NBA Notebook: Ben Sullivan leaves, Sam Cassell arrives and other Celtics summer notes

LAS VEGAS -- Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan grabbed the clipboard along the same sideline he roamed in a different-colored polo last summer. The Trail Blazers botched an alley-oop lob to Ibou Badji with a one-point lead, allowing Sullivan to set up a lob pass for Houston from Tari Eason to Jabari Smith Jr., who sat himself near half court to pull up and drain a game-winner in front of a crowd packing in to see Victor Wembanyama in the next game. 

Sullivan smiled all the way into the tunnel, beginning his Rockets tenure with a bang, a sudden pivot from the Celtics' east finals run. The mention of Boston's narrow defeat in the series after nearly overcoming an 0-3 deficit changed his facial expression. He hadn't reflected on it much since deciding to rejoin long-time mentor Ime Udoka on the Rockets' coaching staff last month. Garrett Jackson and Mike Moser, Celtics development coaches in recent seasons, joined Sullivan coaching Houston's summer squad that featured second-year prospects like Smith Jr. alongside rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Development now becomes paramount for Udoka's staff. 

"I haven't had a lot of time to look back at anything, but as I think about it, I think there was a lot of stuff thrown at us early on," Sullivan told Boston Sports Journal. "The first word that comes to mind is proud. I'm proud of the team, proud of the organization, I'm proud of the players, coaches, everybody coming together and having a really good season, the seeding that we got, how far we went in the playoffs. All that stuff is really hard to do." 

"I know everybody wants to win a championship, I know in Boston, a championship, banner 18 (is everything). I get it. I know that stuff is real, but I thought what the guys accomplished in getting that far is really hard to do. Then, the last series, going down 0-3, a lot of teams, and I've been in some series where it's 3-0 and it's over, it's done, but to fight back and force that to a Game 7 and have a chance, Game 7 didn't go our way, but I think resiliency, proud, team and togetherness, I thought we embodied that stuff and we fought our way through the entire season and we got pretty far. Unfortunately, we didn't get far enough, but that's how I feel about it." 

Udoka called Sullivan after the Celtics' season ended and asked him to join the staff again, Sullivan said, after Udoka mentioned at an Astros game last month where he threw out the first pitch his hopes to reunite much of his Boston staff that powered an NBA Finals run in his first year as head coach. Sullivan's return to work with the coach who provided his first NBA opportunity as a long-time Portland, Oregon friend underscored the difficult position the staff under Joe Mazzulla sat in for much of last season. 

The Celtics suspended and then fired Udoka for multiple violations of team policy within days of training camp. Damon Stoudamire, another Udoka connection from Portland, stayed on as Mazzulla's top assistant before leaving in April to take the Georgia Tech head coaching job. Sullivan stepped up next in line, telling BSJ earlier in the spring he was 100% committed to Boston, helping Derrick White achieve a career shooting year and Grant Williams improved under his coaching too. 

Things changed once the season ended. Sullivan left quickly, Aaron Miles reportedly considered joining Houston too before signing with the Pelicans in a similar development role. D.J. MacLeay stayed on as the lone significant Udoka hire left from that Finals run, leaving Mazzulla and Brad Stevens to form his first staff almost in full. Tony Dobbins returned for his fourth season with the Celtics, leading their summer league team, who Stevens originally hired for his final coaching staff in 2021.

"I thought Joe got thrown into a really difficult situation," Sullivan said. "Even taking that out, if that didn't happen, I thought he did a tremendous job. He showed incredible poise, he managed the game, the team, the season, he was collaborative with people and he has so many coaching strengths. He took us really far, and he led us and brought us together. I thought he did a great job, and for someone so young to do this at this level, that's a really special thing and I think it's only upward from here. I think he's only going to get better." 

Sullivan's decision to leave came after several conversations, he said, and he now hopes to build the defensive identity alongside an unselfish offense and toughness. They're in the ground stages with a young team, an entirely different roster in place built around players near the beginning of their NBA development in Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Şengün and Thompson. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks arrived into the team's cap space that Udoka hyped upon arrival. Both players come off seasons where they finished at the bottom of the league in shooting efficiency for players attempting their volume of field goals. It won't be easy. 

