After winning their 18th ring last month, the Boston Celtics have found themselves losing assistant coaches to other teams. Fortunately, Sam Cassell has committed to staying as part of head coach Joe Mazzulla‘s coaching staff.
The Celtics are experiencing some roster changes on their coaching staff as they prepare to defend their NBA title next season. Top assistant Charles Lee has been named the new head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, and he is bringing some Celtics coaches with him to his new team.
The Hornets have announced that Blaine Mueller and Jermaine Bucknor will be joining Lee’s staff in Charlotte, along with former Celtics point guard Kemba Walker. Mueller had a successful season coaching the Maine Celtics in the G-League, leading them to the Finals. Bucknor was part of Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff in Boston for one year, making the jump to the NBA after a successful pro career overseas.
In addition, the Celtics have lost senior consultant Jeff Van Gundy, who has taken an assistant coaching job with the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite these changes, the Celtics are bringing back the vast majority of their roster as they look to defend their title next season.
Sam Cassell Decides to Stay As Boston Celtics’ Assistant Coach Amid Recent Coaching Exodus
Even though Mazzulla’s coaching staff has lost key members, former NBA champion and Milwaukee Bucks star Sam Cassell has chosen to stay as an assistant coach. In an article written by Brian Robb for Masslive.com, certain changes were explained for the upcoming season.
“The departures set up Joe Mazzulla to make some internal promotions for his own coaching staff for the upcoming season. The team is already adding one of Mazzulla’s former college players God Shammgod Jr. as a player development coach. Sam Cassell was a candidate for open head coaching jobs around the league and was heavily targeted as an assistant per sources. However, it appears he will be back alongside Mazzulla for next season,” Robb wrote.
Just last month, Cassell was rumored as one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ candidates to replace Darvin Ham as head coach. Ultimately, JJ Redick was chosen to coach the LeBron James-led team.
With Cassell back in the fold, the Celtics will have a better chance of defending their title next year. Using his extensive experience as a player and coach, Boston won’t have to worry that much.
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