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Celtics' Rozier ready for 'fresh start, whether I'm here or gone'

Jeff Haynes / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Boston Celtics' offseason will be met with uncertainty after they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in just five games.

There's already speculation surrounding Kyrie Irving's potential departure, and now reserve point guard Terry Rozier appears prepared to part ways with the organization after a season in which he took a significantly reduced role.

"I don't give a f--- what nobody say, I sacrificed the most out of anybody," Rozier said, according to Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill. "I'm a top point guard in this league. I feel like it's a fresh start, whether I'm here or whether I'm gone."

Rozier helped the Celtics push the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals one year ago after Irving suffered a season-ending knee injury.

The 25-year-old was relegated back to his reserve role behind a healthy Irving at the start of this campaign and had his playoff minutes cut in half.

Rozier points to the difficult position head coach Brad Stevens was in, as those who guided the team through the playoffs last year competed for playing time with returning stars Irving and Gordon Hayward.

"Everybody was running around with their heads cut off, like chickens," Rozier added. "Coach was in a tough position, one of the toughest positions, dealing with all these guys with attitudes, all that shit. Guys that's All-Stars, guys getting paid a lot of money, guys trying to get paid. It's tough."

Rozier averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 19 playoff games last year but finished with 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in this year's postseason.

The Celtics (49-33) were preseason favorites to win the East but dealt with inconsistency and locker room drama en route to finishing fourth.

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