A letter to William Chisholm, the new majority owner of the Boston Celtics

Pricey William,

Information lately broke that your bid to buy the Boston Celtics has been accepted. As a lifelong Celtics fan, I might first prefer to congratulate you on engaging in what I think about was a childhood dream of yours!

As with every large adjustments, this switch of possession has left followers like myself unsure about what the longer term holds for our beloved workforce. To be fully trustworthy, I used to be not aware of you earlier than the announcement got here, which provides one other layer of uncertainty.

I hear that you just grew up in Massachusetts, and are additionally a die-hard fan who bleeds inexperienced. You’ve shared your understanding of how vital the Celtics are to town of Boston, and famous how effectively Wyc Grousbeck has positioned this workforce to compete. You additionally acknowledged your intentions to proceed that quest for banners now and sooner or later.

So far as I’m involved, you’ve stated all the best issues up to now. It’s very encouraging to listen to that you’re taking the time to align objectives with the present possession group, in addition to with Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, and the remainder of the Celtics employees. Clearly, you’re conscious of simply how nervous all us die-hard followers are with this “altering of the guard.”

When you’ll by no means have the ability to appease each Celtics fan, (we is usually a… passionate group, as I’m certain you already know) I’d prefer to share my ideas on how one can make this fan blissful together with your new function.

We’ve all seen the catastrophe that the Dallas Mavericks have was after Mark Cuban relinquished his function as the bulk proprietor of the franchise. The brand new possession group appears to have jumped the gun in an effort to avoid wasting cash, buying and selling away their franchise cornerstone for an older and worse participant as a result of they didn’t need to get caught paying their 26-year-old celebrity a supermax contract, regardless of him having simply led them to their first Finals look in 13 years.

Whereas Luka could have his flaws, he doesn’t have many with regards to basketball, and he was a beloved determine in Dallas, each for his ability, and for his contributions to the group. He’s undoubtedly one of the gifted gamers within the league at present, and is definitely on a Corridor of Fame path. By nearly all accounts, this transfer which was authorized, and possibly even inspired, by Dallas’s homeowners looks as if one which was tone-deaf when contemplating town and the game.

Us Celtics followers perceive that generally, powerful selections have to be made, and a fantastic deal could present up that requires us to half methods with a fan-favorite. We’ve already seen it just a few occasions during the last decade or so: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce getting traded to the Nets; Isaiah Thomas to the Cavs for Kyrie, and, most lately, Marcus Sensible for Kristaps Porzingis. All of those trades damage within the second, however most followers might see the imaginative and prescient, and the strikes supplied us with a transparent path forward.

We’ve additionally come to belief the basketball genius of Brad Stevens, and all I ask is that you just do the identical. Having a hands-on proprietor who cares in regards to the workforce is nice, and it’s even higher after they can acknowledge that there are folks throughout the group who perceive basketball and workforce constructing on the most detailed ranges. One of the best ways to place this workforce able to succeed is by empowering them to make these selections freely.

I perceive that you just spent a reasonably penny to earn the privilege of commanding this historic franchise. If I have been in your sneakers, I in all probability wouldn’t need different folks telling me what to do, particularly if it was to spend a complete lot extra money. However, because the saying goes, the Celtics are a lifestyle. That is greater than private touches; it’s about elevating banners. That’s one of the best ways to cement your legacy inside this franchise.

It’s not going to be low-cost – not now, and never ever. Will probably be price it, although. I ask that you just put success over cash, and I anticipate that you just’ll see it repay within the long-run as effectively.

I additionally ask that you just take into account the character of the gamers when they’re off the court docket simply as a lot as you’d take into account their abilities when they’re on it. Placing on these inexperienced and white jerseys means one thing, and it’s a privilege to put on them.

Should you’ve been maintaining with the Celtics Metropolis documentary on Max, then I’m certain you perceive that the Celtics have had a lot of gamers of their historical past which have been extraordinarily lively of their pursuit to enhance their communities. A number of members of our present roster proceed to hold that mindset, and simply as I requested you to empower the entrance workplace to make basketball selections, I ask you to empower and encourage the gamers to make a distinction outdoors of basketball.

Based mostly in your introductory feedback, it appears as if you recognize all of this already. I’m excited and optimistic about this new period for the Boston Celtics, simply as a lot as I’m to find out about you and your involvement in main us to success throughout the group and town of Boston.

Right here’s to greatness, and a complete lot of banners!

Greatest regards,

A really passionate fan