According to ESPN, Boston has emerged as a leading destination in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. No deal is on the table (that we know of), but the mere possibility might raise a few concerns.
Boston, MA
Josh Kraft unveils plan to revamp Boston Public Schools, says Michelle Wu has failed district
Mayoral candidate Josh Kraft rolled out a comprehensive plan to revamp the embattled Boston Public Schools, and in doing so unveiled a third major area his campaign sees as a vulnerability for Mayor Michelle Wu.
Kraft released a five-page “plan to provide current and future generations of Boston families the BPS education they deserve” today, following other plans he’s put forward to tackle the issues of housing affordability and Mass and Cass that he says the mayor has failed to resolve during her first term in office.
The state of the city’s public school system, which narrowly avoided receivership a few years ago, is another key area Kraft — a son of the billionaire New England Patriots owner and longtime philanthropist — says he would focus on, should he be elected mayor this fall.
“Under Mayor Wu and her administration, BPS continues to fail our students and families,” Kraft’s new plan states. “BPS lacks both academic excellence and the basic support families need to ensure their children will learn and thrive, let alone arrive at school on time. Without an achievable plan and the ability to execute it, BPS will continue to remain substandard.”
Kraft’s campaign contends that his plan “puts students and families first, prioritizes parent and community engagement, nurtures and accelerates partnerships, and returns strong competent management to the school district.”
Per the plan, Kraft would focus on improving the district’s “persistently low literacy rates” by at least 10% through a “combination of high-dosage tutoring and community-driven partnerships,” and revitalizing vocational education as an alternative career pathway to today’s traditional college route.
His plan calls for renovating Madison Park, the city’s only vocational school, “the right way,” through a “community-oriented, efficient process” that “prioritizes making this school a regional leader for vocational education” — though it doesn’t get into specifics about how he would look to tackle such a massive project.
Renovations for Madison Park were tied into Wu’s plan to move the highly-rated O’Bryant exam school to West Roxbury, killed by Wu after community blowback, and have since been in limbo.
The estimated price tag for that rehab was reported earlier this year as roughly $700 million, a staggering amount that has the mayor saying she will seek funding from the state to help cover the costs, rather than have the city pay for it with its own money, as was her initial plan, according to a Boston Globe report.
Kraft’s plan also calls for a reevaluation of the current exam schools admission policy, as well as the number of seats available to ensure that BPS students who meet the necessary requirements are able “to attend one of these flagship schools.” His campaign contends that is not the case today.
To increase family and community engagement, Kraft’s plan calls for a switch from an appointed to a hybrid school committee, which Wu opposes. The hybrid committee would consist of elected and mayoral-appointed members, rather than today’s entirely mayoral-appointed board.
He’s proposing a leadership shakeup to bring a “results-oriented management style back to City Hall.” He envisions two superintendents for the district that would “split the job” and report to the mayor.
A so-called superintendent of operational management would focus “exclusively on the nuts-and-bolts” of the city’s school system and a superintendent of schools would “maintain and guide the academic success of the district.”
Kraft’s campaign says BPS students and their families have been “blindsided” by recent school closures, and he would “develop and implement a long-term facilities plan within one year in office.”
Kraft is also placing the blame for “chronic” school bus delays squarely on Wu, saying that his plan would fix the district’s “broken transportation system,” but his plan doesn’t elaborate on how he plans to do so.
His plan also calls for greater partnership with the state, community organizations that work with youth, and parents, who he thinks should have a dedicated office in City Hall that would “prioritize clear communication channels between families, the BPS administration and the mayor’s office.”
Boston, MA
Giannis to Boston is a possibility. Should the Knicks be worried?
Concern numero uno is obvious. Giannis is one of the handful of players capable of altering the championship picture by himself. Pairing him with Jayson Tatum would create an impressive combination of size, athleticism, versatility, and star power. The question is whether Brad Stevens and the Celtics can actually pull it off without creating a new set of problems for themselves.
Boston’s path to Giannis is narrower than it first appears. The Celtics would almost certainly need to move Jaylen Brown, either directly to Milwaukee or through a third team. Reports indicate Brown has little interest in joining the Bucks (in paraphrase: “Milwaukee?! Yuck!”), which complicates matters further. We start moving from a blockbuster trade to a three-team puzzle involving contracts, draft compensation, and competing agendas.
Even if Boston finds a way through that maze, there’s no guarantee the resulting team will succeed.
Giannis may be a better asset than Brown, but championships are not won by comparing players one-for-one. They’re won by building complete teams (case in point: YOUR WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS ).
Brown averaged more than 28 points per game last season while defending multiple positions. He can create his own offense, punish smaller defenders, and absorb primary scoring responsibilities when Tatum is unavailable (as Tatum was for most of last season, recovering from a torn Achilles). Replacing him with Giannis raises Boston’s ceiling, perhaps, but also changes the structure of the roster.
The Celtics have spent years building an ecosystem around two star wings. Remove one and the supporting cast suddenly becomes more important, which means Stevens would have many more decisions to make before the start of training camp.
