Rumor: Celtics refused to make Tatum available in trade talks with New Orleans

[BringToughnessBack]

The Ainge Empire continues to crumble.

What a fall from the throne.

You know what empire fell the hardest last year? The Cavs...maybe they can find another Lebron in the next half a century. Not like free agents are flocking to that team anytime soon. That to me is the essence of a fallen empire. The Celtics have two amazing young players, a ton of draft picks and Hayward still....Now the Cavs on the other hand will always have the memory of Lebron with little hope they find that kind of player again anytime in our lifetime. Bet Cavs fans become Lakers fans now as well.

[CelticsElite]

Ainge went for the kill again, and it backfired

[BitterJim]

If all the rumors about Kyrie are leaving, then good. If we weren't combining AD and Kyrie, then the better move is to try to build around the young core

[RodyTur10]

If all the rumors about Kyrie are leaving, then good. If we weren't combining AD and Kyrie, then the better move is to try to build around the young core

I agree. I do wonder what went so wrong this year that Kyrie wouldn't be excited to play on a Celtics team with Davis?
That's a championship contender for sure. He isn't instantly going to have that in Brooklyn.

[CelticsElite]

If all the rumors about Kyrie are leaving, then good. If we weren't combining AD and Kyrie, then the better move is to try to build around the young core

I agree. I do wonder what went so wrong this year that Kyrie wouldn't be excited to play on a Celtics team with Davis?
That's a championship contender for sure. He isn't instantly going to have that in Brooklyn.

not just that, but he's not even telling Ainge he's leaving. What kind of class is what

[OHCeltic]

If Kyrie leaves is there anyway that wee can sign Ricky Rubio for our PG.  He looks to assist first but can score some. He would free up Taum Brown Hayward to be the scorers along with Al if he stays.

[tonydelk]

I'm glad he wasn't involved.  People complain that we may be destined to be in a rut for a few years but if Tatum was traded for AD and AD walked next year this team would be back to the dark ages for 5 years.  The well is dry.  Build around the Jay's and in two years when there is cap space see what can be done then.  This is still a scrappy playoff team and pieces will be added.  All it takes is an injury (or two in the GSW case) for a lesser team to win.  If KD was healthy and played in the finals GSW would be the champs. 

[Silky]

I'm glad he wasn't involved.  People complain that we may be destined to be in a rut for a few years but if Tatum was traded for AD and AD walked next year this team would be back to the dark ages for 5 years.  The well is dry.  Build around the Jay's and in two years when there is cap space see what can be done then.  This is still a scrappy playoff team and pieces will be added.  All it takes is an injury (or two in the GSW case) for a lesser team to win.  If KD was healthy and played in the finals GSW would be the champs.

honestly fit is as important as talent.

Get the right pieces and lighting in a bottle happens

[RodyTur10]

If Kyrie leaves is there anyway that wee can sign Ricky Rubio for our PG.  He looks to assist first but can score some. He would free up Tatum Brown Hayward to be the scorers along with Al if he stays.

I'm fine with Smart-Brown-Tatum as our starting 1-3. Then Hayward can be the 6th man. In that way we can go back to that defense-first team and avoid playing guys out of position, my goodness I'm so annoyed with that.

Really don't want to see starting our season next year: PG - Smart - Tatum - Hayward/Morris - Horford (and Brown on the bench).

[MaxAMillion]

Well, pressure is on him to step up this year.

Can't be a glorified Rudy Gay like he was last season



Though tbh it's probably the lack of guarantees that did the spooking here

Why isn't there pressure on $30 million Hayward?

[PhoSita]

One thing that should be over is people claiming the Celtics are "all about titles."

They chose a sustainable future with no clear path to contention over a single year of contention.

That's defensible but it means they have priorities other than just winning a title at any cost.

[Sketch5]

If Kyrie leaves is there anyway that wee can sign Ricky Rubio for our PG.  He looks to assist first but can score some. He would free up Taum Brown Hayward to be the scorers along with Al if he stays.

I love Rubio as a back up option. The ball wouldn't stick to him, which is perfect. I'm not sure if we can get him on a one and one cheap and then multi years at a higher salary the fallowing. CBA hurts my head with all the you can and can't do XYZ.

[Boris Badenov]

If Kyrie leaves is there anyway that wee can sign Ricky Rubio for our PG.  He looks to assist first but can score some. He would free up Tatum Brown Hayward to be the scorers along with Al if he stays.

I'm fine with Smart-Brown-Tatum as our starting 1-3. Then Hayward can be the 6th man. In that way we can go back to that defense-first team and avoid playing guys out of position, my goodness I'm so annoyed with that.

Really don't want to see starting our season next year: PG - Smart - Tatum - Hayward/Morris - Horford (and Brown on the bench).

It'll probably be Smart/Brown/Hayward/Tatum/Horford.

Smart is a perfectly good PG in the DJ mold, especially when we have great complementary playmakers in Horford and Hayward.

[ETNCeltics]

One thing that should be over is people claiming the Celtics are "all about titles."

They chose a sustainable future with no clear path to contention over a single year of contention.

That's defensible but it means they have priorities other than just winning a title at any cost.

Giving it all up for one season, and a slim chance at winning a title, isn't a direction, isn't a strategy, any more than buying lottery tickets are a substitute for a retirement plan.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

If Kyrie leaves is there anyway that wee can sign Ricky Rubio for our PG.  He looks to assist first but can score some. He would free up Tatum Brown Hayward to be the scorers along with Al if he stays.

I'm fine with Smart-Brown-Tatum as our starting 1-3. Then Hayward can be the 6th man. In that way we can go back to that defense-first team and avoid playing guys out of position, my goodness I'm so annoyed with that.

Really don't want to see starting our season next year: PG - Smart - Tatum - Hayward/Morris - Horford (and Brown on the bench).

It'll probably be Smart/Brown/Hayward/Tatum/Horford.

Smart is a perfectly good PG in the DJ mold, especially when we have great complementary playmakers in Horford and Hayward.

I'd resign Marcus Morris and start him over Jaylen Brown.

Brown will be our 6th man, stagger the wing minutes to the trio of Brown, Hayward and Tatum.

That gives us a bit more size and still capable enough to score, defend and stretch the floor.