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<\/p>\nBill Chisholm offered some insight into how he plans to approach his new position during his first news conference as a Boston Celtics owner.<\/p>\n
With four others alongside him at the podium \u2013 president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, alternate governors Wyc Grousbeck and Aditya Mittal, and team president Rich Gotham \u2014 Chisholm said he understands the pressure that comes with owning the team and hopes to do whatever it takes to bring more championships to the organization. In a wide-ranging news conference that lasted nearly 40 minutes, Chisholm shared his thoughts on a variety of topics, spanning from his approach to paying the NBA\u2019s luxury tax to his hope for the city of Boston to land a WNBA team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this is a dream come true for me and my family, I also realize that with this opportunity comes a tremendous responsibility,\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cMy ownership group and I understand that it is, in fact, different here and that we have a responsibility to protect and advance the legacy of the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize that the standards that the Celtics are held to on and off the court is unmatched. I believe that we are up to this challenge, but realize that we\u2019ll need to prove it day in and day out by our actions and with our commitment to excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are six takeaways from the press conference, including some updates from Stevens.<\/p>\n
Chisholm has final say but plans to let Stevens drive basketball decisions<\/p>\n
The Celtics recently announced that Chisholm\u2019s ownership group, which officially took over the team in August following unanimous approval from the NBA board of governors, will feature Grousbeck and Mittal as alternate governors. While the organization\u2019s managing board also includes several others, Chisholm clarified that he will have \u201cthe final say\u201d in the decision-making process. Even so, he indicated he intends to continue empowering the leaders within the organization, including Stevens.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is such a thing as the new owner curse, and I\u2019m well aware of that,\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cAnd ultimately, just kind of being self-aware in terms of what your strengths and weaknesses are, and surrounding yourself with people that are the best \u2014 the best people, the best of the best. And the way the decisions (have) been made here to date, that\u2019s what you\u2019re gonna see going forward as well, where those basketball decisions, Brad is driving that for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chisholm, who called Joe Mazzulla a terrific coach and praised the rest of the leadership inside the Celtics organization, has not spent much time in the public eye. Stepping into an NBA ownership position will change that, though he suggested he\u2019s not entirely sure how he plans to approach the front-facing aspect of the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a huge fan, first of all, so I\u2019m so excited to be there and have the best seat in the house, frankly,\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cSo I will absolutely be there. I will do whatever it takes, whatever the Boston Celtics need me to do. If they need me to be doing press conferences every day, I\u2019ll do them. If they need to stay out of the way, I\u2019ll do that. \u2026 The biggest thing I think I can bring is support to folks on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, Stevens said Chisholm has already shown that support.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think any time you have a major change, the first thing is, \u2018Well, what will that change do to the day to day?’\u201d Stevens said. \u201cAnd I can care less about me, but the 65 people that work here (in basketball operations), Rich has 100-plus people who work downtown (on the business side), you\u2019re more concerned about that than anything else.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think from day one, Bill and his group, the humility, the care, the passion was not just shown in words, it was not just shown in showing up to a game on the road, it was in, \u2018Hey, you have the power to do your job.’\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Celtics GM Brad Stevens will be given autonomy when it comes to basketball operations, according to ownership. (Eric Canha \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Stevens: \u2018There\u2019s no tax goal\u2019 from ownership<\/p>\n
Even after committing to shedding salary throughout the offseason, the Celtics remain about $12.1 million over the luxury tax threshold and would need to pay about $39.5 million in luxury taxes if they finish the regular season with their current roster. They could begin the process of resetting the repeater tax by getting out of the luxury tax entirely this season, but Stevens said he has no mandate from ownership to do so. Stevens said his focus over the offseason was getting under the second apron to give the franchise more future flexibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to give yourself the flexibility and opportunity to jump at the right deals,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cYou don\u2019t always know when those are going to present themselves. So the second apron was the key. After that, we\u2019re looking at it from the standpoint of, let\u2019s see what this team looks like, let\u2019s put our very best foot forward, let\u2019s let Joe (Mazzulla), the staff, the players \u2014 let\u2019s all work to maximize ourselves, with an attitude of no ceilings