Brad Stevens on Evan Turner’s new contract: ‘That makes you feel good’
Turner signed a four-year $70 million deal with the Portland after two strong seasons in Boston
No head coach likes to lose a key member of the roster in free agency, but Brad Stevens was nothing but smiles on Sunday when discussing Evan Turner’s hefty new deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.
“There’s a small part of you certainly that’s sad to see guys go and sad to see guys that have been a part of this not be a part of it anymore,” Stevens said in Las Vegas. “But I mean, c’mon. When I saw that and came across the deal, I was so happy for him. Knowing where he was two years ago and knowing he had come to Boston on the belief that this would be a good thing for his career — that makes you feel good.”
Turner came to Boston in the summer of 2014 on a modest two-year $6.7 million deal in hopes of salvaging a career that fell on hard times in Philadelphia and Indiana. Danny Ainge and Stevens clear saw potential in the versatile wing and unlocked it over the past two seasons in Boston where the 27-year-old developed into a key contributor on a 48-win team and finished fourth in sixth man of the year voting.
After landing a four-year, $70 million deal with the Blazers, Turner is clearly thankful for the opportunity given to him in Boston. Stevens is also proud of how far the former No. 2 overall pick progressed during his time as a Celtic and how he embraced whatever role he was given.
“I think he improved, but this was more about believing in who he is, and letting him be him, kind of letting him know that you believe in him,” Stevens said. “And I really enjoyed him. I’ve said this many times, but he didn’t come in one time and say anything about his role, or not starting, because he had started the whole year before [during his first season in Boston]. He just said, ‘I’m going to play my best until my opportunities come.’ It’s a great lesson for our summer league players. When we talk about how you never know when you’re going to get 10 minutes or 30 minutes, but if you just handle it really well then good things will happen. And I think a lot of people think Evan is a good example of that.”
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