Celtics

Celtics reportedly ‘very keen’ to promote assistant coach Sam Cassell

With Boston losing its top assistant in Charles Lee, the Celtics reportedly want to elevate Cassell’s role.

By Kaley Brown

June 22, 2024

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Less than one week removed from winning the NBA Finals, the Celtics are reportedly looking to promote one of their assistant coaches.

Boston is “very keen” to elevate Sam Cassell’s role on Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Celtics reportedly want to prevent another team from hiring Cassell for a similar role. 

Stein explicitly mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers as showing interest in landing the veteran assistant. The Lakers reportedly recently hired JJ Redick, who has no prior coaching experience, to be their new head coach. Los Angeles reportedly wants to hire two former NBA players to coach under Redick, per Stein (Cassell played from 1993-2009).

Given this report, it certainly seems like Cassell is a candidate to take Boston’s top assistant coaching position. Charles Lee held the role in 2023-24, but was hired to be the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach in May.

Cassell’s lengthy NBA playing and coaching career annually makes him a hot coaching commodity in the league. The 54-year-old immediately landed an assistant coaching position in 2009 after he retired from playing the same year. Cassell has coached for the Washington Wizards (2009-14), Los Angeles Clippers (2014-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23), and the Celtics (2023-present). He coached under Doc Rivers during his stints with the Clippers and 76ers.

Cassell became an NBA champion this past week as a member of the Celtics’ coaching staff. He also played for Boston in 2008 when the team won its 17th NBA title.

Mazzulla praised Cassell’s coaching abilities last month as rumors began to swirl about the assistant potentially taking a job elsewhere.

“He’s been at every seat on the bench, and he knows how to communicate with every single player,” Mazzulla said. “Good coach. Great coach.”