It won't be for the Celtics either, pursuing higher expectations while undergoing their own cultural shift by losing those important coaching voices, trying unsuccessfully to sign Jaylen Brown to a long-term extension in Vegas and losing two important players to that run's culture in Williams and Marcus Smart. Mazzulla faced scrutiny for the team's playoff performance before Stevens backed him, expressing the importance of building a stronger staff around him. That backup arrived in Sam Cassell, who brought 30 years of playing and coaching experience, and Charles Lee, a popular head coaching candidate who served under NBA champion Mike Budenholzer.

"We had experience (changing coaches) when Ime arrived," Dobbins told BSJ at Summer League. "We were able to, I think, it's almost like a team. As coaches, you're trying to model what type of team you want to have. So having new team members, new staff members coming in, you get to know one another and you learn each other's strengths and each other's weaknesses and how you can complement one another to be the best team that you can be. So that's what we're doing as a staff, that's what we're gonna have to do from a player perspective. We got new guys coming in, we have some changeover ... that's the cool part about it. The thing that you're challenging the players to do, you get to do that same thing, so you know what they're going through, because you're going through the same thing, but ultimately the goal is everybody working together to complement each other." 

Schematically, Cassell and Lee both bring experience running a similar drop defense with Joel Embiid and Brook Lopez to what Mazzulla implemented around Al Horford. Now, Kristaps Porziņģis will man the middle at 7-3. The 76ers and Bucks played some of the best defense in the NBA in recent years, Milwaukee finishing ahead of the Celtics as the league's top unit before the Celtics, who finished No. 2 in defensive rating, dropped to No. 10 out of 16 playoff teams. Size, flexibility and Derrick White's All-Defense ability project to maintain or potentially improve that standing, though Cassell noted he won't try to change Mazzulla's mentality as head coach.

Cassell emphasized he'll help the Celtics have fun with pressure and improve, noting that Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum became really good players through their first six seasons in the NBA, but that's not enough. He wants them to become great. Doc Rivers spoke about Cassell's impact during the second round against Boston, noting that while most of the 76ers' coaches spent time exclusively in offensive or defensive meetings, respectively, Cassell bounced between both -- an incredible basketball mind. Boston also hired former Celtics point guard Phil Pressey and Tatum's Duke teammate Amile Jefferson, who most recently coached with the Blue Devils. 

Cassell noted the importance of connecting with players across the team's hierarchy, saying that need they need maximum effort from the bench players. He also plans to focus the team exclusively on winning a championship, erasing outside distractions and conveying to the group how winning in Boston changed his life in 2008. Multiple Celtics players expressed the importance of having that former NBA player perspective in the locker room. Sullivan won a championship with Milwaukee like Lee, but when Stoudamire left, Boston lost its coach who could relate to that experience. 

"These guys got so many other things besides basketball going on in their lives," Cassell said. "The balance Imma bring is ... you can't be the answer to the world crisis. You can impact the world with your voice, but the main thing is winning banner 18. That's the only thing that matters to me, and if it matters to me, Imma make sure it matters to them." 

Other Celtics Summer League notes...

