6 Celtics Playing Their Final Series in Boston
By Ryan Bunton
3. Sam Cassell
Cassell, who won the 2008 NBA Finals as a player with the Celtics, is now seeking another ring with the C's as a coach. After a 17-year playing career, Cassell embarked on his coaching path. He was an assistant with the Washington Wizards from 2009-14, with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2014-20, and on the sideline with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020-23. It is his first season under Joe Mazzulla in Boston, and it could be his last.
Cassell has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching gig, where he was "reportedly one of three early targets for the Lakers' head coach vacancy", along with J.J. Reddick and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego. This reporting is over a month old, and obviously the Dan Hurley sweepstakes came up empty for L.A. Reddick remains a consideration.
Cassell has been open and honest about his desire to be an NBA head coach, stating “That’s my goal, and it’s going to come. It’s going to come one day." Publicly, Cassell to the Lakers hasn't received a lot of traction, but this could be due to his primary focus sitting on Boston's title chase at the moment. There is a chance he is the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.