Today was possibly the busiest day in sports.  I could have probably written a separate article for each event but it’s too much all at once.  So instead, you get a brand-new edition of my world famous This and That column.  So much happened today i won’t even talk about the New York Yankees or the amazing Aaron Judge. I am sure I will get into each of these topics in more detail as things unfold but for now, here we go…   

Feeling a Draft—The NBA held its draft last week and surprisingly the Boston Celtics made both of their selections.  With their entire rotation returning and being over the second apron, most people, including me, figured the Celtics would punt on this draft to save money.  However, the Celtics had a guy whom they have been interested in for a while fall to them at 30 so they took him.  Baylor Scheierman is a 6’7” left-handed wing.  He is an excellent shooter so he will fit right in with the Green Team.  At the very least he can be a cheaper Svi replacement and Houser insurance.  At least on offense.  In order to get any playing time, he will have to show he can hold his own on defense.  He has good size but lacks athleticism so it could be a challenge for him.  Unlike Houser, or Svi, Baylor can create his own shot off the dribble and doesn’t look like he will just be a spot up shooter.  Due to his past as a QB and a PG, he is also a very good passer and sees the court well.  He has the potential to be a good player and a great fit for the Celtics if he can play enough defense to stay on the court. 

In the second round they chose Anton Watson.  He is a 6’9” forward who will make his name on the defensive side of the ball.  He has good size and moves well enough to guard multiple positions, which is key in the Celtics switch everything system.  On offense he’s a good finisher but doesn’t seem to be much of a creator for himself or others.  He did have a 32-point game against UCLA this year.  His three-point shooting has improved throughout his college career.  His senior year he shot 41% but only took 1.5 threes per game.  Brad Stevens has already said he wants him firing away from down town.  He seems like he has a good chance of being an effective D and three guy for the Celtics.  If his defense translates to the NBA, he could see playing time next season. 

Damn it’s Drafty—The NHL also held its draft last week.  The Boston Bruins made 4 picks in this year’s draft.  The NHL draft is like the MLB draft, it’s a bunch of 18-year-olds no one has ever heard of (with some exception to the top 2 or 3 guys) who will not play in the pros for a few years if ever.  Thus, I will not bother to talk about the guys drafted outside the first round.  In the first round, with the pick they traded Ullmark for, the Bruins took 6’7” center Dean Letourneau.  He’s a big boy.  The reports on him are that he skates well for his size, has a great shot, and can stick handle pretty well.  He is not a physical guy, even with that size, but he does go to the dirty areas regularly.  The biggest knock on him is that he played in a league that wasn’t that good this year so no one knows if he is actually good or not.  He did put up big numbers with 61 goals, and 66 assists in only 56 games.  I get the “no competition” argument but it’s not like he was just OK playing against the weaker competition, he dominated.  Which is what you want in that situation.  He is going to BC this year so we will see how he does playing in Hockey East against the best competition you can get in America at that age.  He’s physically gifted but very raw.  This is a home run swing.  The Bruins could strike out, but it’s worth the risk when you are picking at 25. 

Hit and Run—In poker the term hit and run refers to a player who wins a really big pot and immediately gets up and cashes out.  The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship 2 weeks ago and Wyc Grousbeck and company have announced they are selling the Celtics.  Actually, there is a bit of confusion in weather it’s Wyc who is selling his stake in the team or the entire ownership group.  Either way I don’t blame Wyc for getting out.  The new CBA makes it impossible to have a championship level team without spending a ridiculous amount of money on taxes.  The return on investment from when they bought the team is going to be huge.  Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing we will not know until we learn who is buying the team.  If it’s John Henry and his Fenway group, it’s a terrible thing.  If it’s a bazillionare who’s looking to spend, spend, spend then it’s a great thing.  Two quick notes, I don’t think John Henry can buy the team because LeBron James is part of the Fenway Group and is still playing in the league.  There is no way the league would allow a player to own a team he isn’t even on.  2) Maybe the new owner will want to build their own building (the Bruins own the TD Garden if you did not know) and they will build a cool field house for the Celtics.  Though I think it would be stupid for them to build another bowl arena. 

