There were a lot of teams that improved their roster during the 2022 NBA offseason. The player movement was frenetic as All-Stars were on the move via trade and there is still one, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, that could be moved before training camp.
Depending on where Mitchell ends up, there could be another team added to the already extensive list of franchises that got better this offseason. When selecting which team had the best offseason, it comes down to preference, which is why there were so many answers on ESPN’s survey.
A panel of 15 coaches, scouts and executives around the league was put together to answer some questions, one of which was who had the best offseason. Eight teams were named, but the Boston Celtics lapped the field.
Boston received six votes as Brad Stevens did a wonderful job upgrading what was already a very strong roster. Coming off of a trip to the NBA Finals, Stevens and the Celtics didn’t rest on their laurels. Instead, he pinpointed areas that could use some bolstering and aggressively pursued players.
The first move that Boston made was signing Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari was traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Dejounte Murray trade. San Antonio was focused on the draft capital more than the player return, as Gallinari was waived almost immediately.
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Unfortunately for Gallinari and the Celtics, his debut with the team will likely be delayed. He tore his meniscus playing for Italy in EuroBasket and will likely be sidelined for at least two months. While his season was not lost, as is the case with some meniscus injuries, it is still unfortunate that he will have to rehab from yet another injury.
In addition to Gallinari, the team also acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers. Brogdon has had injury concerns of his own, but as long as he is ready to go for the postseason, the Celtics will be happy.
Brogdon provides the team with a nice complement to Marcus Smart at the point guard position. He has the size to defend both backcourt spots and some wing players, providing Ime Udoka with another versatile piece for his rotation. It also cost the Celtics very little in terms of assets. A 2023 first-round pick was the most valuable acquisition for the Pacers in the deal.
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Boston was certainly deserving of the recognition that the panel bestowed upon them. The only other teams to receive multiple votes were the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers, who each received two. The New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers and Washington Wizards rounded out the list with a single vote each.
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