Eleven days before training camp, the Celtics added Lamar Stevens to bolster their depth. The former Penn State Nittany Lion had multiple teams interested in his services, including the Miami Heat, but he chose to come to Boston on an Exhibit 9 deal.
His one-year contract is worth slightly more than $2 million, but it's non-guaranteed. If the Celtics, who could only go this route to sign him because they had 14 players on their roster, meeting the minimum required once the regular season starts, waive Stevens due to injury, they'll only owe him $6,000.
Tuesday at the Auerbach Center, on the heels of Boston's first training camp session, the former Cleveland Cavalier told Inside the Celtics why he still picked Boston over the other teams courting him.
"The winning culture. When I talked to Brad (Stevens) when I came here for a workout, he said, 'The only thing they worry about is winning.' And I felt like that was perfect for what I'm about and what I want to bring and the things I'm trying to achieve in my career."
The six-foot-six Stevens is most impactful at the defensive end, where his six-foot-nine wingspan, strength, and ability to stay with perimeter players as they drive downhill makes him a versatile option who can switch one through four.
There's also a gritty nature to the Philadelphia native's style of play and an infusion of energy he provides that the franchise and its fan base will appreciate.
In the wake of Marcus Smart and Grant Williams' departures, Stevens conveyed the following to Inside The Celtics when asked about providing those ingredients -- essential to a championship team -- which are also crucial to him carving out a role on his new team.
"Yeah, I think I can step right into that. Adding Jrue (Holiday) on the defensive end and me, I feel like those are roles that can be filled right in, and I'm excited for that opportunity and (to) bring what I bring to the team, and hopefully, it can uplift us. Our main goal is to win each day, and I think we can help with that."
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