• Jaylen Brown's extension negotiation reportedly paused when Brown left Las Vegas for an NBPA event overseas, according to the Boston Globe. Finer details of the contract appear to be the holdup, though I heard the same optimism many others did regarding a deal eventually getting done. The Celtics have no intention of trading Brown even as the negotiations stretched beyond what seemed to be a fairly routine super max conversation. Brown can receive a trade kicker, Boston can implement winning incentives similar to his current contract and a fifth-year player option can be included. A no-trade clause cannot -- they're not allowed in extensions.
• Another possible extension this offseason? Payton Pritchard can avoid restricted free agency next summer by re-signing now, and there's momentum building toward a deal that would pay him roughly mid-level money after the Celtics declined to trade him in February and moved Smart instead this month, bumping Pritchard back into a bench role alongside new signing Dalano Banton, whose addition on a two-year deal isn't yet official. Pritchard's deal could be worth between $28-48 million over four years. 
• Could Malcolm Brogdon still be traded after this month's botched Porziņģis deal? It's possible, but as Stevens continues to speak about Brogdon as part of the team next year, the Damian Lillard and James Harden trade sagas pause activity elsewhere and the Clippers stand squarely in on Harden, it's hard to imagine another shakeup in the Celtics backcourt. Stevens told reporters in Las Vegas that Brogdon's recovery without surgery continues to progress toward a return to on-court work soon, and while Brogdon's $22.5-million deal continues to stretch Boston beyond the luxury tax line, he remains an important voice, offensive contributor and backcourt partner alongside White that'll allow the Celtics to play smaller lineups. Look out for an LA pivot if Harden stays in Philadelphia, though medical concerns did indeed prevent the highest level of the Clippers' front office from signing off on a Brogdon trade that would've sent Marcus Morris to Washington for Porziņģis. 
• Robert Williams III spent June and early July around the Celtics facility, checking all the boxes and looking good beginning his first healthy offseason in two years. Williams spent much of last offseason home in Louisiana after battling knee pain following his meniscus removal surgery the prior March, which set up playoff pain and a slower offseason. He returned to the facility in the fall complaining of pain, which led to the cleanup surgery and to him only playing 35 games this season. Williams III is in line to compete with Horford for the starting job at the four alongside Porziņģis.
• Could Jay Scrubb earn a two-way spot after shooting 50% from the field and 50% from three through four Celtics summer appearances? It has to become a consideration for Boston now, but it's worth noting Scrubb left his previous stops with the Clippers and Magic in pursuit of a full-time deal. The Celtics allowed him to show off toward that goal in Vegas, and another camp invite would likely pull him away from two-way consideration entering is fourth season if that chance arises. Boston also has a non-guaranteed salary in Justin Champagnie signed in its 14th roster spot, allowing the team to host its own training camp competition. Champagnie is averaging 13.0 PPG and 8.3 RPG on 39.2% FG and 30.4% 3PT. J.D. Davison, as expected, is back on a two-way deal, but a rough summer performance and four point guards playing in front of him on the roster underscores his dwindling time to break through to the pro team, even at 20-years-old. The Celtics have two open two-way slots remaining alongside him. 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Rookie Kobe Bufkin drained a game-winning leaner in the lane to down the 76ers with a 4-for-5 fourth quarter, overcoming an 11-point deficit and 1-for-6 personal start. Off the floor, Atlanta officially added Patty Mills in a trade with the Thunder to further cement that backcourt depth with Trae Young potentially entering a make-or-break year as the franchise star. Pascal Siakam remains rumored as a target to fill a four position vacated by the John Collins trade. Siakam is reportedly in no rush to leave Toronto, while Saddiq Bey and Jalen Johnson stand in line for Atlanta.

Brooklyn: Made some late off-season roster changes by signing 23-year-old wing Darius Bazley on a minimum contract and waiving Edmond Sumner, another forward who showed some promise last season. The swap keeps a roster spot open with the Nets looking to many analysts like a feasible facilitator for the Damian Lillard trade if the Trail Blazers decide to play ball with the Heat. Brooklyn can supply draft picks, move off Ben Simmons or add Tyler Herro in a deal. Interestingly, they worked out together recently as Simmons progresses in his recovery from back surgery.

Charlotte: Brandon Miller closed summer league averaging 17.3 PPG on 35.4% shooting, including 26.1% on nearly eight threes per game. Nick Smith's performance overshadowed Miller's finale, out-dueling Shaedon Sharpe and the Trail Blazers with 33 points on 13-for-20 shooting. He hasn't shot efficiently overall at 41.1%, but could add to a young, talented backcourt as a steal as the No. 27 overall pick. In the frontcourt, P.J. Washington and Kelly Oubre headline the most talented free agents remaining and could become squeezed to the point where a return to Charlotte turns into best bet. Washington's price hasn't received a $16-million annual offer as a restricted free agent while Oubre likely awaits playing time. 

Chicago: Received a $10.2-million disabled player exception for Lonzo Ball after he underwent knee surgery expected to knock him out of the entirety of the 2024 season and possibly threaten his career. Larger relief for his two-year, $42 million contract appears unlikely save for utilizing the stretch provision and it's worth waiting on that last resort until assessing whether the cartilage transplant can work. The DPE works similarly to a trade exception, except it can actually be used to sign a free agent, a potential advantage in signing an outside free agent, though it probably won't help in keeping Ayo Dosunmu since it's only usable for one year. Dosunmu remains a restricted free agent and Derrick Jones Jr. also is unsigned. 

Dallas: Grant Williams spoke to reporters in Las Vegas for the first time since his trade to the Mavericks and said he'll return to basketball activities in roughly one week after undergoing surgery on his left hand last month. He said restricted free agency mostly became a waiting game as he saw the market dry up early in July before the Mavericks acquired him in a sign-and-trade. Boston officially received two second-round picks and a swap in the deal, the better of the Pelicans or Bulls' second-rounders next spring, an unprotected one in 2030 from Dallas and a 2025 Mavs swap option involving the better of Boston's additional picks. Williams reportedly asked for more playing time from the Celtics, who traded him to fulfill that wish.

