Way too early offseason predictions/suggestion.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

To me Collins is exactly the kind of players the Celtics don't really need. An offense first tweener who isn't that good defensively on a team that already has three better scoring options and needs a defensive big? I don't see it, that guy is gonna get overpaid.

That might be. You might right. But that's the risk. That's why he's available. That's why he could be gotten.

[wiley]

I think Ibaka does a lot of things the Celtics could use on both ends.  I'm skeptical the price would be right, though.

Ibaka would be like a bigger, second coming of James Posey, who tended not to miss his clutch 3 point attempts.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I think Ibaka does a lot of things the Celtics could use on both ends.  I'm skeptical the price would be right, though.

Ibaka would be like a bigger, second coming of James Posey, who tended not to miss his clutch 3 point attempts.

I think you guys probably didn't follow the Raptors forums when we beat them in the playoffs.
When fans are all too willing to let a player leave, you know something is off. The Cs attacked him every time he was in the game. When he played, the Cs offense flowed better.

[NKY fan]

I think Ibaka does a lot of things the Celtics could use on both ends.  I'm skeptical the price would be right, though.

Ibaka would be like a bigger, second coming of James Posey, who tended not to miss his clutch 3 point attempts.

I think you guys probably didn't follow the Raptors forums when we beat them in the playoffs.
When fans are all too willing to let a player leave, you know something is off. The Cs attacked him every time he was in the game. When he played, the Cs offense flowed better.

His BBIQ is what holds him back. He blocks defends and shoots very well which sounds like all you want from a big yet he regularly plays Only 10-15 min a game

[SmartBear]

 :-*Trade idea kinda unrealistic:
Gsw: get Hayward and Oladipo
Indi: Wiggings, kanter and 14 pick
Bos:myles turner, Eric Pascal and 2pick

[PhoSita]

I think Ibaka does a lot of things the Celtics could use on both ends.  I'm skeptical the price would be right, though.

Ibaka would be like a bigger, second coming of James Posey, who tended not to miss his clutch 3 point attempts.

I think you guys probably didn't follow the Raptors forums when we beat them in the playoffs.
When fans are all too willing to let a player leave, you know something is off. The Cs attacked him every time he was in the game. When he played, the Cs offense flowed better.

It's a fair point.  Ibaka shot the lights out when he was on the floor but the Raps still tended to lose those minutes handily.  I'm not sure why that is, though.

That said, to some extent beggars can't be choosers.  A 6'9''+ guy who can shoot it well from outside, finish inside against smaller players, and also protect the rim a bit?  The Celtics could really use somebody like that.

[Stig]

Would you entertain Tatum + Hayward for Antetokounmpo and Broke Lopez?

[gouki88]

Would you entertain Tatum + Hayward for Antetokounmpo and Broke Lopez?

No. Not giving Tatum for Giannis with no contract security on Giannis

[wdleehi]

I don't see any need to change the top 6 players on the team.   They work.

I love Daniel Theis, and he did the absolute most he could be asked to do in this playoff run.

That said, I think Theis is ideally a 20-24 minute back up center.

What would be perfect is if Rob Williams could make a major leap and be a 24-28 mpg starting center next year.  I don't think that's realistic though.  Physically he's got everything you could want, but he's a long way off mentally.


All of this is to say that my main issue with the top 6 is that I think Theis is a bit out of his depth as the starting center, especially in certain matchups.  If they find a way to get more of a two way guy who can give them 24-28 mpg at the 5, Theis would slot nicely into a backup role. 

Issue then is that Theis would overlap in role with Rob Williams, but that may not be a huge problem inasmuch as both Theis and Rob have been a bit injury prone and could be deployed more or less depending on matchups.


I agree with everything else you said, though.  Backup guard with some offensive juice and backup wing who can actually shoot without being a defensive liability are the major needs on the bench.

I am not against improving the C spot, but I think that comes in the form of the guys in there when Theis is not.   Guys that fill a matchup role where Theis struggles.   

