Next year

[slamtheking]

I think that's a good, comprehensive breakdown.

Celts have a good top 6 ... Jayson, Jaylen, Kemba, Hayward, Smart, Theis. 

Rob Williams should be a serviceable 15-20 mpg player next year.

Grant can give you 15 minutes a night or so at the 4/5 and fits well with starter-heavy lineups due to his defense and lack of scoring.


That's 8 solid rotation players, but very light on bench scoring.



I agree that Kanter is probably back.  Given that, it might be unrealistic to expect the team to add another center since they'll already have 3 who will compete for minutes.


I'd move on from Edwards; I also agree that Poirier is a wasted spot.  Tacko and Waters are fine as 2-way players if that's still an option.


Main priority is turning Wanamaker and Semi into reliable vets who can occasionally give you 10-15 points and punish a defense for leaving them open. 

I expect nothing from Romeo Langford or any of the guys they might take in the draft.  I am 100% on board with the idea that now is the time to start fine tuning for contention, not looking for projects to develop into future starters.  Finding cheap rotation players in the draft is necessary to maintain contention. 

However, the Celts don't need more cheap, serviceable end of rotation guys with no experience.  They need seasoned vets who can keep the team in a game when the starters are struggling.

That was pretty much what I was saying.  Semi, Edwards, Poirier, Green and Wanamaker are all fair game to be removed in favor of veteran help off the bench.  I'd include Tacko and Waters in that but they're 2-way players so they're not preventing the addition of veteran help

[johnnygreen]

If we're talking changes through free agency, I'd like to get Davis Bertans, who is an elite 3 point shooter. I'm just not sure we have the cap space.

[footey]

If we're talking changes through free agency, I'd like to get Davis Bertans, who is an elite 3 point shooter. I'm just not sure we have the cap space.

We don't.

[Roy H.]

If we're talking changes through free agency, I'd like to get Davis Bertans, who is an elite 3 point shooter. I'm just not sure we have the cap space.

We don't.

In hindsight, do we wish Danny had offered two first rounders for him, the purported asking price?  It probably depends on 1) if the Memphis pick was one of the required picks, and 2) whether Bertrans would have suited up for us.

[NKY fan]

If we're talking changes through free agency, I'd like to get Davis Bertans, who is an elite 3 point shooter. I'm just not sure we have the cap space.

We don't.

In hindsight, do we wish Danny had offered two first rounders for him, the purported asking price?  It probably depends on 1) if the Memphis pick was one of the required picks, and 2) whether Bertrans would have suited up for us.

Maybe Danny got lucky again that he didn’t pull the trigger.
But if Bertrans cost the bucks and our pick plus Poirier and another young player to match salaries and Bertrans decided to come to the bubble I think we would probably be at least tied with Miami now .

[Sophomore]

I would be thrilled if we could get Tristan Thompson for the MLE.  We could use his rebounding.

We have a good/great rebounder in Kanter. Don’t see how Brad uses TT significantly more than he would Kanter, which is reliant on specific matchups.

Well, to be fair, Tristan Thompson is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

A folding chair is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

[PhoSita]

I would be thrilled if we could get Tristan Thompson for the MLE.  We could use his rebounding.

We have a good/great rebounder in Kanter. Don’t see how Brad uses TT significantly more than he would Kanter, which is reliant on specific matchups.

Well, to be fair, Tristan Thompson is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

A folding chair is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

I swear Enes Kanter is like an optical illusion on defense.  You're pretty sure your eyes are telling you that he's physically in the vicinity of the ball, but the way the offensive player puts it in the basket makes it seem like there was nothing in the way but air.

[gouki88]

I'd say goodbye to Wanamaker and Ojeleye. Probably say goodbye to Tacko Fall, sadly that little circus sideshow is over. Wanamaker is a weak defender and doesn't really add too much besides being efficient. Ojeleye hasn't improved on offence really at all, except from going from a terrible 3PT % to a decently reliable one. Too bad he has no ability with ball in hand. Fall is nearly 25 and has the mobility of post-retirement Vince Wilfork.
I think Hayward either accepts his player option or signs a 3/70 type extension, and I think Kanter will renounce his option to try and get more money.

