowski, the top spot's taken on Griffin's staff, indicating it's time for Lee to find a new home.
But is Boston the best fit? Given that Cassell's expected to be Mazzulla's top assistant, it seems like it would require Lee to accept a role further down the bench.
While this may be a leverage play on his part, most teams already have a lead assistant, so perhaps the Celtics could add Cassell and Lee.
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