"For me it's just a matter of continuing to make those strides consistently shooting, making sure that's utmost importance for me because that's what's needed from the team with Luka (Doncic), especially the, the attention that he brings and pulls, same with Kyrie (Irving)," Williams said. "On the defensive end ... guarding best player every single night, or even on the offensive end, when those two aren't on the floor, being able to be a guy that can be a focal point the offense in a way of like, not necessarily isolation scoring, but by being able to really get the ball moving." 

Denver: Rookies Julian Strawther and Jalen Pickett thrived in a blowout win over the Heat, combining for 34 points on 12-for-22 shooting and increasing their averages to 16.5 PPG and 12.8 PPG. Pickett is shooting 55.3% from the field and 50% from three as he focuses on a narrower role, both players arriving with importance on day one as hopeful replacements for Bruce Brown in an important role on this roster. 

Detroit: Ausar Thompson continued an impressive summer league that did not include a face-off against his injured twin, beating up on the Spurs without Victor Wembanyama with 18 points and 14 rebounds. The 19-year-old boosted his averages to 13.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.3 SPG and 1.8 BPG on 46.5% shooting, playing a style fitting for the rugged identity the Pistons keep trying to form. He suffered his own injury scare when his wrist got caught between two players, forcing him to rush to the sideline in pain. Thompson finished the game, receiving praise from coach alongside fellow rookie Marcus Sasser. 

Golden State: The Chris Paul addition here felt weird from the start, giving up all those picks, admitting defeat on the Jordan Poole front and then trying to fit an aging future Hall-of-Famer following a down year next to another pair of icons at the same position. Paul admitted he hopes to play alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as starters this season, further changing this team's identity away from defense, size and movement toward a likely influx of pick-and-roll to suit Paul's style. Golden State doesn't feature a big conducive to running those actions either, and while a strong season catching-and-shooting threes could allow Curry and Paul to play together some, Paul's best bet to succeed and win comes as sixth man. In Las Vegas, more trouble for the youth movement -- Brandin Podziemski is shooting 25% FG and Trayce Jackson-Davis (hamstring) took until Thursday to debut. 

Houston: Made the semifinals as one of the four best summer league teams if that matters to you. Cam Whitmore carried the team with 19.3 PPG on 44.9% shooting, though posting more turnovers than assists with Amen Thompson (ankle) down. Only six players and one rookie took more shots than Whitmore did through four games, a style he won't replicate once he arrives on the actual Rockets team, with Thompson among other veterans ahead of him in the ball-handling hierarchy. Injury cost him draft standing, but it's easy to imagine his style might've too. Can it translate?

Jabari Smith Jr., meanwhile, built a strong case for Vegas MVP during his stint -- averaging 21.5 PPG on 48.8% FG with 7.0 RPG and 4.0 APG. 

Indiana: In the mix on Pascal Siakam as they try and bolster a four position that became their weakness last year. The Pacers admitted an aggressive move could come sooner rather than later due to Tyrese Haliburton's success arriving ahead of schedule. Summer League showed an array of contributors who could build a trade package, while salaries like Buddy Hield's could finalize the deal and give the Raptors flexibility to keep making moves beyond the Siakam one. Siakam and Myles Turner can also both space the floor as big men. It's an enticing fit if the price is right.

Clippers: Awaiting the seemingly inevitable move to land James Harden. The 76ers will try their hardest to retain him and LA can't muster a deal to move Daryl Morey. They don't have a ton to offer, with Terance Mann and some distance draft picks their only valuable assets in a deal, and Morey previously showed with Ben Simmons that kind of offer won't sway him. The Clippers have bigger issues though, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George entering contract years in this team's most pessimistic offseason since this core came together. Will they further tie themselves to this group of aging stars, now including Russell Westbrook, Harden's teammate during a bad Houston stint, ahead of the new arena in Inglewood?

By the way -- I love rookie banger Kobe Brown. 

Lakers: LeBron James unsurprisingly announced he won't retire this summer after floating the possibility following the Lakers' loss to the Nuggets in the West finals. James said in his ESPYs speech he won't walk away until he believe he has nothing left to give to the game. That point could always creep up sooner than expected once a startling late-career run loses steam, as Tom Brady showed in the NFL, but James played as well as ever in his 20th season -- averaging 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 6.8 APG on 50% shooting while becoming the league's all-time leading scorer. He has a 2025 player option worth $51.4 million. Nearby in Vegas, Max Christie took some strides in summer league, averaging 11.7 PPG and shooting 50% 3PT. 

