Here's a one way to being a successful team for a very long time.

[alewilliam789]

Draft:

We land #1 overall and draft Markelle Fultz

FA:

Sign Nerlens Noel to a multi-year high dollar contract (not max)


2018 starters:

PG: IT
SG: Fultz
SF: Crowder
PF: Nerlens Noel
C: Al Horford


I feel like we are missing two pieces on this team. Defense/Rebounding and a 2nd ballhandler.

What we've seen with teams nowadays is not that you need a star frontcourt players to contend, but you do need players that can defend, rebound the ball, and you need big depth.

We have one player in Horford that can act as our playmaking big. He can stretch the floor, pass the ball, and even block shots. Noel acts as our energy, rebounding, defensive stalwart that can handle any mismatch that we have. What's important for us is that Noel has the length and the foot speed to go out on the wing and guard up on almost any guard/perimeter big that you throw at him. Accompanying this is his ability to have Double Double every time he touches the court because of his energy and athleticism which is something the Celtics very clearly lack. This allows Al to guard his more natural 5 position where he has shown he can handle the physicality on the block and he will rebound a lot better staying down there in paint.

The next need we have to address is star power and playmaking all in one. One word to describe what Fultz has done in college is elite. He has dominated in every aspect of the game except defense, and even that isn't necessarily a weakness because in a smaller role with Team USA he showed he could be a lockdown defender.  I haven't seen such a complete skillset from a freshman guard since Kyrie Irving from Duke. To start off he's shown he can score at will. Whether it's around the rim, behind the arc, in the midrange, off the dribble, in the post, he has shown that he is an elite scorer. Despite this though, he still the natural traits of a true PG in creating in the PNR and off the dribble and then dishing to his teammates, but has also shown that he can be both the scorer a team needs while also creating for his fellow teammates. Why he fits with our squad is for the same reason that Smart fits with IT. Smart can create out of the pick and roll and has the passing chops to be the lead ball handler while IT focuses on getting to the rim and scoring the basketball. The main difference is huge though. Not only is Fultz a better scorer and shooter, but he's arguably a better playmaker with the ball in his hands and can be a special talent. He adds this dimension to our offense that simply doesn't exist. He adds what would be essentially a James Harden to our offense which is happens to also be what I believe his ceiling to be. 



So as crazy as it sounds I do believe this makes us a considerably better team, but I think it makes us contenders long term which is extremely important in an East that is a Lebron injury away from being completely wide open.

For our long term potential we can look at building our future around this core of Nerlens Noel, Jaylen Brown, Markelle Fultz, Marcus Smart, and our 2018 Brooklyn pick. These pieces have both plenty of potential to develop, but also complement each other very well and as they improve will make us an even more dangerous team in a post Lebron NBA.

2020 lineup:

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Nerlens Noel
C: 2018 Brooklyn pick


This is the last team scenario I will be posting for quite awhile.

[jpotter33]

TP. I pretty much stated this same scenario in another thread earlier today:

Ideally, this is what I would do:

1) Try my hardest to trade for Noel without giving up any of our core assets in Smart, Brown, and the Brooklyn picks. Near the deadline, this should be possible, and in my opinion, he puts us right there with Toronto in the East to help with our rebounding and defense. He's also probably the best young center prospect we can get anytime soon, so it's a win-win in my opinion.

2) Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Hopefully, you can make it to the ECF and give the Cavs a good series, which would provide you some legitimacy with free agency.

3) Hope for lottery luck. At the draft, assume to take the BPA, which let's assume is Fultz.

4) In free agency, do our best to try and get Griffin, even including letting Noel go if need be. If we're unable to land him, then lock up Noel and fill out the bench with cheaper vets and bringing back over Yab and Zizic, if possible. Also, quietly gauge the market to see how much interest there might be in our vets. Do a good deal if one presents itself; if not, then go forward as we are.

5) Play next season with that lineup, making sure to give plenty of developmental minutes to Smart, Fultz, Brown, and Noel. Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Do a good deal for one of our vets if it presents itself; if not, just push as far as you can in the playoffs.

6) Hope for lottery luck once again and do what you can to draft a big to be Horford's successor.

7) At this point, I think you let Bradley walk. As for IT, you tell him that you're open to resigning him, but it'll be as the sixth man off the bench, which I doubt he takes. Ideally, you're also able to trade Horford for a good young big or future draft picks at this point, but let's just say we keep him. You then move forward with your new young core of:

PG: Smart
SG: Fultz
SF: Brown, Crowder
PF: Horford, 2018 draft pick, Yab
C: Noel, Zizic

At this point it's just hoping that one or two of Smart, Fultz, Brown, or the 2018 pick prove to be star-level players and that Noel can be the DPOY-level player that he has the potential to be.

