Draft after 8 is no good for C's

[bcgenuis]

I think the draft is meh, blah, crapshoot and a roll of the dice after the top 6 - 8 picks.  I like Harvey as a shooter but he is a very late first or early second rounder.  In other words, I don't believe anyone picked at 16 and 28 will make a significant impact on the Celtics going forward.  Can the Celtics get a nice bench/rotation player? Probably, but Celtics have a roster full of those.  Celtics do not need another dime or quarter, they need a dollar.

The goal this off season is to try and take the nickels, dimes and quarters and get some dollar bills.

IMO there are some dollar bills in this years UFA class. Luckily, the Celtics have some cap space to outright sign a max UFA and with some clever maneuvering perhaps even a second max UFA.

I further believe that this year is a key turning point.  The moves made this off-season can and will determine the near (and distant) future success of the franchise.  Why?

1.  As the cap goes up next year, many more teams (including the Celtics) will have cap space to make a move for a UFA next year ('16) or the year after ('17).  More teams in the mix mean less chance of that FA coming to Boston.  Most significant FA's want to join a team that provides them with a chance at going on a deep playoff run if not a championship ring.

2. The Celtics have too many assets.  How do the Celtics (assuming they keep their picks) add 2 rookies to their roster? And that is not counting 2 2nd round picks. And then next year they have possibly 4 more first rounders. Also not counting Young who for all intents and purposes will be a rookie next year. That is almost a quarter of the roster.

Now is the time to cash in on some of these assets.

3.  As stated before there are some dollar bills out there for our change. Sure not all of them are nice and crisp but they are better than the coins we currently have.

Let's take a look at the significant unrestricted free agents and the possibility IMO of the C's signing them.  I think the C's will try their hardest to obtain at a minimum 1 of the tier 1 UFA's via S&T or outright signing and shoot for another Tier 2 or Tier 3 player.

Tier 1
1. Marc Gasol - unlikely, likes Memphis
2. L. Aldridge - very possible max
3. K Love (opts out) - very possible max
4. D. Jordan - very possible max

Tier 2
5. P Millsap - possible max
6. G Monroe - unlikely
7. A Jefferson (opts out) - possibly
8. R Rondo - unlikely (BTDT)
9. T Chandler - unlikely (age)
10. J Smith - unlikely (passed in the past)

Tier 3
11. Robin Lopez - possibly
12. W Matthews - possibly more so if L Aldridge signs
13. D Green (SA) - unlikely - stays in SA
14. O Asik - unlikely will demand too much for what he offers
15.  K Koufos - possible on mid-money (will have many suitors)
16. G Green - possibly

[cltc5]

I think we could go pretty deep with aldridge milsap and d green as the starters.  Agreed the best options is to invest this chump change and hope it spins a decent return.  At the least we'll get some interest on it with more average players and draft picks.

[PhoSita]

To attract a top free agent in his prime, you typically have to offer either

(a) the flashing lights of a major media market or
(b) a better opportunity to win over the rest of the player's prime compared to his current team.

The Celtics can't offer (a).  Can they offer (b) for any of the bigger names?  Not really, unless Carmelo becomes available.


Greg Monroe is the one name that makes some sense to me, because I think more than a win-now situation what he needs is the opportunity to be a full-time center, be one of the primary offensive options for his team, and focus on improving his overall game even if it doesn't immediately translate into team improvement.


Given where the Celts are at, I believe they will either go for a younger big name like Monroe, or stick to buy-low signings and acquisitions similar to what they did with Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, and to a certain extent Isaiah Thomas.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I disagree. IMO Myles Turner could be a great addition to our team, also Upshaw. We can always trade Avery and or others to move up.

[Rondo9]

To attract a top free agent in his prime, you typically have to offer either

(a) the flashing lights of a major media market or
(b) a better opportunity to win over the rest of the player's prime compared to his current team.

The Celtics can't offer (a).  Can they offer (b) for any of the bigger names?  Not really, unless Carmelo becomes available.


Greg Monroe is the one name that makes some sense to me, because I think more than a win-now situation what he needs is the opportunity to be a full-time center, be one of the primary offensive options for his team, and focus on improving his overall game even if it doesn't immediately translate into team improvement.


Given where the Celts are at, I believe they will either go for a younger big name like Monroe, or stick to buy-low signings and acquisitions similar to what they did with Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, and to a certain extent Isaiah Thomas.

I really think that a is overrated when attracting a free agent

[PhoSita]

To attract a top free agent in his prime, you typically have to offer either

(a) the flashing lights of a major media market or
(b) a better opportunity to win over the rest of the player's prime compared to his current team.

The Celtics can't offer (a).  Can they offer (b) for any of the bigger names?  Not really, unless Carmelo becomes available.


Greg Monroe is the one name that makes some sense to me, because I think more than a win-now situation what he needs is the opportunity to be a full-time center, be one of the primary offensive options for his team, and focus on improving his overall game even if it doesn't immediately translate into team improvement.


