For the first time since Jayson Tatum’s rookie season, the Celtics will take their training camp on the road, practicing at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., for three days before kicking off their preseason schedule next Thursday in Cleveland.
Of course, this is more than just an off-site opportunity to bond for Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. He wants to use this trip to soak in a military environment, continue to spend time with his newer players, and foster chemistry.
This is a revamped roster. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens added three new contributors in Paul George, Mike Conley, and Mitchell Robinson. The departure of Jaylen Brown left a leadership void. Meanwhile, Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, Ron Harper Jr., and Baylor Scheierman are among those expected to take steps forward and emerge as veterans.
Jelling and developing cohesion off the floor is just as critical for Mazzulla’s team as it is on the floor. The team is changing its offensive approach to play faster. The players have to become familiar with their new teammates, and Tatum began that process by organizing informal offseason workouts last month in Los Angeles.
Several Celtics participated.
“Just trying something new,” Tatum said. “It’s the first time we’ve ever done that since I’ve been here. Getting in the gym in the summertime when we wouldn’t normally be around each other, play some golf and just hang out, just kind of build that chemistry.”
Robinson and George said they noticed how close the players were in their brief exposure to the Celtics’ culture. Mazzulla spent the summer visiting players in their hometowns to cultivate relationships.
Of course, the relationship Mazzulla has with 19-year-old first-round pick Chris Cenac is dramatically different than the one with the 38-year-old Conley, who is Mazzulla’s senior. The coach said he works to improve his communication skills every offseason to form a bond with every player. Fatherhood has helped that process, especially when communicating with younger players. (The Celtics have four 22 or under.
“I think that’s part of why you go visit guys, is to meet them where they’re at, have an understanding of what was our relationship like last year and what we’re looking to bring in off and on the court,” said Mazzulla. “Personally, that’s part of where the personal development is, as environments change, as guys come in younger, different guys with different experiences. You have to be able to find different ways to connect. That’s one of the things I enjoy doing the most is trying to build that connection with different guys.”
Cenac is just a few years older than Mazzulla’s stepson, Michael Harden Jr., who committed in June to play football at Boston College.
“Being a stepfather has made me a better coach because I’ve had to build a different relationship with my oldest from a standpoint of, I can’t just say something because I’m your father,” Mazzulla said. “And respecting the relationship him and his father have had is the same as respecting a young kid [on the team] and having a relationship, and you’re not just going to listen to me because I’m the coach. And that’s humbled me and forced me to find different ways to connect with people at that age.
“It’s interesting, the dynamics of being a stepdad is not much different than being a coach because you can’t fall on the crutch of authority. You have to dig beyond the relationship aspect and get to the crux of we’re in this together, and how can I try to motivate and inspire you and we can learn from each other.”
Tatum also has put an emphasis on leadership. He’s the senior member of the team, entering his 10th season, and the most accomplished player on the roster. Perhaps in past years he led by example, especially with the presence of Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford to take the leadership responsibility.
But now teammates, especially the younger ones, will look to Tatum for guidance. The blueprint for Tatum is to become more vocal, but within his reserved personality.
“I would say through experience, it’s Year 10 and I’ve been through it all, the highs and lows, understanding that it’s my 10th training camp,” he said. “It’s really about having awareness of myself and of the environment and knowing, just give the environment exactly what it needs.”
The Celtics will travel to Charleston on Saturday for the next step of this journey. While Mazzulla’s goal is to continue the on-court development and cohesion, he relishes the opportunity to put his team in a different setting and with increased time together off the floor. The goal is to expedite the growth process and be unified when the season begins.
“It’s really been 10 years since we did it, a bunch of new guys, so just wanted to really take a step back, get away, and vibe with each other in a different environment,” said Mazzulla. “It’s always good to shake it up a little bit.”
The Citadel being one of just six senior military colleges (SMCs) in the United States makes this trip exceptional and rewarding, especially for Mazzulla.
“I really enjoy military leadership,” he said. “I learn from it a lot. I think it’s important, so any chance that we’ll get to do it, we’ll try.”
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.