Which Celtics-players could play on a contending team?

[the_gunner]

Now and then I feel, that we have a tendency to overrate our own players. We think, that our beloved Celtics just need one or two players and then we would be back in the finals, but I think the truth is a bit different. Spurs just showed, that the future of NBA is a deep roster with a lot of quality-players and not just a few stars playing close to 48 minuttes.

Therefore I have tried to make a list of which players on our roster that might have a chance of being on a championship-team in the future, probably not next season, but in a few seasons.

0   Avery Bradley   PG   23   6-2   180   Texas           $2,511,432
8   Jeff Green           SF   27   6-9   235   Georgetown   $8,700,000
41   Kelly Olynyk   C   23   7-0   238   Gonzaga           $1,986,360
9   Rajon Rondo   PG   28   6-1   186   Kentucky           $11,954,545
7   Jared Sullinger   C   22   6-9   260   Ohio State           $1,365,720

It doesn't look good for us, and especially because I believe that Green is heavily overpaid.

I think we should try to get the most of the rest of the team and try to keep the 5 players. The most will in most cases be just clearing out the contracts or even taking on really bad, but short contracts like Stoudemire. I would love us to get even more picks and start to rebuild with a lot of young players or getting assets to trade for quality-players.

Who do you think have the potential to be on a championship-team?

[Future Celtics Owner]

We will really know when the draft is over with. I think then we will be able to size up who's left on the team. But i always thought Avery would be a great role layer on a good contending team.

[crimson_stallion]

It all depends on who is around that group of guys.

I think pretty much any one of those guys could be a key piece on a champion contender. 

* Rondo is a no brainer considering how he's dominated playoff games in the past

* Bradley could be huge with his intense D, improved scoring and pure hustle.  It's guys like AB (who fight for each possession like it's the last) who often win playoff games.

* Green has proven he can shut down the opponents best wing (Lebron, Durant, Carmello) on defence, has shown he can be huge in the clutch, and has a history of coming up big in the playoffs

* Sully's willingness to battle on the boards and wear guys down with his physicality is the type of play that can sway a playoff series - causing opposing players to get frustrated and make silly mistakes.  Plus those offensive rebounds can be huge in the playoffs, where every possession counts.

* Olynyk has shown signs of being a matchup nightmare offensively.  If he further develops his game, he could be a very tough cover - drawing defensive attention and opening up space for the best players on the team.

I think any one of those guys could be huge in a playoff series...but unfortunately a team made up of ALL of those guys won't get you far.  It's just not enough pure talent, but every one of those guys could be a different maker as a 4th or 5th guy.   

[More Banners]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

[D.o.s.]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

Bradley, Green, and Bass have never made it to the Finals.

[More Banners]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

Bradley, Green, and Bass have never made it to the Finals.

Didn't Green play in the Finals in OKC?  WCF for sure, as did Bass in Orlando, I think.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

I reckon everyone bar Wallace and Bogans on this can be useful on the floor on a contender. However, only Rondo, Green and Maybe Sully are getting big roles right away

[the_gunner]

If I compare our roster to spurs' roster, then I can't see many of our players being able to play for them.

Could you honestly see, Babb or Anthony play for them. What about Johnson of Faverani, not likely, and I must say, that I don't even see Bass getting a lot of minutes on that team.

[Celtics4ever]

I am not sure any of them this side of Rondo should be starting on a contending team.  Bass has started on a contending team but he is not ideal.   One could make an argument that Rondo is not ideal as well as he is a poor shooter but I think his other areas like his passing and rebounding and triple double threat make up for this matter.   Sully, Bradley, Green, Bass, Oly, Wallace and Johnson could come off the bench on a contending team.  Wallace's contract is an albatross though.

[Celtics18]

Rondo
Bradley
Olynyk
Green
Bass
Sullinger
Faverani
Johnson
Pressey
Humphries
Wallace
Bayless
Babb
Bogans
Anthony

[D.o.s.]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

Bradley, Green, and Bass have never made it to the Finals.

Didn't Green play in the Finals in OKC?  WCF for sure, as did Bass in Orlando, I think.

Nah Green wasn't on that OKC team, the one time he made the playoffs with OKC ('09-'10) they were a first round out to the Lakers.

Bass missed out on the ECF Orlando teams, too he was there in '09-'10 (when we stomped them) and '10-'11 (when the lost to ATL).

[Celtics18]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

Bradley, Green, and Bass have never made it to the Finals.

Didn't Green play in the Finals in OKC?  WCF for sure, as did Bass in Orlando, I think.

Nah Green wasn't on that OKC team, the one time he made the playoffs with OKC ('09-'10) they were a first round out to the Lakers.

Bass missed out on the ECF Orlando teams, too he was there in '09-'10 (when we stomped them) and '10-'11 (when the lost to ATL).

But, Brandon Bass was a starter on the Celtics 2012 that made it to a seventh game of the Conference Finals.  He played pretty well, too.  Avery Bradley was also a key member of that team, although, he unfortunately got hurt and couldn't go in the Miami series. 

[fairweatherfan]

The problem with the question is that history is riddled with mediocre-to-crappy players who've gotten minutes on contenders.  Jud freaking Buechler got rotation minutes for multiple Bulls championship teams.  So basically everyone except for the really deep bench guys. 

[D.o.s.]

Of the folks on the current roster and under contract, we'd have to count those who have been to the Finals as able to again, right?

Rondo
Bradley
Bass
Green

but only Rondo is an allstar.

Sully and KO still have upside, so their upside is playing on a contender, but who knows what role they might be playing.

But with perhaps all 4 of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Bass staying in Boston, bringing in another star easily puts the team in the playoff picture in the east, though perhaps doesn't make all that great of a team.

Bradley, Green, and Bass have never made it to the Finals.

Didn't Green play in the Finals in OKC?  WCF for sure, as did Bass in Orlando, I think.

Nah Green wasn't on that OKC team, the one time he made the playoffs with OKC ('09-'10) they were a first round out to the Lakers.

Bass missed out on the ECF Orlando teams, too he was there in '09-'10 (when we stomped them) and '10-'11 (when the lost to ATL).

But, Brandon Bass was a starter on the Celtics 2012 that made it to a seventh game of the Conference Finals.  He played pretty well, too.  Avery Bradley was also a key member of that team, although, he unfortunately got hurt and couldn't go in the Miami series.

Truth. But when I read "have been to The Finals" I'm not thinking about Conference Finals.

[LilRip]

i think this team, as currently constructed, is stocked with terrific role players. i think a bunch of them could be significant contributors on a contender (that's how i'm choosing to interpret the question, as opposed to the "Jud Buechler" route). All we need now are the "franchise"-type players so that these role players have someone to support.