Four Celtics are in the 11-50 range of ESPN’s NBA Top 100 rankings

[Atzar]

Tatum strikes me as a touch high, though not egregiously so.  I'd probably put him in the 13-15 range. 

Brown is about right.  Not sure how anybody could watch that Bos-Tor series and justify putting Siakam over him, though. 

Smart is way too high, lol.  I wouldn't have him in the top 50. 

And on the other side, Walker is way too low.  He's somewhere around 25 IMO.  Apparently people have forgotten how good this guy is.  We'll have to manage the knee, but he's still a very good player.

[Tr1boy]

Tatum strikes me as a touch high, though not egregiously so.  I'd probably put him in the 13-15 range. 

Brown is about right.  Not sure how anybody could watch that Bos-Tor series and justify putting Siakam over him, though. 

Smart is way too high, lol.  I wouldn't have him in the top 50. 

And on the other side, Walker is way too low.  He's somewhere around 25 IMO.  Apparently people have forgotten how good this guy is.  We'll have to manage the knee, but he's still a very good player.

I like Kemba but he brings little value on D end.  And he is not an offensive juggernaut like Steph Curry

He is not higher than Kyle Lowry on my list. Meaning mid 30s

[NKY fan]

Does anyone know where Hayward, Horford and Kyrie are ranked?
Also Myles Turner

[Moranis]

That looks about right to me for Tatum, Brown, and Smart.  It’s impossible to rate Kemba because of his injury.  I’m guessing a healthy Kemba would be in the 25-30 range?

I don't get this. He was a starter in the all-star game last year. At worst, that makes him a top 15 player. The ESPN ranking is ridiculous even if his knees have to be managed moving forward.

fans still decide who starts, but the fact that Kemba didn't make any of the All NBA Teams pretty clearly indicates he did not have a top 15 season last year and it would be unlikely that he will be better this year.  They had him at 17 the prior year when he was coming off a 3rd Team All NBA season. 

[Moranis]

I’m curious.... where’d they put Hayward?

45

[Moranis]

Anyone tell me where Mitchell, Gobert, and Middleton ranked?

18, 26, 35

[Tr1boy]

Anyone tell me where Mitchell, Gobert, and Middleton ranked?

18, 26, 35

what about Jamal Murray?

[BruceBanner18]

If we can all agree that the most likely path to another chip is having 2 top 10 players and Tatum is one of those players, what is more likely:

1. Brown grows into a top 10 players
2. We need to trade for a top 10

[Tr1boy]

If we can all agree that the most likely path to another chip is having 2 top 10 players and Tatum is one of those players, what is more likely:

1. Brown grows into a top 10 players
2. We need to trade for a top 10

Harden is available 

[pearljammer10]

Anyone tell me where Mitchell, Gobert, and Middleton ranked?

18, 26, 35

Thank you!

[PhoSita]

If we can all agree that the most likely path to another chip is having 2 top 10 players and Tatum is one of those players

I don't agree with the premise, necessarily.


I think a realistic path to a title involves:

- Top 5 offense
- Top 5 defense
- Superstar scorer who can make winning plays / hit clutch shots in crunch time against any opponent


You could also add that you need individual defenders who can make it difficult for opposing superstars to get clutch shots off in crunch time, though I don't know if that's absolutely necessary if you have the other elements.


I think Tatum can be the guy who fulfills the third part, and I think the right supporting cast around Tatum & Brown can get you a top 5 offense and defense.  The Celts were pretty close to that last year.

Biggest issue for the Celts last year was performance in crunch time. 


I think the Celts have the personnel to make life difficult for opposing stars in crunch time, as well, especially with Tristan Thompson on board.