If you're trading IT you've got to tell me where the Celts are getting an elite shot-creator to replace him.
You're nothing in this league without a really good pick and roll ball-handler. I don't just mean a passer; I mean a guy who can score in a multitude of ways out of the pick and roll. Pull-up three, pull-up mid-range, get to the basket and finish, draw fouls, pass to the roll man for a dunk, kick out to the perimeter for an open three. You gotta have a guy with all of those options in his toolbox when he's operating the pick and roll. And if you want to be any good, you need that guy to be experienced enough to run the pick and roll quite a bit without screwing up.
presumably that would be Fultz or Ball because Boston isn't trading Thomas unless it lands one of those two (and it still might not trade Thomas). Boston then goes into full rebuilding mode and looks to sell off other players, with the potential for 2 high lottery picks in the 2018 draft which is loaded with front court players.
I know you disagree with me on this, but I think this summer is the tipping point for the roster. The Celtics either need to commit to the rebuild or go all in on trying to field a real and legit contender.
Ainge is a ballsy GM in my opinion.
That said, I dont think he has the balls to either a) mortgage the future or b) blow it up and go all in on the future.
He is going to hold on to his really good team for the next decade and hope a dumb GM or a stroke of luck elevates them to favorite status.
That is what I expect. The team is good enough that Ainge can keep the band together and not really get lucky for the next decade and still be a top 4 seed for the next 7/8 years.
Id be absolutely floored if he blew it up this offseason. IT is here to stay.