Celtics future back court

[Khelsier]

At the start of the 2016/17 season the Celtics will look different then today. Maybe just a little, but probably a lot. It looks like there are a top 5 pick and two other first rounders coming, or maybe some or all of those pics are used to bring in a star. Then there is free agency. I think the big man rotation is going to chance drastically. After all the only 2 big guys surely under contract  next season (if not dealt) are KO and Mickey (hope he gets some playing time soon). The back court is a different story.

As I see it there seems to be a top 4 for next year. IT, AB, Smart and RJ. I like all of those guys and it would be nice to keep them all. The consequence of course would be having the same back court we have right now. Can we be a contender with that back court? If we change/upgrade in the bigs department and get a SF equal or better then Crowder can we stay put in the back court? If your answer is no, who should be dealt?

If we can deal for star and have to include one of your back court guys who should it be? Other then the obvious  “whoever the other team wants” answer, I have a really tough time to decide for myself whom I would let go first. My first answer is to say IT because of his defensive troubles against bigger guards. Also because I hate when he (occasionally) goes into hero mode and the ball movement stops completely. However I am not sure if that would be wise.

What do you think? How will the back court look like next year?


PS: I have not forgotten Turner ( I do not think he will be a Celtic next year), or Young (if he is still a Celtic he will probably be something like the 11th /12th  guy). I also have not forgotten Rozier. I  think he was picked because DA likes him and thinks it is probable that shipping out one or more of IT/AB/Smart in a big deal for a front court star might be needed. He might get a bigger role if somebody is dealt. If nobody goes he will have a tough time getting more then a few minutes per game.

[the_gunner]

I don't think guards will be first priority for us to make a move, especially if we can make ET sign a new contract around the same salary as he is paid now. I think I would pay him up to 5-6 mio. If he is not interested in that, then we should find a new solution and an upgrade.

I think we should spend the money on a really great C(who said Cousins?) and an upgrade on SF(Durant in a dream world). If we can't get both I would prefer the Center, but I don't think we need a new guard if we can sign ET.

[Hemingway]

the OP is kind of all over the place and I feel my reply will be as well.

First, you asked can we win a title with our current back court? Yes we can. I think if you spotted us a allstar 4 or 5 right now we could win the title this year. key word could.

You also seem keen to upgrade on Crowder. In my book he is a star or about to be one. Sure he won't make an allstar team but he is a great, bulky 2 way player. We have AB and Crowder locked in cheap at the 2 and 3. I wouldn't trade either of them almost no mater what.

So your real question, i think, is if there was a possible deal for a superstar and we had to lose someone who would it be? Smart or IT. If we had to lose a 1 or 2. I want to keep both as I think AB, Smart and IT lock up the 1 and 2 very well. Crowder and JJ lock up the 3.

If I were Ainge I would put all my focus on deals that improved out 4 and/or 5.

[Evantime34]

I think Danny Ainge will scour for a go to scorer at any position he can get it.

If the Raptors don't want to pay DeRozan, I could see him as a good option at the two to improve our scoring. So I think we could see a back court of Smart, and DeRozan with Thomas coming off the bench and Bradley either dealt or also off the bench.

However, if we get Simmons then what we are looking for in a back court changes. Since Simmons is best when he is handling the ball, it is less important that our back court can run the offense and more important that they can defend and shoot. In this case I'd just go with Smart and Bradley in the back court and Thomas coming off the bench.