The Long Run

[anewframe]

I keep fantasizing about a longer rebuild where we get a great young core of players and develop them together so the Celtics can have a long era of dominance again. Of course there is no sure thing that the young players we have on the roster or players we might draft will pan out, but with our amount of draft picks combined with Brad Stevens' ability to develop players - I am optimistic.

I'd be all in for cashing in future 1st round draft picks to get a couple of players in this draft that Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens can envision building the team with and then spend the next couple of years growing together.

Marcus Smart AND IT4
Avery Bradley AND James Young
Jae Crowder AND Draft/Sign SF
Draft PF AND Jared Sullinger or Olynyk
Draft C AND Tyler Zeller

WCS seems like he would be a great fit here, I'm not too worried about his offensive limitations. Both the Clippers and Rockets just showed that you can have a center that only plays defensive, rebounds and finishes around the rim and still have a great offense - we just need some great offensive players around him. He seems like a highly motivated and high character guy. I love the idea of him here with Marcus Smart.

I think we would need a scoring SF obviously someone like Tobias Harris who has been mentioned on on Celtics forums a lot would be a nice fit with Jae Crowder off the bench.

I agree with Kevin O'Connor that someone like Bobby Portis would be a nice upgrade at PF in terms of intensity/motor over Sullinger and Olynyk.

Marcus Smart AND IT4
Avery Bradley AND James Young
Tobias Harris AND Jae Crowder
Bobby Portis AND Jared Sullinger or Olynyk
Willie Cauley Stein AND Tyler Zeller

Obviously that team is potentially lacking offensively (though I am optimistic about Smart, Bradley, Young and Crowder taking steps forward offensively). But it's a team that I love would to see develop together and love to see play defense together. Obviously it would take a fair few future picks to get it done.

It's not so much about these players as much as it is about watching a young team develop together into something special and contending for a long period of time that excites me. I'm guessing I am kind of alone in this way of thinking?

[Hemingway]

I'll be the frst to admit I don't follow the draft prospects, but it looks scary to count on 2 rookies to man the 4 and 5 spots. We can add rookies but I think we need to keep and upgrade the win now talent. If we can't get a star this summer I think the plan is to try to get something and show we are a legit playoff team without a star and have the assets to get one when the time comes. We can try again at the deadline. If we lose a lot of games with 2 rookies it will be hard to come back even with a good trade to get a decent playoff seed.

[anewframe]

I'll be the frst to admit I don't follow the draft prospects, but it looks scary to count on 2 rookies to man the 4 and 5 spots. We can add rookies but I think we need to keep and upgrade the win now talent. If we can't get a star this summer I think the plan is to try to get something and show we are a legit playoff team without a star and have the assets to get one when the time comes. We can try again at the deadline. If we lose a lot of games with 2 rookies it will be hard to come back even with a good trade to get a decent playoff seed.

Some solid thoughts. I'm happy to let the rookies earn the minutes like Brad Stevens has done with Young. It's more about building with a young core that excites me. Also happy to upgrade the talent I just want the upgraded talent to be relatively young > 28.