Help prepare for life without Hayward

[Smitty77]

I think Hayward is a great player but I am not so sure that signing him is the best move for this team in the offseason, or even necessary. 

The team needs to fix its #1 problem which is that it plays too small.

My life without him signing consists of the Celtics signing a couple PF/C with defensive rebounding and/or rim protection ability to 1+1 (team option) deals using our available cap space.  Taj Gibson, Jamychal Green, Alex Len...any name that is a functioning big that will accept that deal.  Like Amir, you can offer a bit more money than they are worth (like $12+ per) for the one year.

We then go into the next season with basically the same team, +/- Olynyk depending on his market, with our defensive rebounding greatly improved.  If Olynyk leaves you bring over Yabu maybe.

IT / Smart / Rozier
Bradley / Fultz /
Crowder / Brown / GG
Horford / Olynyk or Yabu
PF/C#1 / Zizic / PF/C#2

That gives 2 more slots for either rookies or veterans, maybe brining back Jerebko on the MLE or even bringing over Yabu if Olynyk resigns.

Yes that team is not that much better than this years, but you add Fultz, plan for a leap from Brown, and fix the rebounding problem.

That's a 52-55 win team that might be a better fight for CLE.

I have been confused for a while now as to WHY Taj is labeled such a STRONG rebounder!!!  He has averaged 6.3 rebounds for his career and averaged just 4.5 rebounds for OKC last year!!

Also, Green is ranked 50th on ESPN's defensive RPM out of 93 PF's and is only ranked 32nd in RPM.  He is 26th in the WINS rating.

Len is ranked 49th out of 70 centers in WINS, 31st in defensive RPM, and 62 out of 70 centers in overall RPM.

Smitty77

[manl_lui]

My non-Hayward team is to just bring back the current team, extending IT, Bradley, and Smart, and bringing back KO, while being patient as the kids grow into the stars that will continue to push us further forward.  Trades can always be made in the future if a current starter loses his job to Brown/Fultz/whomever, or a star forces a trade, or wants to join via a sign-and-trade next summer.  Cleveland and Golden State aren't going anywhere for a couple of years-- there's no need to force the issue, only to fall short.

Remember, the Celtics are still a young team, and a decent amount of growth is still possible internally.  I think our current team overtakes the Cavs in 2019.

Maybe we can get a better rebounding big than Amir for the room exception, but aside from that, I'm for patience if Hayward doesn't come.  I believe in Fultz' ability to be the scoring help IT needs by the spring of 2019, and I believe Jaylen Brown will be a two-way weapon by that same time.  The goal was to build a sustainable contender, and losing sight of that goal this summer, when no combination of moves will put us ahead of Golden State for even next year, would be a mistake.

 Well said Salt.
 Except there really isn't anything we can do to one up the Warriors.

same, i'm mixed between KO, on one side he can be freakin awesome, and on an other side, he is so inconsistent...would it be wrong to take a step back and try and risk playing Yabu and Zizic? I think chances are Amir Johnson is gone