I hope we draft Kira Lewis Jr., Paul Reed, and then a guy like Xavier Tillman. I think these three can and will be immediately productive in the NBA.
Lewis has 2 years of college ball experience but is only 19 due to recommitting, and he looks like he can really provide some offensive firepower. Lightning fast and would be a good heir to Kemba's throne. He's also solid on defence.
Reed will be able to defend 3-5 immediately and would probably be the best rebounder on our team if Kanter leaves. Plays like Jerami Grant if he were a beast on the boards.
Tillman is a defensive playmaking big-man who reminds me a lot of Paul Millsap or Bam Adebayo - comfortable defending a vast array of players, and is in his element handling the ball in the high post and even on the perimeter. Not as athletic as Adebayo, and he's an older guy, which is why he might fall (just like Millsap did!).

Then in free agency I throw our taxpayer MLE at one of Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III or Furkan Korkmaz. Let's just say Burks. I think any of these guys would provide that ability to come off the bench, fire off quick jumpshots and keep a lead going strong. They'll also be covered by our excellent defenders like Smart, and our great defensive schemes.

I also think JT will show himself to be a legit MVP calibre player. It took his idol Kobe until year 5 to display that kind of play, I think Tatum will show it in year 4. I'm fully confident of a 26/9/4 year with routine really good defence. That should help a clear hierarchy of scoring develop: Tatum -> Brown -> Kemba -> Hayward.

So in my little dream offseason we tipoff 2020-2021 with this team:

Kemba Walker / Kira Lewis Jr. / Tremont Waters
Jaylen Brown / Marcus Smart / Carsen Edwards
Gordon Hayward / Alec Burks / Romeo Langford
Jayson Tatum / Grant Williams / Paul Reed
Robert Williams / Daniel Theis / Xavier Tillman

I really, really like that team both in 2020-21 and going forward.

[JBcat]

I still really like our team, and would like to retain bench pieces Kanter, Wanamaker, and even Semi.  With our taxpayer exception I would like a low maintenance wing that can help in a pinch, but might not play a lot like a Kent Bazemore or RHJ.  Maybe even Langford will surprise next year and whoever we draft with the 14th pick this year as well.

I’m trying not to overeact to this series.  We could easily be tied 2-2 even up 3-1 and our star wings are only 22 and 23.   

[BringToughnessBack]

Next year we are trying to repeat and get 19.... not ready for this thread now!

[jambr380]

I would be thrilled if we could get Tristan Thompson for the MLE.  We could use his rebounding.

We have a good/great rebounder in Kanter. Don’t see how Brad uses TT significantly more than he would Kanter, which is reliant on specific matchups.

Well, to be fair, Tristan Thompson is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

A folding chair is a better pick and roll defender than Enes Kanter.

I swear Enes Kanter is like an optical illusion on defense.  You're pretty sure your eyes are telling you that he's physically in the vicinity of the ball, but the way the offensive player puts it in the basket makes it seem like there was nothing in the way but air.

If he were an unknown, I think offensive players would respect him a little more because of his size and presence. Unfortunately for him/the Cs, players know they have no chance of getting their shot blocked and they can just play like he basically isn't there. And if there is any contact, they will get FTs anyway.

I think there is a place in this league (and even this team) for somebody like Kanter, he just needs to be put in position to do what he does well.

[hwangjini_1]

Tristan Thompson -- He's finally a UFA.  How much will he get paid?  I feel like he still has the ability to be a useful player for 15-20 minutes a night.  He's only 28.  His skillset seems less and less worth paying for in today's NBA though. 

Aron Baynes-- Old friend Aron.  Kinda long in the tooth at this point (33 y/o) but he doesn't have a lot of mileage on him.  Might want to stay in PHX.