When a Trade isn’t A Trade—NHL Free Agency opened today at noon and the Bruins wasted no time making their two big signings.  They signed center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov whom both played on Vancouver to end last season.  Vancouver signed Forbort, Heinen, and DeBrusk.  So, it was basically a trade.  A trade I would like for the Bruins.  I am not completely excited about these moves (or the other moves they made) I think for two reasons.  For one, they were expected to make these moves for a while now, I mentioned Lindholm in my off season preview in May, so there was no surprise.  It was a fait accompli so it wasn’t really exciting.  Second, as much as I like the two players and as much as they fill needs for the Bruins, neither of them are goal scorers.  They need a goal scorer.  They still don’t have a goal scorer to go with Pastrnak.  They still don’t have anyone the opposing team has to worry about.  No one they have to game plan for.  Until they get one, they will not be true Cup contenders. 

Lindholm is a top 6 center and will most likely play next to Pastrnak.  He will help on the PP and plays well in all three zones.  I expect a healthy Pastrnak to push 60 goals again with an upgrade at center next to him.  But Lindholm himself isn’t much of a goal scorer.  He did score 42 goals 3 years ago but it was an outlier.  He scored 22 goals the next season and only 15 last season.  I think it’s asking a lot to expect him to score more that about 20 to 25 goals.  That’s not an improvement over DeBrusk.      

Zadorov is a big physical defenseman who will throw his weight around and demolish opposing players whenever given the chance.  He is the big presence they have needed on the back end for a while.  He will make the Bruins much harder to play against.  As will Max Jones, the bottom 6 (I am not sure Sweeney knows what the 6 in bottom 6 means as they have like 75 bottom 6 guys) forward the Bruins signed from the Ducks.  Jones was a first-round pick that never panned out as a goal scorer but has a good physical game.  While these guys will add physicality and edge to the Bruins line up, neither of them are goal scorers.  So the Bruins are back to trying to win every game 1-0.  It’s not gonna work.  If they are going to get a goal scorer, they will have to make a trade and I don’t think they are going to.  During his presser today Sweeney made it sound as if this is the team they are planning on icing come October and that they are going to rely on a young guy to finally step up and make the team.  But here’s the thing.  Even if Lysell (or Merkalov, or whoever) steps up, takes the 4^th spot on the first or second line and goes out and scores 20 goals.  He’ll be in the running for the Calder Trophy, if not win it, and it’s not enough.  They could be the best rookie in the league and it’s just a DeBrusk replacement.  They need more.  A lot more.  Everyone the Bruins signed today is big and physical.  That’s a good thing.  The Big Bad Bruins will be back.  But it doesn’t make the team any better on offense.  I guess we can hope for a big trade (Draisaitl???) but I wouldn’t hold my breath. 

The Team that Wins Together Stays Together—The Boston Celtics did some work today as well signing Derrick White to a max 4-year extension.  White could have gotten more money if he just played out next season and hit free agency but the Celtics were able to convince him to take less money in exchange for the certainty of playing on a great team with a chance to win.  With this extension White, Tatum (who also agreed to a max extension today, for a lot more money) Brown, Holiday, Porzingis, and Pritchard are all locked up for multiple years.  Horford has one year left and Houser is signed for this year and due a possible extension.  With the core all in place, the Green Team is poised to make a run at a dynasty.  We will see if it happens, it will be anything but easy, but they are on the right track.

Wait, There Are Other Teams?—NBA Free agency opened today.  As I’ve mentioned the Celtics roster is pretty much set but for the rest of the league there was a lot going on.  The Knicks did in fact lose Hartenstein, the 76ers got Paul George but lost Tobias Harris.  Orlando made some nice moves that will make them a harder out this year.  OKC seems to be going all in after finishing with the second-best record in the league last season but not getting out of the second round.  And the Mavs made a sign and trade for Klay Thompson in an attempt to get over the hump.  There is still one more big shoe to drop as word is Kevin Durant is not long for Phoenix.  There were a lot of good moves made over the last two days but none of them, outside of the Knicks moves, really worry me as a Celtics fan.  We will have to see where things are when everyone finds their home for next season and how teams look once the season begins but as of now, the Celtics are looking like favorites to come out of the East and make a run at being the first back to back champs since 2018.