Is new Celtics coach Ime Udoka going to be Brad Stevens 2.0?
Days after the Celtics announced Ime Udoka as their new head coach, some of the recent developments in the organization still deserve unpacking. I have a theory about the hire. I also have some thoughts on Udokas next steps. Here we go. With the rare opportunity to hire his own successor, I wonder if Brad Stevens offered a window into what he considered his own pros and cons as an NBA head coach. Based on conversations with several people around the NBA over the last week or so, Udoka sounds a lot like Stevens in some ways. Hes smart. He wont get too up or too down. Hes highly committed to the work of being a coach. He considers relationship building one of the most important aspects of the job. Hes humble and wont ask for any of the spotlight. Stevens has regularly raved about Gregg Popovich and the Spurs culture. Udoka said his seven years as Popovichs assistant kind of laid the foundation of who I want to be as a basketball coach.  Its not hard to see the similarities between Stevens and Udoka, but the differences are also obvious. The Celtics looked at several coaches with NBA playing experience. Udoka played parts of seven seasons in the league before transitioning to a career in coaching. He started 75 games on a Trail Blazers team that also featured LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Brandon Roy. He was teammates with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in San Antonio, and, for a brief time, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal in Los Angeles. Udoka never reached an all-star level in an NBA jersey, but went through a lot as a player. Based on the types of candidates Stevens looked at most closely, I suspect that type of background mattered to him. Udoka also has a reputation as a tough guy. Despite Stevens laid-back demeanor, he wasnt a pushover. Former players have shared stories about how he stood up to guys in the locker room and stood his ground. Still, based on tales from his past, Udoka should have a different type of presence. He has already said he intends to coach players hard, but wont coach everyone the same way. I think its all relationship-based, Udoka said. We have to build that foundation off the court somewhat. Also understand that you cant coach everybody the same way. What motivates others might embarrass others. So you find that balance there, but  it comes down to trust, respect and being in alignment with our goals. And I think the players, it comes down to their character ultimately also, the way they want to be pushed and taking constructive criticism, and I think we have a group that has done that so far in the times Ive been with them, and I think just in our conversations lately, they are looking forward to that. So its just striking the balance of knowing their personalities, how they want to be coached, and like I said, we have a willing group, and they only reiterated that with myself in our conversations lately. So looking forward to it, Im not worried about our group worrying about hard coaching. They are asking for that, and its something Im going to bring to the table.  If I were in charge of picking my own successor, I would search for someone with all of my strengths, but none of my weaknesses. It would make sense if Stevens looked to replace himself with Brad 2.0. Thats my theory for now, but of course Udoka has a lot to prove. Udokas plans for his staff  After taking the Celtics coaching position eight years ago, Stevens made longtime assistant Ron Adams one of his first hires. The decision seemed to show that Stevens, while adjusting to the NBA, wanted a respected veteran to help him navigate the transition. Udoka may not necessarily look for so much experience alongside him. He said he is looking for assistants who can build relationships and relate to others. He also wants to add energy, juice in the building, a great environment to produce winning.  Thats what Im looking for in my staff and some of the people Ive talked to so far, said Udoka. Then in general just a little bit of mix. I dont feel like I need to have a veteran staff more so than an energetic staff, so Im looking at both areas and a ton of great candidates. Were kind of nailing that down now as we speak.  While he looks to finalize the rest of the staff, Udoka has reached an agreement to hire Spurs assistant Will Hardy, according to sources. Hardy spent 10 seasons with San Antonio, including six as an assistant coach and four as a video coordinator. Among NBA circles, he was viewed as a significant acquisition by Boston. Though at age 33 he hasnt been around the league nearly as long as Adams, Hardy has already drawn interest for several head coaching positions and is seen as a rising star by many across the league. Thats a big addition to Udokas staff. Its just not like the one Stevens made with Adams years ago. Nor does it need to be. Udoka doesnt necessarily need as much experience next to him as Stevens did. Stevens was adjusting to a new league with new rules after spending the bulk of his career in college. Udoka will definitely have a learning curve while sitting in the head coachs chair for the first time, but has been around the NBA for a long time now. He doesnt need anyone to show him the ins and outs of the league. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum (Jim Davis / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)  How will Udoka handle the two young pillars?  During an introductory press conference Monday, Udoka wasted no time putting Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown into a category of their own, calling them foundational young pillars. By my count, Udoka referred to the two All-Stars as pillars five times. When you have two young pillars at that age, the sky is the limit, Udoka said. Thats what it starts with.  Udokas comments represented the latest hints the Celtics have made an organizational decision to prioritize Tatum and Brown. That may seem like an obvious focus for the team, but its also a relatively new one, at least when it comes to public messaging. Two seasons ago, Brad Stevens regularly said he would make coaching decisions based on what would maximize the teams five best perimeter players: Tatum, Brown, Gordon Hayward, Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart. Since then, a lot has changed. Hayward left for Charlotte. Boston traded Walker to the Thunder. Tatum and Brown separated themselves from everyone else, including Smart, in the team hierarchy. Its not two superstars and the rest of the team, Udoka said. It shouldnt be while the Celtics are on the court. Udoka spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Spurs, soaking up a culture of team basketball. He wont do everything like Popovich, but wants the Celtics to increase their ball movement next season. Udoka believes the Celtics need to climb from their place in 27th on the assists leaderboard. He will preach unselfish play. He wont just give Tatum and Brown the ball and tell them to do their own thing. Still, Udoka made it clear he intends to cater to Tatum and Browns strengths. After a .500 season, the Celtics as an organization appear to have pivoted fully toward building around Tatum and Brown. Thats the obvious choice, but its notable how clearly the Celtics brass has signaled this is Tatum and Browns team now. The rest of the pieces will need to accentuate those guys. Udoka will need to get the best out of them. He has dealt with young stars before, including Kawhi Leonard during his time on the Spurs. Udoka said he asked Leonard then, Why wait?  What are you waiting for? Udoka said he told Leonard. These guys, dont give them too much respect. And Id say the same thing to Jayson and Jaylen.  Thats just the first window into how Udoka should coach Tatum and Brown. The fact that youre not All-NBA, that should be a chip on your shoulder, Udoka said. You should play with that edge, and want to prove people wrong. But my message to them would be, Why wait? The talent is there. The work ethic is there. Its a chance to be a better leader, more vocal at times, but dont wait for anything. Go out and take it now.  (Top photo: Brian Babineau / NBAE via Getty Images)