Given where the Celts are at, I believe they will either go for a younger big name like Monroe, or stick to buy-low signings and acquisitions similar to what they did with Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, and to a certain extent Isaiah Thomas.

I really think that a is overrated when attracting a free agent

I agree with you, it is overrated.

Still, I think it's the primary way to attract a free agent if you can't offer (b).

[Beat LA]

You guys are giving up after the 8th pick?  Really? Wow.  You know, just like last year, this is a deep draft, and we could potentially walk away with a number of excellent players, imo. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Yeah.....it is what it us........we got some pretty decent young talent and good coach ......too good to wind up with a top 5 pick now.

Even minus Bass and dumping few other,  , other hopefully better players will be added....,  the C's will likely not smell a top ten pick this year.

[Ilikesports17]

For me, I felt this draft fell off after
Towns, Okafor,Mudiay, Russell, Winslow, Hezonja, Prozingis, Johnson, WCS
However Ive come to also like Turner, Booker, Grant, Oubre, Payne, Kaminsky, RHJ

Id rather not take Kaminsky or a point gaurd because those are redundant for us, but Id be happy with any of those guys at 16.

I like Upshaw too, but would rather wait till a bit later.

The first 9 are self-explanatory
Turner is a shotblocker with a sweet stroke and elite size
Booker knock down shooter, high bbiq, biggest questions were lack of length and lateral    quickness... then he tested the fastest lane agility drill and a wingspan 2 inches longer than           expected.
Grant is an athletic pg, who is a great leader with good floor vision and tremendous size
Oubre has a sky-high ceiling
Payne is a really nice combo of passing, 3 pt shooting, scoring and has nice wingspan/mindset
Kaminsky can shoot it like KO but is bigger, longer, and more aggresive (not the passer/driver)
RHJ is a jumpshot away from being an absolute stud
Upshaw is a nutcase but has legit NBA center size/ skills

[Celtics18]

To attract a top free agent in his prime, you typically have to offer either

(a) the flashing lights of a major media market or
(b) a better opportunity to win over the rest of the player's prime compared to his current team.

The Celtics can't offer (a).  Can they offer (b) for any of the bigger names?  Not really, unless Carmelo becomes available.


Greg Monroe is the one name that makes some sense to me, because I think more than a win-now situation what he needs is the opportunity to be a full-time center, be one of the primary offensive options for his team, and focus on improving his overall game even if it doesn't immediately translate into team improvement.


Given where the Celts are at, I believe they will either go for a younger big name like Monroe, or stick to buy-low signings and acquisitions similar to what they did with Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, and to a certain extent Isaiah Thomas.

I really think that a is overrated when attracting a free agent

I agree with you, it is overrated.

Still, I think it's the primary way to attract a free agent if you can't offer (b).

I think the only folks who don't see Boston as a major media market for sports are the woefully, self-deprecating fans of Boston sports teams. 

[jacigar]

I think you need to look back at past drafts,to realize how many players were over/under rated.
Just like the NFL draft , it is a crap shoot. I look at what these players might develop into. After all , they are all only projects. This Celtic team is not being built for the present but for the future. In my humble opinion ,I think WMS is totally overrated. I like Turner (hope he holds up physically) . Probably gone unless we trade up. R.Christmas 23 years old native of Virgin Islands is just coming into his own . I love Alexander Vezenkov (listed as SF but this kid is a great shooter. C.Wood might have a big upside. I like H-Jefferson (very good defense). Portis will be a good player. My picks if we stay as is 16 H-jefferson SF 28 C.Wood FC 33 Christian C 45 Vezenkov SG/SF . These are chips we could develop to replace possible future traded players. I also would trade Bradley asap. We should be aiming at the next championship banner,nothing less. I only want players that will be under 29 in 2018.

[LooseCannon]

To attract a top free agent in his prime, you typically have to offer either

(a) the flashing lights of a major media market or
(b) a better opportunity to win over the rest of the player's prime compared to his current team.

The Celtics can't offer (a).  Can they offer (b) for any of the bigger names?  Not really, unless Carmelo becomes available.


Greg Monroe is the one name that makes some sense to me, because I think more than a win-now situation what he needs is the opportunity to be a full-time center, be one of the primary offensive options for his team, and focus on improving his overall game even if it doesn't immediately translate into team improvement.


Given where the Celts are at, I believe they will either go for a younger big name like Monroe, or stick to buy-low signings and acquisitions similar to what they did with Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, and to a certain extent Isaiah Thomas.

I really think that a is overrated when attracting a free agent

I agree with you, it is overrated.

Still, I think it's the primary way to attract a free agent if you can't offer (b).

I think the only folks who don't see Boston as a major media market for sports are the woefully, self-deprecating fans of Boston sports teams.

You mean there are major media markets outside of New York, LA, and maybe Chicago?  If Lamarcus Aldridge cares about playing in a bigger market, I guess Portland and Boston are pretty much the same.