The Boston Celtics are in the midst of making some very serious decisions about head coach Ime Udoka.
Late Wednesday night it was revealed that the organization was preparing to “discipline” Udoka over what was eventually described as a consensual romantic relationship with a female staffer.
Given Udoka’s role on the Celtics and the fact that he has been in a long-term relationship, the news caught many off guard.
It is unclear how long Udoka will ultimately be suspended for, but it is rapidly becoming clear that he will likely not be on Boston’s bench come the beginning of the 2022-23 NBA season.
By all accounts, Joe Mazzulla will likely be elevated to the role of interim coach in Udoka’s absence. Also noteworthy, however, is the role of former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel in all this.
“Don’t be surprised if Frank Vogel is considered for the Celtics bench,” tweeted NBA insider Chris Mannix. “Joe Mazzulla is expected to be elevated, but the staff is thin with head coaching experience.
“Vogel has a longstanding relationship with Brad Stevens.”
Vogel, of course, got the boot from the Lakers this past summer after failing to qualify for the playoffs with the much-maligned franchise. It’s no secret which player had the biggest role in him getting fired.
Time will tell if the Celtics ultimately decide to bring Vogel onboard.
As for Mazzulla, he will be an interesting person to watch going forward. He is the only holdover from Brad Stevens’ run as the Celtics’ head coach.
“I talked to everybody in the organization when I got hired, players included, and [Mazzulla] got glowing reviews. I didn’t know much about him going into it. I take the players’ opinions at high value,” Udoka said a while back of Mazzulla. “He was a guy that there was a consensus ‘yes.’ Somebody that they all worked with closely, believed in, and understood his upside.”
The consequences from Udoka’s scandal are continue to pour in. Nia Long’s latest Instagram post speaks for itself. The Celtics are scrambling.
The Miami Dolphins continue to impress. https://t.co/WmXGbmjlgv
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 22, 2022
It’s a mess.
Will all this chaos lead to Vogel making the jump from L.A. to Boston in a few months’ time?
An answer will emerge soon enough.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
