If We JKJB, How Do We Improve By JKJB?

[GreenlyGreeny]

We saw this season what Tatum/Brown can do for you. I keep hearing let’s just keep Jaylen Brown (JKJB), but can a JKJB proponent show us some ways forward with JKJB other than hoping Brown becomes a top 10-15 NBA player? We’re almost out of assets other than Tatum and Brown. I really do not see how we become better without moving Brown. Please enlighten me as to how we add quality free agents and/or trade for better players by JKJB…

[Kiorrik]

Who says we need to add.

We're fine.

Just need to get healthy.

[LilRip]

There’s no straightforward way. C’s need to get lucky with either an unheralded draft pick developing into something like an allstar, clearing enough cap space to sign a marquee free agent, a disgruntled star becoming available, or another team blowing it up.

However without doing a massive rebuild, I don’t see how we can go the FA route. This means the only chips left outside of JB are Kemba (when he becomes an expiring contract) and Smart. Possibly timelord. Maybe the team can tank next year and sit Tatum and JB for the entire 2nd half because of some “injury”. Maybe that can get us a top 10 pick.

[Csfan1984]

In two years when Kemba expires so long as they don't resign Smart or Fournier or extend TL to a big deal they can add a max FA. Tatum will be 26, Brown 27. Jordan and LeBron won their first titles at 28 and 27 and won a bunch after it. Show patience a new big three can be two years away and capable of 7 titles.

[wdleehi]

What is the point of moving Brown to get lesser players?

What is the point of moving Brown for a rookie who would be lucky to be as good as Brown is?

The Celtics best way forward is to trust that Brown and Tatum keep growing and other players want to join them.  That the young players on the Celtics grow into useful role players and trade chips.

[Roy H.]

Just clear space, like BRK and MIA have done.

Unlike those teams, we have 2/3 of a big three already in place.

[Vermont Green]

You could totally flip this question around and ask how do we get better if we do trade Jaylen Brown?

Some options that have been discussed are maybe get Towns or Beal?  These are two top players.  Towns gives us a young big so I feel that would probably be worthwhile but there is no guarantee we are better after it.  And Beal maybe makes us a little better in the short term (but no guarantee) but for how many years?

And if the idea is to trade Brown to someone like Houston to get picks or different up and coming young players (who likely aren't as good Brown or they wouldn't be trading them), then this is a total risk and very likely a step back not a step forward.

Right now, we have a young version of Leonard and George.  That is not working out great for LAC but that is still a pretty good place to be.

[gouki88]

Short term deals to align with Kemba’s deal expiring for a big fish. Continue drafting guys who can shoot and hustle hard.

First and foremost, hire a coach

[Celtics4ever]

Who says we need to add.

We're fine.

Just need to get healthy.

Trouble is Timelord ( and I am big fan) and Kemba are never healthy.

Does anyone think we can beat the NETs even when healthy.   We might have won one more maybe two more games.

[gift]

Well if you can upgrade from Brown immediately and definitively, then you do it. But trading Brown for some hope that you'll end up better off with some other young player or lesser player you feel "fits" better, doesn't get you closer to a title.

Tatum and Brown are legit young stars (at different levels) who are under contract and seem mostly content (for now). You need 2-3 stars to get a championship these days (that could change but that's the expectation right now). So you keep the stars you have and try to add a third. Or hope those 2 continue to improve and build a team around them. Trading Brown without immediately and definitively improving is a backward step with no clear benefit.

[Vermont Green]

Who says we need to add.

We're fine.

Just need to get healthy.

Trouble is Timelord ( and I am big fan) and Kemba are never healthy.

Does anyone think we can beat the NETs even when healthy.   We might have won one more maybe two more games.

If Harden, Durant, and Irving are all healthy, no one is beating the Nets.  But that should change how we build our team or how we make deals.  If we trade Kemba, for example, or Brown, it should be to make our team better.  It doesn't matter how good the Nets are.  If Harden announced his retirement tomorrow and Durant hurt his Achilles, would that change what a good trade is?

