#NBAFrontOffice on the Celtics Rebuild

[Big333223]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East.  It looks like every team got better but we know that it doesn't work that way. Last season the East looked like it was going to be better but it didn't improve all that much (I think it did a little). Some of these teams aren't going to be as good as we think they'll be and we should probably be ready for a surprise from Brooklyn.

Although, Brooklyn is still a candidate to be one of the 5 worst teams in the league, too. It'll be a question of whether or not Lionel Hollins can get his guys to buy in completely.

[PhoSita]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East. 

In the sense of a slap fight being interesting, sure.

[Big333223]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East. 

In the sense of a slap fight being interesting, sure.

I'm of the mind that slap fights can be very interesting and frequently amusing.

Also, what I meant by "bottom of the East" is "bottom of the playoff picture in the East."

[PhoSita]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East. 

In the sense of a slap fight being interesting, sure.

I'm of the mind that slap fights can be very interesting and frequently amusing.

Also, what I meant by "bottom of the East" is "bottom of the playoff picture in the East."

So did I, though I think they're the same thing, really, with the exception of Philadelphia (the one team in the East that has 0 chance of making the playoffs).

[Big333223]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East. 

In the sense of a slap fight being interesting, sure.

I'm of the mind that slap fights can be very interesting and frequently amusing.

Also, what I meant by "bottom of the East" is "bottom of the playoff picture in the East."

So did I, though I think they're the same thing, really, with the exception of Philadelphia (the one team in the East that has 0 chance of making the playoffs).

Right. I'll be interested by how it all shakes out because the Celtics could be in the middle of this slap fight that could involve a lot of teams (if Toronto or Atlanta drop, if Detroit, Orlando or Charlotte rise, if Indiana or Brooklyn just stay the same) vying for 2 or 3 playoff spots. And that's assuming Miami and Milwaukee make the leaps I think they will and Washington doesn't have any major issues.

The only exemptions are Philly and the Knicks, who I think are going to be really bad again.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm optimistic about the Nets being bad and missing the playoffs but I can't be so sure. There are just too many variables with health and in-season transactions.

Plus, a big reason I'm assuming the Nets will miss the playoffs has to do with thinking the teams at the bottom of the East are going to improve but this is the time of year when everyone looks like they're going to get better and it just doesn't work that way.

The Nets have two ways to be bad.  They can outright suck or they can not suck but be too injured to be competitive, with the chance of a perfect storm of both sucking and being injured.

Do you trust in the Nets having a karmic tendency to under-perform expectations, even when those expectations are low?

If the Nets are a 40 win team......they are just ONE injury to Lopez from that being a 20 win season....they live and die by Lopez presence on the court.

[GratefulCs]

I'm optimistic about the Nets being bad and missing the playoffs but I can't be so sure. There are just too many variables with health and in-season transactions.

Plus, a big reason I'm assuming the Nets will miss the playoffs has to do with thinking the teams at the bottom of the East are going to improve but this is the time of year when everyone looks like they're going to get better and it just doesn't work that way.

The Nets have two ways to be bad.  They can outright suck or they can not suck but be too injured to be competitive, with the chance of a perfect storm of both sucking and being injured.

Do you trust in the Nets having a karmic tendency to under-perform expectations, even when those expectations are low?

If the Nets are a 40 win team......they are just ONE injury to Lopez from that being a 20 win season....they live and die by Lopez presence on the court.

has lopez been injured almost every year? Sure seems like it

[ahonui06]

I'm optimistic about the Nets being bad and missing the playoffs but I can't be so sure. There are just too many variables with health and in-season transactions.

Plus, a big reason I'm assuming the Nets will miss the playoffs has to do with thinking the teams at the bottom of the East are going to improve but this is the time of year when everyone looks like they're going to get better and it just doesn't work that way.

The Nets have two ways to be bad.  They can outright suck or they can not suck but be too injured to be competitive, with the chance of a perfect storm of both sucking and being injured.

Do you trust in the Nets having a karmic tendency to under-perform expectations, even when those expectations are low?

If the Nets are a 40 win team......they are just ONE injury to Lopez from that being a 20 win season....they live and die by Lopez presence on the court.

has lopez been injured almost every year? Sure seems like it

Yep. Counting on another Lopez foot injury in 15-16 to help Boston haul in a high lottery pick.

[BDeCosta26]

It's definitely going to be an interesting year at the bottom of the East. 

In the sense of a slap fight being interesting, sure.

I'm of the mind that slap fights can be very interesting and frequently amusing.

Also, what I meant by "bottom of the East" is "bottom of the playoff picture in the East."

So did I, though I think they're the same thing, really, with the exception of Philadelphia (the one team in the East that has 0 chance of making the playoffs).

Right. I'll be interested by how it all shakes out because the Celtics could be in the middle of this slap fight that could involve a lot of teams (if Toronto or Atlanta drop, if Detroit, Orlando or Charlotte rise, if Indiana or Brooklyn just stay the same) vying for 2 or 3 playoff spots. And that's assuming Miami and Milwaukee make the leaps I think they will and Washington doesn't have any major issues.

