The Celtics are heading into a new year with the best record in the NBA and plenty of home games coming up in Boston. Let’s jump into some questions about the team in this week’s mailbag as the calendar turns to 2024. If you have questions about the Celtics or NBA, free agency or more email [email protected] or tweet @briantrobb

With 19 games coming up through the end of January, do you see the Celtics giving the Jays any games off for load management given the injury scares on the west coast? — Jonathan L

It’s going to start to happen more as the bumps and bruises pile up. The good news for the Celtics is that there is enough firepower and steady bench contributors where they can take this cautious approach if they want. We saw perhaps the first sign of it on Thursday night with Jaylen Brown getting the night off against the Pistons after being listed as questionable. With five back-to-backs across the next month, I’d be surprised if we see Kristaps Porzingis play the vast majority of all of those sets as an alternating strategy with Al Horford could come into play. While Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are largely ironmen when it comes to their availabilities, some veteran rest for either or Jrue Holiday could be worked in.

Brobb what do you want the Celtics to do for an extra guy. How does pj Tucker sound?? I know he has really nothing left offensively but I think he can give you enough defensively, especially to throw at embiid and Giannis. Maybe him not playing will save his legs too? Also, I still think Stevens and Brissett need more playing time. No more Kornet. Thanks and as always, love your pieces — Sean D

Thanks for the kind words Sean! I think some more big man insurance would make sense but count me out on PJ Tucker. The Clippers will undoubtedly try to shop the veteran forward who has fallen out of the rotation in recent weeks. However, he doesn’t make sense for Boston on a couple of fronts. To start, he’s a hesitant shooter at this stage of his career that teams can help off of and that’s not the type of player Boston should be looking to bring into their offense at this point. Additionally, his salary for this and next season ($11 million each year) would be tough to salary match without including 3-4 bench players in the deal. He’s not good enough to shake up the bench like that.

As for Stevens and Brissett, I’m with you on wanting to see more opportunities for both as the schedule gets busier. Brissett has looked much better of late after a rough start. The team should roll with him when they have a chance to see how much he can help consistently, especially amid injuries.

Why does Kornet no longer shoot 3′s? His first 3 seasons he averaged almost 4 attempts per game in about 16 mpg, so the volume was definitely there. He also shot a pretty decent percentage (low 30′s), but since 2021 he’s only had 23 attempts. It’s really odd since players usually develop skills as they’re in the league, but it seems as though Kornet has severely regressed in this skill. Thanks, Eddie

It is a wild transformation during a pro career. To be honest, I think it’s just because he wasn’t good enough consistently at it after those first two years. I think part of it also goes with team priorities. Once he came to Boston, the message was clearly to focus more of your energy around the basket and hit the offensive glass harder with your size. The numbers have shown that strategy has paid off since his rebounding rate has skyrocketed in Boston. Will try to pick his brain about it more at some point but that’s my sense.

In light of recent reports linking the Celtics to vets like Kelly Olynyk who would probably be too expensive for them to trade for, could we start seeing teams like the Celtics trying to induce teams like the Jazz to buyout certain targets in exchange for draft pick compensation? For example, let’s say the Jazz tell Olynyk he can talk to teams interested in acquiring him either by direct or indirect trade, like the Celtics. Once he gives the greenlight that he would sign with Boston on the free agent market, Boston approaches Utah with am offer to trade a couple of second round picks for some sort of nominal asset owned by the Jazz (e.g. drafts rights to a guy who will never come over, etc) with the real target being an inducement for the Jazz to buyout Olynyk with the understanding that he would then sign with Boston. Would something like this work/be permissible under the new CBA? Thanks, Matt D.

It’s a fun idea but not going to get the green light in the NBA under CBA rules. You always have to give something to get something in a trade and facilitating a buyout/trade with the method you described would be circumventing the waiver/trade process. With the stricter rules coming into play now for high-spending teams like Boston in the CBA, a bunch of other teams would heavily protest a move like that and the league would probably veto it too.

Hi Brian, I have three questions about 7′ center Neemias Queta. So far he’s proved a godsend for the Celtics by giving them quality depth at center. Have you been surprised by his performance, both offensively and defensively, even considering the small sample size? Do you think he deserves more playing time than Luke Kornet? And in what ways is Queta similar to and different from the departed Celtics center, Robert Williams III? Thank you for answering these questions. — Paul F

Queta’s offensive rebounding has impressed me more than anything else. By rate, he’s been one of the best in the NBA this season which has helped to make up for a subpar finishing touch for a big man at the rim. Defensively, there have been plenty of highlights and lowlights (goaltending) but he’s certainly shown promise for a two-way player. I think he’s better than Kornet for certain matchups (against rebounding-minded bigs) but both have played well for their roles. Like Robert Williams, he is a great offensive rebounder but lacks the passing ability and rim protection upside that Williams showed off.

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