The Celtics are back on top.
Boston defeated Dallas in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals, returning the Larry O'Brien trophy to its most familiar home for the first time in 16 years.
Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were able to put years of deep, empty-handed playoff runs behind them to earn the franchise's league-leading 18th championship. Boston capped off a dominant 64-18 season with a 16-3 playoff record.
Depth was the Celtics' biggest strength. Their superstar duo was accompanied by an incredible supporting cast of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, to name a few.
Former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge put the foundation in place with the blockbuster trade that acquired the draft picks to select Tatum and Brown. His successor, Brad Stevens, finished the job with the transactions he made in the margins when he took over the job in 2021.
Here's how Stevens built on Ainge's infrastructure to put together Boston's 2024 NBA championship roster.
MORE: Key stats, highlights from Celtics-Mavericks Game 5 meeting in the 2024 NBA Finals
How Brad Stevens built the Celtics' 2024 championship roster
The Celtics organization went through a surprising change in the 2021 offseason when head coach Stevens was promoted to fill Ainge's role as president of basketball operations upon Ainge's immediate (and brief) retirement.
Stevens was expected to be Boston's next long-time head coach, following the steps of franchise legends like Red Auerbach and Tommy Heinsohn. Instead, Stevens was open to a new challenge.
The Celtics, playing without the injured Jaylen Brown (wrist), were just bounced by the Nets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, and their head coach of eight years felt the team needed a new voice.
That allowed Stevens to continue to provide his basketball knowledge to the organization — but from a roster-building standpoint. Few knew this team better than Stevens, and it quickly became clear he had a vision to maximize Tatum and Brown.
Trading Kemba Walker to bring back Al Horford
Stevens only waited two weeks before making his first major move, trading injured All-Star guard Kemba Walker to the Thunder to re-acquire veteran big man Horford during the 2021 offseason.
Celtics receive:
- Al Horford
- Moses Brown
- 2023 second-round pick
Thunder receive:
- Kemba Walker
- 2021 first-round pick (became Alperen Sengun)
- 2025 second-round pick
Horford sat out the second half of the 2020-21 season with the Thunder to allow Oklahoma City to develop its young players. He came back to Boston refreshed and was welcomed with open arms from the team and the fan base.
As it turned out, Horford still had plenty left in the tank. He started in all 129 regular season games he played for the Celtics from 2021-23, helping lead Boston to an NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals appearance, respectively.
The 2023 offseason trade for Porzingis reverted Horford to a role off the bench, but he still wound up starting 33 regular season games and 14 playoff games. The Celtics' 2024 NBA title would not have been possible without his 3-point shooting, versatile defensive skill set and selfless attitude as a sixth man.
The Derrick White trade
Stevens made a few other minor signings and trades that helped lead to key deals, like this one at the 2022 trade deadline.
Celtics receive:
- Derrick White
Spurs receive:
- Josh Richardson
- Romeo Langford
- 2022 first-round pick (became Blake Wesley)
- 2028 first-round pick swap
At the time, White was a lesser-known player showing major signs of development in the Spurs organization. He was already receiving recognition for his IQ and tenacious on-ball defense, but he was only a 34.4 percent 3-point shooter for his career.
The deal was met with mixed reviews in the moment. Some were upset Stevens gave away draft capital and a former lottery pick in Langford. Others saw the vision of adding another elite perimeter defender and playmaking guard.
In hindsight, White's ascension to becoming one of the most improved players in the NBA over the past two seasons was as impactful as any trade Stevens made. White evolved into a two-time All-Defensive Team member and a 38.0 percent 3-point shooter.
The Malcolm Brogdon trade
The Celtics came up short in the 2022 NBA Finals, and Stevens answered a glaring weakness by bringing in another ball-handling playmaker — Malcolm Brogdon.
Celtics receive:
- Malcolm Brogdon
Pacers receive:
- Aaron Nesmith
- Daniel Theis
- Nik Stauskas
- Malik Fitts
- Juwan Morgan
- 2023 first-round pick (sent to Denver; became Julian Strawther)
Brogdon looked like the missing piece for Boston, averaging 14.9 points and 3.7 assists per game to become the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year. An elbow injury derailed his productivity in the playoffs, playing a role in the Celtics' disappointing Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Heat.
A few months later, Brogdon became the cornerstone of a deal that would propel Boston to a championship-caliber roster.
Trading Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis
Trading franchise heartbeat Marcus Smart during the 2023 offseason was, without a doubt, the toughest decision Stevens had to make. Smart devoted his blood, sweat and tears to the Celtics organization over nine seasons as Boston's leader, but the team never got over the hump.
That heart-wrenching move proved to be the difference in elevating the Celtics' contender status.
Celtics receive:
- Kristaps Porzingis
- No. 25 pick in 2023 NBA Draft (via Grizzlies, traded to Pistons; became Marcus Sasser)
- Top-four protected 2024 first-round pick (via Warriors, traded to Trail Blazers in Jrue Holiday deal)
Grizzlies receive:
- Marcus Smart
Wizards receive:
- Tyus Jones
- Danilo Gallinari
- Mike Muscala
- No. 35 pick in 2023 NBA Draft (traded to Bulls, became Julian Philips)
In hindsight, it is remarkable that Stevens was able to get Porzingis and two first-round picks for Smart and expiring veteran contracts.
Even if Porzingis only played in seven playoff games, his outbursts in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals helped Boston build a comfortable 2-0 lead. The star center averaged 16.0 points and 2.5 blocks over those two games, positioning the Celtics for a title.
The Jrue Holiday trade
The most impactful trade of the Stevens era was set up by an oversight from Boston's Eastern Conference rival, Milwaukee.
The Bucks traded Holiday to the Trail Blazers for All-Star guard Damian Lillard.
The Bucks felt Lillard was the type of prolific perimeter scorer they needed to get back to the NBA Finals, but they couldn't have expected the Celtics to swoop in and steal Holiday from Portland.
Just days before training camp started for the 2023-24 season, Stevens took a major swing for the fences to land one of the NBA's best defenders.
Celtics receive:
- Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers receive:
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Robert Williams III
- 2024 first-round pick (via Warriors, from Marcus Smart trade)
- 2029 first-round pick
Holiday's relentlessly physical defense and timely offense were crucial in Boston's 2024 playoff run. His championship DNA was exactly what the Celtics were missing in previous seasons that ended just short of a title.