[alewilliam789]

TP. I pretty much stated this same scenario in another thread earlier today:

Ideally, this is what I would do:

1) Try my hardest to trade for Noel without giving up any of our core assets in Smart, Brown, and the Brooklyn picks. Near the deadline, this should be possible, and in my opinion, he puts us right there with Toronto in the East to help with our rebounding and defense. He's also probably the best young center prospect we can get anytime soon, so it's a win-win in my opinion.

2) Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Hopefully, you can make it to the ECF and give the Cavs a good series, which would provide you some legitimacy with free agency.

3) Hope for lottery luck. At the draft, assume to take the BPA, which let's assume is Fultz.

4) In free agency, do our best to try and get Griffin, even including letting Noel go if need be. If we're unable to land him, then lock up Noel and fill out the bench with cheaper vets and bringing back over Yab and Zizic, if possible. Also, quietly gauge the market to see how much interest there might be in our vets. Do a good deal if one presents itself; if not, then go forward as we are.

5) Play next season with that lineup, making sure to give plenty of developmental minutes to Smart, Fultz, Brown, and Noel. Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Do a good deal for one of our vets if it presents itself; if not, just push as far as you can in the playoffs.

6) Hope for lottery luck once again and do what you can to draft a big to be Horford's successor.

7) At this point, I think you let Bradley walk. As for IT, you tell him that you're open to resigning him, but it'll be as the sixth man off the bench, which I doubt he takes. Ideally, you're also able to trade Horford for a good young big or future draft picks at this point, but let's just say we keep him. You then move forward with your new young core of:

PG: Smart
SG: Fultz
SF: Brown, Crowder
PF: Horford, 2018 draft pick, Yab
C: Noel, Zizic

At this point it's just hoping that one or two of Smart, Fultz, Brown, or the 2018 pick prove to be star-level players and that Noel can be the DPOY-level player that he has the potential to be.

Tp back butterballs. Great minds think alike

[Monkhouse]

I pretty much agree with what everyone has said.

If Fultz, Giles, or Tatum could ever reach their ceiling, they should certainly have an impact on any team their on.

TP to all.

I really do think if we stand pat, that there's nothing wrong. If you choose to let Thomas or re-sign, you're still going to win games. We have plenty of options and assets most teams are seriously drooling for. I don't think some people take our team for granted, and realize we're one of the best teams in the East.

[Monkhouse]

TP. I pretty much stated this same scenario in another thread earlier today:

Ideally, this is what I would do:

1) Try my hardest to trade for Noel without giving up any of our core assets in Smart, Brown, and the Brooklyn picks. Near the deadline, this should be possible, and in my opinion, he puts us right there with Toronto in the East to help with our rebounding and defense. He's also probably the best young center prospect we can get anytime soon, so it's a win-win in my opinion.

2) Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Hopefully, you can make it to the ECF and give the Cavs a good series, which would provide you some legitimacy with free agency.

3) Hope for lottery luck. At the draft, assume to take the BPA, which let's assume is Fultz.

4) In free agency, do our best to try and get Griffin, even including letting Noel go if need be. If we're unable to land him, then lock up Noel and fill out the bench with cheaper vets and bringing back over Yab and Zizic, if possible. Also, quietly gauge the market to see how much interest there might be in our vets. Do a good deal if one presents itself; if not, then go forward as we are.

5) Play next season with that lineup, making sure to give plenty of developmental minutes to Smart, Fultz, Brown, and Noel. Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Do a good deal for one of our vets if it presents itself; if not, just push as far as you can in the playoffs.

6) Hope for lottery luck once again and do what you can to draft a big to be Horford's successor.

7) At this point, I think you let Bradley walk. As for IT, you tell him that you're open to resigning him, but it'll be as the sixth man off the bench, which I doubt he takes. Ideally, you're also able to trade Horford for a good young big or future draft picks at this point, but let's just say we keep him. You then move forward with your new young core of:

PG: Smart
SG: Fultz
SF: Brown, Crowder
PF: Horford, 2018 draft pick, Yab
C: Noel, Zizic

At this point it's just hoping that one or two of Smart, Fultz, Brown, or the 2018 pick prove to be star-level players and that Noel can be the DPOY-level player that he has the potential to be.

Actually that team worries me...

Where is the spacing? Are we going to rely on Brown, Futlz, or Horford to be our 3 pt scoring threats? Marcus is steaky, and Noel can't shoot anything outside of 10 feet.

[alewilliam789]

TP. I pretty much stated this same scenario in another thread earlier today:

Ideally, this is what I would do:

1) Try my hardest to trade for Noel without giving up any of our core assets in Smart, Brown, and the Brooklyn picks. Near the deadline, this should be possible, and in my opinion, he puts us right there with Toronto in the East to help with our rebounding and defense. He's also probably the best young center prospect we can get anytime soon, so it's a win-win in my opinion.

2) Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Hopefully, you can make it to the ECF and give the Cavs a good series, which would provide you some legitimacy with free agency.

3) Hope for lottery luck. At the draft, assume to take the BPA, which let's assume is Fultz.

4) In free agency, do our best to try and get Griffin, even including letting Noel go if need be. If we're unable to land him, then lock up Noel and fill out the bench with cheaper vets and bringing back over Yab and Zizic, if possible. Also, quietly gauge the market to see how much interest there might be in our vets. Do a good deal if one presents itself; if not, then go forward as we are.

5) Play next season with that lineup, making sure to give plenty of developmental minutes to Smart, Fultz, Brown, and Noel. Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Do a good deal for one of our vets if it presents itself; if not, just push as far as you can in the playoffs.

6) Hope for lottery luck once again and do what you can to draft a big to be Horford's successor.

7) At this point, I think you let Bradley walk. As for IT, you tell him that you're open to resigning him, but it'll be as the sixth man off the bench, which I doubt he takes. Ideally, you're also able to trade Horford for a good young big or future draft picks at this point, but let's just say we keep him. You then move forward with your new young core of:

PG: Smart
SG: Fultz
SF: Brown, Crowder
PF: Horford, 2018 draft pick, Yab
C: Noel, Zizic

At this point it's just hoping that one or two of Smart, Fultz, Brown, or the 2018 pick prove to be star-level players and that Noel can be the DPOY-level player that he has the potential to be.

Actually that team worries me...

Where is the spacing? Are we going to rely on Brown, Futlz, or Horford to be our 3 pt scoring threats? Marcus is steaky, and Noel can't shoot anything outside of 10 feet.

Fultz is a very good 3 point shooter, Al is a good 3 point shooter, Brown will continue to develop and hopefully Smart will eventually bring his 3p% up to about 34%/35%. That leaves Noel as the only player that couldn't shoot a 3 pointer.

[Monkhouse]

TP. I pretty much stated this same scenario in another thread earlier today:

Ideally, this is what I would do:

1) Try my hardest to trade for Noel without giving up any of our core assets in Smart, Brown, and the Brooklyn picks. Near the deadline, this should be possible, and in my opinion, he puts us right there with Toronto in the East to help with our rebounding and defense. He's also probably the best young center prospect we can get anytime soon, so it's a win-win in my opinion.

2) Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Hopefully, you can make it to the ECF and give the Cavs a good series, which would provide you some legitimacy with free agency.

3) Hope for lottery luck. At the draft, assume to take the BPA, which let's assume is Fultz.

4) In free agency, do our best to try and get Griffin, even including letting Noel go if need be. If we're unable to land him, then lock up Noel and fill out the bench with cheaper vets and bringing back over Yab and Zizic, if possible. Also, quietly gauge the market to see how much interest there might be in our vets. Do a good deal if one presents itself; if not, then go forward as we are.

5) Play next season with that lineup, making sure to give plenty of developmental minutes to Smart, Fultz, Brown, and Noel. Go as far as you can in the playoffs. Do a good deal for one of our vets if it presents itself; if not, just push as far as you can in the playoffs.

6) Hope for lottery luck once again and do what you can to draft a big to be Horford's successor.

7) At this point, I think you let Bradley walk. As for IT, you tell him that you're open to resigning him, but it'll be as the sixth man off the bench, which I doubt he takes. Ideally, you're also able to trade Horford for a good young big or future draft picks at this point, but let's just say we keep him. You then move forward with your new young core of:

PG: Smart
SG: Fultz
SF: Brown, Crowder
PF: Horford, 2018 draft pick, Yab
C: Noel, Zizic

At this point it's just hoping that one or two of Smart, Fultz, Brown, or the 2018 pick prove to be star-level players and that Noel can be the DPOY-level player that he has the potential to be.

Actually that team worries me...

Where is the spacing? Are we going to rely on Brown, Futlz, or Horford to be our 3 pt scoring threats? Marcus is steaky, and Noel can't shoot anything outside of 10 feet.

Fultz is a very good 3 point shooter, Al is a good 3 point shooter, Brown will continue to develop and hopefully Smart will eventually bring his 3p% up to about 34%/35%. That leaves Noel as the only player that couldn't shoot a 3 pointer.

I'm not so positive Fultz will pan out to be a great 3pt shooter. Brown is questionable, but he's young, and willing to put the work in. And we can keep our fingers crossed for Smart for sure.

I'm being a little pessimistic, pardon me!

I do hope our team does well, to a point where we don't need Avery Bradley on our team.

[jpotter33]

Ideally, the big you get to pair with Noel would be an outside threat.

There's also free agency to consider, especially if we don't resign IT and AB and trade off Al in the summer of 2018.

There's also the possibility that Yab turns out to be our starting 4 in the Green-type role, and he's a threat from outside, too.