and no limitations, and go after it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we\u2019ll evaluate the roster like we always will as the year goes on, but there\u2019s no tax goal. \u2026And listen, we\u2019ve said goodbye to awesome people and really good players. But I think we\u2019ve added people that are excited to add their strengths together and see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the moves the Celtics made to cut salary over the summer, Chisholm indicated he won\u2019t shy away from big tax bills in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal and my high-level direction to Brad and the team is let\u2019s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners, and raise as many as we can, both in the near term and also in the medium to the long term, as well,\u201d Chisholm said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to do everything we can to win. That is job No. 1. And not just win games \u2014 win championships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tatum \u2018well on his way\u2019 to full recovery<\/p>\n
Shortly before the press conference, Jayson Tatum walked across the practice court with gym clothes on, looking like he had just finished a workout. The injured All-Star recently shared that he has not ruled out a return this season, but Stevens said he will continue to attach no timeline to Tatum\u2019s torn Achilles rehab. Stevens said his priority is for Tatum to have a full recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019s well on his way,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cHe has been incredibly diligent. He has been a great leader by example to people in this building when no players were around in the middle of the summer and when a lot of the young guys have been around in the last month-and-a-half. We appreciate that, and we know that he\u2019s going to be itching to get back, and he will be the biggest decision-maker in that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there will be a lot of people in that room when that ultimately gets decided, including people that are working with him every day and people that are really important to him. So we\u2019re on a good path, and we just need \u2014 the most important thing is (a) fully healthy Jayson Tatum.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Tatum sidelined indefinitely, the Celtics will have their lowest expectations in years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to put a ceiling on the team,\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of talent, and we\u2019ve got some very strong character people. I\u2019m actually pretty excited for what this team can do. When I look back, those Isaiah Thomas teams, those are some of my favorites. I do think there\u2019s a smaller margin for error, but I do think that this team has the potential to be pretty special, and I think we\u2019re going to embrace the kind of underdog mentality, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grousbeck said the transition has been an 18-month journey<\/p>\n
The new ownership group will have an interesting dynamic with Grousbeck staying on as an alternate governor. He said it has been an \u201c18-month journey\u201d for him since learning his family voted to sell its controlling stake of the team. But he and his wife Emelia will remain part of the ownership group.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmelia and I are staying in,\u201d Grousbeck said. \u201cI\u2019m staying in shoulder to shoulder, as we\u2019ve said with Bill, and then with the managing board, I want a third ring, and then I want a fourth one. I\u2019ve got two. It\u2019s a nice start.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Celtics could eventually consider a move from TD Garden<\/p>\n
The Celtics have played at TD Garden (formerly known by a couple of other names) since the arena opened in 1995. But because the franchise doesn\u2019t own the building, there has been speculation about whether the team could find a new home. Chisholm didn\u2019t rule out the possibility of one day doing so, though he also expressed an appreciation for the current Celtics home court.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a specific point of view on (the possibility of finding a new arena),\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cI have some sort of philosophical perspective on it. So the first thing is, I really like Boston Garden, personally. I think that the team and the players really like the Boston Garden, and equally importantly, the fans really like the Boston Garden. So that\u2019s a starting point.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecond thing is, you know, I think the Celtics and the Bruins belong together, so that\u2019s another part of the equation as well. \u2029And then the third thing is, we are 100 percent committed to creating the best fan experience possible, and we\u2019ll take a look at it where that is, but we\u2019ve got a great thing going right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chisholm believes Boston should have a WNBA team<\/p>\n
The city of Boston has never had a WNBA team, but Chisholm wants to change that.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, I think Boston should have a team,\u201d Chisholm said. \u201cThis is the best sports city in the country, and this is the birthplace of basketball, so we should have a team. Getting this done, we\u2019ve been at it now in this seat for a month or so; it\u2019s definitely something we\u2019re going to look at. And the NBA has a process. We\u2019ll do what we can to expedite things, but this is a process there. But philosophically, it makes so much sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
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