Miami: Goran Dragic told a Slovenian outlet he hopes to return to the Heat once the Damian Lillard saga gets resolved, blaming an uneven season between the Bulls and Bucks on left knee soreness he underwent surgery to address. Talks between the Heat and Trail Blazers stalled this month as Miami appears unable to give Portland the type of return it'd seek in a Lillard trade while Lillard's agent continues to call teams not named the Heat and tell them they'd receive an unhappy player in a trade. Miami needs the deal more than anyone, having lost important players from their east finals headline by Gabe Vincent, who addressed a difficult decision to join the Lakers and looked back at the team's stunning win over the Celtics. 

"It almost seemed to me truthfully, that they had something going on over there," Vincent said. "Despite our gameplan, so much has to go right I feel like to win in this league. If you're not fully right internally, I feel like it shows in different ways ... I obviously don't know if they were right internally or they weren't, but that was kind of the feel I had.”

New Orleans: Zion Williamson spent most of this week at summer league expressing positivity about his outlook for next season after injuries derailed his fourth season. He admitted in a sit-down with Gilbert Arenas' podcast that he's struggled with dieting early in his career and emphasized his flexibility regimen remains a larger factor in keeping himself on the court than his weight. GM David Griffin said he's doing the right things. 

“What I want people to know about me is: I just wanna hoop. I wanna be out there. I don’t wanna be on the sideline," Williamson said. "You think I wanna sit over there hurt? I don’t."

Minnesota/New York: Ian Begley said on the Lowe Post podcast that the Knicks and Timberwolves discussed the framework of a Karl-Anthony Towns trade before the draft that the Knicks abandoned due to Towns' massive salary. Lowe expressed skepticism that the Wolves seriously intended to move Towns now, and it's clear momentum works against such a deal in both directions currently. Nobody looks at Towns' recent playoff performances and gets excited about adding him for nearly $300 million. The Naz Reid deal, meanwhile, raised eyebrows at the Wolves' frontcourt. 

Oklahoma City: What a joy watching Chet Holmgren dominate summer league. Consider him a legitimate challenger to Victor Wembanyama for rookie of the year having the benefit of a full season of NBA strength-and-conditioning following his leg injury nearly one year ago that cost him his rookie year. Holmgren dominated Vegas -- averaging 20.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG and a ridiculous 3.5 BPG in two appearances while shooting 56% FG. 

Philadelphia: James Harden is reportedly determined to start next season with the Clippers after opting-in to the final year of his Sixers contract while requesting a trade. ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne both indicated a cooling period between the both sides pointing toward a Harden return to Philadelphia ahead of free agency next summer. That might become the most likely outcome, but if Harden's heart is elsewhere again, it won't be easy for the 76ers to progress smoothly into a new season. Especially if Harden's discontent tests Joel Embiid's patience. 

Phoenix: Kevin Durant took to Twitter as he has for much of this summer so far to debate that offense wins championships, a reflection of the situation he finds himself in with these Suns. It's hard to imagine Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker dominating defensive rating this season as a more consolidated version of the Nets experience came together this season. Frank Vogel stresses defense, another interesting layer to Durant's discussion, which also extends to the Celtics' budding philosophy. Champions typically rest in the top 10 of defenses. Can the Suns shake that trend?

Portland: Scoot Henderson thrived in his lone summer league appearance scoring 15 points with five rebounds and six assists before Shaedon Sharpe took over the team's run that finished by narrowly missing the semifinals. Sharpe managed 16.5 PPG, though shot only 34.8% FG and finished below 30% from three on over five attempts per game. This team will undoubtedly face a learning curve, especially without Damian Lillard, who GM Joe Cronin admitted could take months to trade as the team emphasizes finding the right deal for its future. 

"As a team, you always hope that you have more options," Cronin said in Vegas. "To have limited options like that, I wouldn't call it frustrating but it prevents you from perhaps getting the best return."

San Antonio: Victor Wembanyama bounced back from his disappointing debut with a stellar finale in his second summer appearance for the Spurs, scoring 27 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks on 9-for-14 shooting. He split four three-point attempts and chased his jump shot in ways that finally reflected the nearly unprecedented promise he entered this draft with one month ago. The Spurs quickly shut him down after the game, with close calls on screening actions and falls underscoring the lurking injury risk for a player at his size. He had played in the French playoffs into June.