What catches me up is, if the Bucks believed that Giannis has more great years ahead of him, would they so quickly offload him to a conference rival? Might he actually be a distressed asset?
Giannis will turn 32 this season. He has generally been durable over his career but has dealt with increasing lower-body issues (especially calves and knees) in recent years, leading to more missed time. To wit:
• 2022–23: 63 GP / 19 missed
• 2023–24: 73 GP / 9 missed
• 2024–25: 67 GP / 15 missed
• 2025–26: 36 GP / 46 missed
Wouldn’t that just be the worst if the Celts parted with Brown to get him, and then Giannis missed extended time due to injury? Like, the absolute worst? (Insert diabolical laughter.)
A healthy Tatum-Giannis pairing would present unique challenges for New York. The Knicks would need to defend relentless downhill pressure while also containing one of the league’s best bucket creators. But, given their depth, New York may be better equipped than most teams to handle it.
So if the Celtics’ pursuit of Giannis causes an initial flutter of worry, you can let that just drift on by. The scenario only noses toward Red Alert if Boston nabs him while somehow also acquiring a guard who makes up for what they’d lose with Brown’s departure.
But wait! This just in: Chris Haynes has pushed back on the idea that a Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Boston deal is close. He writes that Boston does not appear to be a promising destination and suggested the situation could extend into July. Additionally, Marc Stein reported that the Celtics are frustrated by speculation involving Jaylen Brown, while Brian Windhorst said Brown has not been formally offered in a trade. So, to quote the great William Goldman (also a Knicks fan), “Nobody knows anything.”
It’s worth noting that the Miami Heat are also reportedly in the mix. We’ve heard that the lack of income tax is alluring to the Greek Freak. Plus Florida offers sunny, warm weather, which is not a defining feature of Wisconsin. In the end, though, joining Boston would allow Giannis to keep all his favorite green-themed items in his wardrobe, and shouldn’t looking good be a priority, too?
Boston, MA
Boston Bruins are retiring Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37 next season
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins said Thursday they are retiring Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37 as part of a ceremony next season.
The date will be shared later, following the NHL schedule release that is expected next month.
Bergeron is set to join fellow 2011 Stanley Cup champion Zdeno Chara with his number in the rafters. Bergeron, when it happens, will be the 14th player to have his number retired by the storied franchise.
He spent his entire 19-year career in the league with the Bruins, playing 1,464 games counting the regular season and playoffs. That included the title run in 2011 and more trips to the final in ’13 and ’19.
“Patrice was the kind of rare, generational talent that every team wanted,” owner Jeremy Jacobs said in a statement. “He was a deftly skilled playmaker and the undeniable greatest defensive forward in the NHL’s history. But it was the leadership he provided on the ice and in the locker room that made him truly stand apart and an all-time legend of the Boston Bruins.”
Bergeron succeeded Chara as captain in 2020 and served three seasons in that role before retiring. He called this an honor that is difficult to put into words.
“When I arrived in Boston as an 18-year-old, I could never have imagined receiving this recognition one day,” Bergeron said. “I have always believed that any success I had was only possible because of the people around me. I was fortunate to play alongside incredible teammates, learn from outstanding coaches and staff and be supported by an organization that believed in me from the very beginning.”
Boston, MA
Brensley: Craig Ferguson is Boston Strong
Craig Ferguson set out on foot from Los Angeles with a remarkable goal: to walk 3,500 miles across America. It took him 109 days.
Last week, I had the privilege of joining him for his final steps into Boston. In those first moments after completing his journey, I asked him what the experience had been like. Without hesitation, he called it the hardest thing he had ever done.
What began as a mission to raise money for SAMH, a Scottish charity that provides mental health and social care support, became something far greater. Along the way, Craig inspired thousands of people and helped raise more than $1 million. His arrival in Boston also came amid the excitement surrounding Scotland’s appearance in the World Cup, giving his home country even more reason to celebrate.
Craig’s commitment to mental health advocacy is perhaps best expressed in his own words: “Mental health doesn’t care who you are or where you’re from. It can meet you along the road, sometimes when you least expect it.”
Those words resonate deeply with me. I was raised by a mother who faced significant mental health challenges, and I know firsthand how important support systems can be for individuals and families. Organizations like SAMH provide hope when people need it most. Equally important is continuing to normalize conversations about mental health and recognizing that it is a health issue that touches every community and every walk of life.
There are countless routes Craig could have taken and many cities where he could have chosen to conclude this extraordinary journey. The fact that he finished in Boston is something we should be proud of.
Boston has always been a city defined by resilience, compassion, and perseverance. Those qualities are why “Boston Strong” means so much to so many people. Craig Ferguson may be Scottish by birth, but through his determination, his generosity, and his commitment to helping others, he has embodied that spirit.
As we welcome him to our beautiful and sports-loving city, we thank him for reminding us that even the longest journeys begin with a single step, and that no one should have to walk through life’s struggles alone.
Craig Ferguson is Boston Strong.
Anne Brensley is the Republican-endorsed candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.
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