Agreed on the sentiment that we should try and contend now.
As unpopular as it is, I still believe in a Hayward for Drummond swap. Drummond does enough of what CBS needs in that he’s a capable enough passer, eats up the glass (which can be a weakness against teams with serious length), and is switchable on D from 3-5 (maybe even 2-5). Plus the bonuses of: interior defense, roll-man target, and solid screen setter.
Hayward is great. Don’t get me wrong. This is just a case of salaries needing to match, and giving up talent to get talent. We’re not gonna get a quality big for cheap and buy out candidates are likely going to be inferior to Theis/Kanter.
Kemba/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Drummond —> our 5 best players to start and finish the game.
Drummond is a stat compiler and a black hole in the middle. If he was ever brought here every Celtics fan would be picking apart his game and the fact we aren't as good with him in the lineup. And the fans who are obsessed with big men would quietly slink away.
A few things:
1. How is he a black hole? His usage is 3rd highest on his team and he doesn’t post up too much (ala Kanter) because his game is more based off of movement and putbacks. Plus, he’s developed more of a passing game. Wasnt Kemba more of a black hole with the Hornets?
2. We don’t know for a fact that we aren’t as good with him. He might actually help us out.
3. To be fair, every Celtics fan picks at all of our players’ games, except maybe Kemba who so far seems immune. From Tatum missing bunnies, Brown falling asleep on D, Smart taking an ill advised shot, Hayward not being aggressive enough, Kanter being burned on the perimeter, Theis getting outmuscled in the paint, etc. etc. I mean, we could trade Hayward for Giannis and I can imagine people would be complaining. For example:
“Teams are just daring him to shoot”, “he kills our spacing”, “he goes one on one too much”, “he’s not clutch”, “he’s hurting the development of the jays”, “CBS or Giannis? Who needs to go?” and so on...
I guess my question is, if all of our other players have some glaring weaknesses, why would your expectation for our 4th best player (who just so happens to be a big man) be to have some sort of impeccable game?