The only exemptions are Philly and the Knicks, who I think are going to be really bad again.

I think the East certainly did seem to improve this summer, just about everyone not named Philly got measurably better. Even NY, who owes a pick swap to Denver, is going to improve just with Melo and Lopez there. If were gonna say the C's are a likely 35 win late lottery team (Which I've seen here many times), then there's just no way Brooklyn sniffs the playoffs. I don't think anyone can reasonably say that Brooklyn looks better than us. I don't think they even need a devastating Lopez injury. I think they could give us a pick in the 4-8 range with him being relatively healthy all year. You have to be pretty dang pessimistic to think that team is good enough is a be a lock for the 7th or 8th seed. That team is really thin, and heavily dependent on an injury riddled Lopez and a 35 year old Joe Johnson. And as others have stated, they seem to be making moves that aren't solely about maximizing W's this season. They're gonna try to develop these young guys they've got like Bogy, RHJ, etc.

The Monroe signing was good for them and getting Parker back should help, but I'm not really sold that the Bucks are gonna be one of the best teams in the East. I think people are forgetting just how poorly things went for them after the MCW trade. You've gotta wait till the next season to judge in-season trades because it takes time adjusting to a new team but the early results were not good. I think they're certainly a playoff team, but I'm not sold on them taking some kinda huge leap forward. Not this year at least.

[Big333223]

I think the East certainly did seem to improve this summer, just about everyone not named Philly got measurably better. Even NY, who owes a pick swap to Denver, is going to improve just with Melo and Lopez there. If were gonna say the C's are a likely 35 win late lottery team (Which I've seen here many times), then there's just no way Brooklyn sniffs the playoffs. I don't think anyone can reasonably say that Brooklyn looks better than us. I don't think they even need a devastating Lopez injury. I think they could give us a pick in the 4-8 range with him being relatively healthy all year. You have to be pretty dang pessimistic to think that team is good enough is a be a lock for the 7th or 8th seed. That team is really thin, and heavily dependent on an injury riddled Lopez and a 35 year old Joe Johnson. And as others have stated, they seem to be making moves that aren't solely about maximizing W's this season. They're gonna try to develop these young guys they've got like Bogy, RHJ, etc.

The Monroe signing was good for them and getting Parker back should help, but I'm not really sold that the Bucks are gonna be one of the best teams in the East. I think people are forgetting just how poorly things went for them after the MCW trade. You've gotta wait till the next season to judge in-season trades because it takes time adjusting to a new team but the early results were not good. I think they're certainly a playoff team, but I'm not sold on them taking some kinda huge leap forward. Not this year at least.

The best thing to happen to MCW might be the Bucks signing Monroe. He's got real passing skills and will have room to operate out of the high post in their system. That means MCW has to learn how to make open jump shots, which is still a problem, but if Kidd can fashion him into a defensive destroyer (as he's capable of being as a PG) and he gets even a little better offensively, they're going to look really good. It's assuming that everyone will get better but Monroe just seems like a perfect fit and Parker is still a star in the making.

[Future Celtics Owner]

However, with the Nets pick I don't understand why we can't be really optimistic. Yes they will not not shut it down like a traditional bad team because they won't reap the rewards, but where is the upside on their roster?

I will say I can see a scenario where they make the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, but I think it's extremely unlikely that both the Celtics and the Nets make the playoffs next year.  The Wiz, Cavs, Bulls, Bucks, Pacers, Hawks and Heat I feel like are all clearly better than either of us.  That's 7 teams.  Even if someone on one of those teams (like Paul George) are injured early on and their team drops out of contention, there are still the Bobcats, Raptors, Pistons, Knicks and Hornets who should all be theoretically capable of grabbing the 8 seed.  So I think we'll have at least one lottery ticket next year and there's a decent enough chance for two.  Unfortunately, only the 1st and 2nd picks seem like they have transcendent potential and then there's a much steeper drop off after than than other years.

I disagree about there being only 2 players in this draft, but agree that the East is better and we have no chance at winning th title. I've put my neck out there over the last year or two, and I ended almost all my posts with the player I wanted/scouted sometimes year or two in advance. Karl Towns, Rudy Gobert, Myles Turner, James Young, Zack Lavine, Upshaw and etc. (at least I put myself and my predictions out there even in a way in which I could be mocked)

IMO Brandon Ingram will be a very good pro player. But that can only be an educated guess. I like his potential and game better than anyone in this upcoming draft....and he's a year younger than the other top guys. I do not know what is in his head or heart, or if he is prone to drugs/alcahol. But I do know that he has unparalleled quickness for his length and is a very good passer, often plays pg on his teams. He can/will be able to defend 3-4 positions in the NBA, needs to gain 20-30lbs. He reminds me of a mix of Durant/Greek Freak but because he is a year younger than his class he is overlooked physically sometimes.....I believe that will change with time and the natural process of becoming a man. Also he is a player that can get by just fine while being skinny/under 230.

I can tell you for sure that he possesses superstar speed and handles for someone with his height and length.


My rebuild would be to trade our role players like IT ET AB KO Zeller and try to get Myles Turner and/or picks in 2017 and prospects.