Those saying to hold the team largely together are saying so because they don't feel we can get much value back for Walker or in other potential trades.  That the team would be worse for the trade, not better.

Those wanting to trade Kemba and Brown, if they are thinking that because of the Nets, it is the wrong reason.  Trade Brown for Towns?  If you think this makes the team better, you do it.  You don't do it because the of the Nets.  Trade Brown for prospects and picks, because we currently aren't as good as the Nets?  This would be silly.  We can't beat the Nets anyway so trade a really good player for a couple of potentially really good players.  That just is not good team value management.

[slamtheking]

Who says we need to add.

We're fine.

Just need to get healthy.

Trouble is Timelord ( and I am big fan) and Kemba are never healthy.

Does anyone think we can beat the NETs even when healthy.   We might have won one more maybe two more games.

If Harden, Durant, and Irving are all healthy, no one is beating the Nets.  But that should change how we build our team or how we make deals.  If we trade Kemba, for example, or Brown, it should be to make our team better.  It doesn't matter how good the Nets are.  If Harden announced his retirement tomorrow and Durant hurt his Achilles, would that change what a good trade is?

Those saying to hold the team largely together are saying so because they don't feel we can get much value back for Walker or in other potential trades.  That the team would be worse for the trade, not better.

Those wanting to trade Kemba and Brown, if they are thinking that because of the Nets, it is the wrong reason.  Trade Brown for Towns?  If you think this makes the team better, you do it.  You don't do it because the of the Nets.  Trade Brown for prospects and picks, because we currently aren't as good as the Nets?  This would be silly.  We can't beat the Nets anyway so trade a really good player for a couple of potentially really good players.  That just is not good team value management.

I agree that trades shouldn't be made in regards to the Nets.  Trades should be based on either making the C's better or, in other circumstances, worse to get better draft picks for a rebuild.

Nets have dangerous top 3 with some good supporting players but if we have a healthy roster, we can give them fits as well
Smart - Kyrie
Brown - Harden
Romeo - Harris
Tatum - Durant
Timelord - Griffin

That C's lineup will make the Nets stars work on defense (provided the new coach has an offensive scheme that doesn't rely on chucking 3's and having 2 guys standing in the corner that can't get back on D to impact a fastbreak).  That's a line-up that plays serious D so the Nets will really need to work on offense too.  Switching players on D (again, depends on new coaching philosophy) wouldn't have as much of an impact without being able to constantly pick on Kemba and Fournier. 

[keevsnick]

In no particular order:

1) Brown could and I think likely will improve.
2) Tatum could and I think likely will improve.
3) The young guys like Langford, GWill, RWill, Pritchard, Nesmith could all be better next year, at least some of them likely will.
4) Just better health overall. We were decimated this last year.
5) Better defensively by not playing two bigs, lessening the workload on the Jays, less dense schedule leading to increase in defensive effort, better communication.
6) Find a guy who can defense big wings (ex: Larry Nance).
7) Find one KNOCKDOWN shooting specialist.
8: Actually implement an offensive system (new coach will be big in this regard).
9) Better deep bench depth. No more Teague, Edwards, Semi level guys. Get competent deep bench veterans.

In short, A METRIC TON of ways. The c's won 2/3 rds of their games a year ago, the roster wasn't THAT different. I expect a fair bit of improvement even of they mostly run it back.

[BruceBanner18]

1. Trade other assets - Smart, youth, picks
2. Use a TPE on a second draft type guy
3. Sign and trade Fournier
4. Gamble on a buy low candidate coming off injury/bad year
5. Swap youth more vets with experience and grit to support Brown and Tatum
6. Go young for a season and develop trade able assets or contributors from our recent draft picks by force feeding minutes

There are many, many ways to improve without trading Brown

[GreenEnvy]

I think for the first time in a very long time, we are in a tight spot.

Fournier was a waste of the massive TPE. Walker isn’t working out. Thompson was absolutely pointless. No great draft picks left.

I’m not sure what Brad can do to overhaul the roster whilst staying competitive.

I’m honestly ok with trading anyone besides JT. Maybe different talent will gel better in a new system?