The way the league has changed, I don't see that many C out there that are 30+ minute a night guys no matter who is on the other side.  I don't see a way to add such a C without overpaying.   So I think the best route is to have a variety of C that can play based on matchups.   

[Jvalin]

plan A (most likely a pipe dream)

A blockbuster around Simmons and Kemba.

plan B (more realistic option)

• Trade Kemba to the Knicks for #8 + future Knicks first. No need to match salaries. The Knicks can absorb his salary via cap space. The trade would create a $34,379,100 TPE for the Celtics (=Kemba's contract + $100,000). I've already elaborated on this idea on page 5 of this thread.
• Offer Christian Wood the non-taxpayer MLE. If it ain't enough, use the newly created TPE + either #26 or #30 to acquire Wood via a sign and trade. I bet he would rather start for a contending team rather than a lotto team.
• Draft Haliburton at #8.
• Draft Saddiq Bey at #14.
• Draft Tyler Bey or Robert Woodard at #26/#30.
• Draft Isaiah Joe at #47. Offer him a 2-way contract with a view to replacing Edwards down the road.
• If Kanter opts in, trade him for cap relief + whatever future pick(s) we can get. If not, let him walk.
• Cut Poirier and eat his salary. No big deal, given that we would have saved $108,048,600 over the next 3 years by trading Kemba.

PG: Smart - Haliburton - Wanamaker
SG: Brown - Romeo - Edwards
SF: Hayward - S. Bey - Semi
PF: Tatum - G. Williams - T. Bey
C: Wood - Theis - Timelord

Fwiw, the Celtics were after Christian Wood at the trade deadline.

A source told The Athletic at the trade deadline that the Celtics inquired about Wood on more than one occasion. So, yeah, there’s interest on Boston’s end. Realistically, given the likely change to the NBA’s salary cap and the Celtics’ current financial situation, the only way they’d be able to land Wood in the open market is if Enes Kanter and/or Gordon Hayward opt out of their combined $39 million player options. It’s unlikely that Boston will have the full mid-level exception to use.

https://theathletic.com/1804823/2020/05/11/the-biggest-threats-to-sign-christian-wood-away-from-the-pistons/?source=emp_shared_article

Here's a scouting video on Wood. Imo, he'd be a terrific 4th option for the C's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7DKSRrmCws

[PhoSita]

I don't think Christian Wood can be a starting 5 defensively.  I also think he'll cost too much money to be a realistic target.

He would have been a nice addition this year given that he's an expiring and could have provided much needed scoring off the bench.

[NKY fan]

Matching salaries in trades will be a major problem this offseason.

Would it be smart to trade for Lonzo Ball right before official end of this season?
We can send Poirier + Semi + Carsen + 47 pick + future 2nd rd pick.
This way we will have a bench guard for next year and or $11M salary to match incoming salary.
Might not be a bad move ....

[NKY fan]

Delete

[Csfan1984]

I'd like Collins or Vuec but think the price is probably too high.

Roy or someone else in a thread mentioned Adams and Schroo. I think Hayward, filler and pick's 26 +47 are a okay in that back up plan if you can't get a better upgrade.

Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Adams
Schroo, Langford, pick 14, GW, Theis
Waters, Edwards, Semi, pick 30, TL

[Jvalin]

I don't think Christian Wood can be a starting 5 defensively.

All defensive metrics indicate that he can. He ain't strong enough to defend traditional Centers, but he's a very switchable defender and an excellent rim protector. I reckon he'd be a terrific fit in our system.

Here are his on/off stats when playing with Drummond.

Detroit was +3.2 with Wood and Drummond sharing the floor.
They were +4.1 with just Wood.
They were -5.6 with just Drummond.

You can find more advanced metrics in the scouting video I posted above (at 8:22).

I also think he'll cost too much money to be a realistic target.

If we create a $34,379,100 TPE by trading Kemba to the Knicks, we can definitely afford Wood.