Brad Stevens on Jared Sullinger departure: 'I'm hopeful this move will benefit him'
LAS VEGAS — Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens admitted the addition of free-agent big man Al Horford forced his team to make difficult roster decisions, including moving on from Jared Sullinger.
As part of inking Horford to a four-year, $113 million contract last week, the Celtics rescinded a $4.4 million qualifying offer to Sullinger and renounced their rights to him, making him an unrestricted free agent.
“I think Jared’s a really good player and I think Jared will continue to be a really good player,” Stevens said before watching Boston’s entry in the Las Vegas summer league play the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV. “Obviously when we got Al, that made us make hard decisions. And the thing that stinks about that is having to move on and move forward, both for him and us. But he’ll do great. Jared’s one of the more talented guys being able to get the ball off the glass, and he’s got a beautiful touch and he’s a good guy, and so I think he’ll do well.
“I’m hopeful this move will benefit him as well, and I think it will. We’ll see where he lands, but I know there’s a lot of interest in him based on how my phone’s been ringing and everybody else’s, so I’m sure he’ll land where he wants to and do exceptionally well.”
Not only did the Celtics sign Horford, but they drafted a pair of international big men in the first round of last month’s draft. While both France’s Guerschon Yabusele (16th pick) and Croatia’s Ante Zizic (23) might ultimately spend next season overseas, the Celtics growing collection of young bigs — including 2015 second-round pick Jordan Mickey — left the team unwilling to commit big long-term money to Sullinger.
Steven is losing one of only three players that were here when he arrived in 2013 (Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk, the others). Celtics second-year guard Terry Rozier said Sullinger’s impact will be missed on the court and his personality will be hard to replace in the locker room.
“He’s a great guy first of all. He’s a great person to have in the locker room with the jokes,” Rozier said after being informed of Boston’s decision to move on from Sullinger after the Celtics’ morning shootaround in Las Vegas. “He’s definitely a guy that you’ll notice if he’s not around. Obviously, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I didn’t really know until just now about him becoming an unrestricted free agent. But best of luck with everything. And I know he’ll be fine. He works hard, he’s a great person off the court.”
Added Rozier: “Wherever he goes, he’s going to be happy. He’s a great person off the court and on the court. He’ll be fine wherever he goes. It’ll be sad not to have him back but he’s got to do what he has got to do. It’s a business and everybody makes their own moves. Some fits are better other places.”
Sullinger, previously a restricted free agent, enters an unrestricted pool that’s seen teams throwing big money at some intriguing fish at the start of free agency. His options might be more limited at the moment as rosters fill up, but Stevens seemed confident there will be suitors for Sullinger’s services.
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