Alex Len - I think he's a decent player, nothing special.  Might not be too pricey.

Baynes would be great, but I don't think he's a realistic option. I bet some team will offer him more than the taxpayer MLE. If we go after a big man via free agency, my #1 realistic(?) target would be Nerlens Noel. In any case, I'd be looking to dump Kanter for cap relief + whatever future pick(s) we can get.

PS: We already got 2 threads regarding next season.

https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=102126.0

https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=102549.0

I want deep playoff experience in a big man acquisition. That knocks out Len and Noel.  If Baynes can't be had, that leaves Tristan Thompson who won a chip in 2016 and I think could revive his career with the C's.  He would certainly contribute more than Kanter.  A center rotation of Theis, Thompson, R. Williams (with a few situational minutes for Grant) would be excellent.

so, as of now, kanter and theis fill the bill don't they. 

[RodyTur10]

@Gouki: I like your team as well.

Not sure though we should go forward with Edwards. Maybe trade him to get rid of Poirier?

We also have #47 pick. Isaiah Joe could be that end-of-the-bench-shooter.

[gouki88]

@Gouki: I like your team as well.

Not sure though we should go forward with Edwards. Maybe trade him to get rid of Poirier?

We also have #47 pick. Isaiah Joe could be that end-of-the-bench-shooter.

I would love to offload Edwards and Poirier, but I fear it might cost us that said 2nd rounder to try and nab a future 2nd for them.

I do like Joe as a potential end of bench shooter type. I also like his teammate, Mason Jones. Another guy is JUCO stud Jay Scrubb.

While this draft might not be overly star heavy, I think many solid role players will come from it.

[mrceltics2013]

After watching last nights game and if you really think about it the big man position isn’t the only position that is fading away in the league...the PG is also a position that can honestly be removed as well.

I love(d) Kemba Walker but MY GOD he’s such a liability on defense it’s just annoying to see. Not to mention he doesn’t get much assist, rarely controls a game, and if he is off on offense he is useless. The Celtics are EXTREMELY close to building a gsw type team and I feel like upgrading the starting line up should be the key focus, not the bench. We have shown we can do plenty with a young bench as the starters are always in and I think that’s not a bad strategy and it could be enhanced if the focus is to continue to build the starting lineup.

Our center slot is “interesting” to sum it up. Yeah it can be effective but it’s like they are all great at one thing and terrible at something else. Kanter can get you BUCKETS down low, but can’t defend at all. Thesis can literally do everything “well” he is the most well rounded option we have but does nothing great. Time lord is athletic as all hell, but his IQ is low, gets killed in pick and rolls, and doesn’t at all get nearly as many rebounds as he should.

So in my opinion the Celtics should keep the bench young, but exciting and upgrade it through left over draft picks or find some young guns on FA. Shop around our assets in order to find a player that is switchable on defense, has length, high playmaking vision (maybe even a game manager if Tatum does not grow to become one), can rebound, can score inside-out, and most importantly this person CANNOT BE A DISTRACTION.

NBA Players on my list:
Joel Embiid
Ben Simmons
Jrue Holiday
Chris Paul (would help develop the entire young team 🤤 and may not require many assets)
Spencer Dinwiddie
Kelly Obre
AAron Gordon
Zach levine
Nurkic
Deni Avdija (draft)
———————————————————-
Trade assets:
Kemba Walker
Romeo Langford
Rob Williams 3
Daniel Theis
*Gordon Hayward (only is ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO GET A Sensational player)
3 first rounders and future picks
————————————————————-

Example:

I know my outlook isn’t favored and is the least likely to happen but I seriously feel like we can create a dangerous team if we eliminate the PG and Center position with Smart, Brown, and Tatum on the team. Tatum can actually defend the rim if he was tasked to do it.

This is just a different way t thin of things guys is all. Just use your imagination and slot Tatum in the center position and every other than Smart and Brown are expendable what team would you build?