Picks 'n Pops: Catching up on remaking the team, a Kristaps Porzingis injury mystery, Cooper Flagg, and Joe Mazzulla at Patriots practice

Every week, I gather some thoughts on the Celtics, the NBA, and beyond and dump them here. They usually publish on Fridays but I’m doing a Monday version to catch up on all the stuff I missed during my week off, because my ego is too fragile to not offer my opinions on stories, regardless of the expiration date. 

- Wyc Grousbeck said that in a postseason meeting, the Celtics' braintrust “agreed not to bring back the exact same team again.” 

I call that an indictment of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who were both unable to lift Boston to a championship when they had a chance in each of the past two seasons. The team didn’t just go get different role players, they got a former All-Star with the potential to become a third member of a Big Three. 

Seems to me that if they felt Tatum and Brown were *this* close to winning it all, they wouldn’t have come to this conclusion. 

He also said he's not selling the team, which is valued at $4 billion after he and his group paid $360 million for it. Celtics pride is one thing, but as the late, great Christopher Wallace once said, gimme the loot!

- Boston is on the road for Christmas day, taking on the Lakers in L.A. Red Auerbach always wanted the Celtics on the road for Christmas so the Garden staff could stay home with their loved ones.

- I don’t know what’s going on with Kristaps Porzingis and his supposed foot injury, but he looked fine here: 

Honestly, I don’t even care if the story is a lie. I don’t want Porzingis playing internationally right now given the importance of the next couple of Celtics seasons. If something happens to Porzingis this summer or this season, it could derail the Celtics and slam this championship window shut. 

It’s bad enough that Oshae Brissett is dealing with a summer knee injury. This is a critical season, and sorry Latvia, you’re not going anywhere in the tournament. You’re ranked 29th, so I’m not interested in whatever moral victories you’re trying for this summer. 

- Good luck to Tacko Fall, who is going back to China. According to Shams Charania, he’ll play for the Nanjing Monkey Kings. 

I don’t think Fall is going to make it in the NBA long-term, but he can keep that dream alive while making some decent money to live a good life taking advantage of being 7’6”. 

More players need to be honest with themselves like this. There's money to be made around the world. Go make it. 

- Speaking of making money, Tatum said Brown getting a supermax extension was a “no-brainer.” It’s nice of him to support Brown like that. What I want to know is whether Tatum ever followed through and bought Brown a car as penance for breaking his teammate’s face. 

- James Harden called Daryl Morey a liar and vowed never to play for a Morey-led team ever again:  

Very curious here, James. What did Morey lie about? What did he promise you and not deliver on? Was it a very illegal wink-wink deal to take less and build a team last season and then give you max money this year? 

The NBA, I’m sure, would be very interested to hear the answer here. A similar move by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1999 cost them five first round picks, one of which was returned when then GM Kevin McHale accepted a suspension as part of the punishment. 

This couldn't be happening to a better franchise. They’ve been a mess since “The Process” started, they’ve been an embarrassment for various reasons along the way, and now they're going to crash and burn without ever having gotten out of the second round. 

To me, this is what you get when you make a mockery of the system. The Basketball Gods played the long game with Philly and Harden, and I couldn't be more thrilled. 

Just waiting on the Joel Embiid trade demand in 3… 2…

- Happy 95th birthday to Bob Cousy. We love ya, Cooz…

- Maui needs our help: Donate here 

- RJ Hunter is signing with the Charlotte Hornets. It’s probably just a camp deal, but I’m still watching for Hunter to make it in the NBA because he’s my irrational attachment. I always had high hopes for him as a shooter. 

Don’t even talk to me about what he can’t do. I don’t want to hear it. I just want to dream. 

This, by the way, is why I’d make a terrible GM. 

- Cooper Flagg is going to be the biggest sports story in New England over the next couple of seasons. He reclassified and is eligible for the 2025 NBA draft, and right now he’s expected to be the top overall pick. 

Now would be a good time for the NBA to bring back territorial draft picks. Flagg is an exciting young prospect that has analysts gushing . 

The 6’8” forward from Maine has been dominating the summer circuit. It’s wild to be talking about a 16-year-old in these terms, but he looks like the next big thing out of this region. Let’s hope he continues on a good path.

- Congratulations to Sam Hauser on his wedding. 

Luke Kornet must be amazing on the dance floor. Look at him living his best life. I honestly don’t think there's anyone who takes himself less seriously than Kornet. 

- Joe Mazzulla spent some time with Bill Belichick at Patriots training camp: 

There's no truth to the rumor that Mazzulla wanted to spend all his time with the kickers because he just loves 3-pointers that much. 

Alternate joke: 

There's no truth to the rumor that when Belichick excused himself to go talk to the defense, Mazzulla responded by saying, “The what?”

Alternate joke #2: 

There's no truth to the rumor that Belichick allowed Mazzulla to run the offense for a bit and they ran nothing but long bombs for half an hour. 

Alternate joke #3: 

There's no truth to the rumor that it took five coaches to explain to Mazzulla what was going on when Mac Jones called a timeout during a scrimmage.

Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all night. Be sure to tip the waitstaff.