Do we already have what we need?

[litangel]

The idea that the Celtics need to make a big move with their trade exception seems not a simple decision to me. Every need the Celtics have could potentially be met by someone currently on the roster if they develop, this year we might be close to having those needs met, and next year there is a moderate to good chance several needs will be met.  But will they develop?
*Strong 2-way center - Robert Williams
*Back up point guard who can shoot, feed the stars and play good defense - Fast PP
*3 and D wing - Nesmith.
*Wing who can play strong D and get his own shots - Lankford, maybe JGreen
* Larger wing who is strong both ways, and has some power forward in him - G Williams
Do we want to trade the future for the present, when the answer might already be here?
I wonder about just trading for a slightly overpriced 1/2 year rental, probably an older, skilled player where we help the other team tank and save a little cash, and we might have to give up almost nothing of our future.
If we do trade, I prefer the power forward/wing, because that needs to be a starter quality player, and G Williams for that role seems the biggest stretch.
I'd also like to avoid trading our first for this year if possible. It is such a strong draft, that a late 1st round choice might be more like a mid round choice in an average year.

[Rikibellevie]

Maybe we have eveything we need for mid-long term, very probably we have the essential in our duo; but for this season we don't have what we need to win. We need to do something good with TPE for that.

[Vermont Green]

The idea that the Celtics need to make a big move with their trade exception seems not a simple decision to me. Every need the Celtics have could potentially be met by someone currently on the roster if they develop, this year we might be close to having those needs met, and next year there is a moderate to good chance several needs will be met.  But will they develop?
*Strong 2-way center - Robert Williams
*Back up point guard who can shoot, feed the stars and play good defense - Fast PP
*3 and D wing - Nesmith.
*Wing who can play strong D and get his own shots - Lankford, maybe JGreen
* Larger wing who is strong both ways, and has some power forward in him - G Williams
Do we want to trade the future for the present, when the answer might already be here?
I wonder about just trading for a slightly overpriced 1/2 year rental, probably an older, skilled player where we help the other team tank and save a little cash, and we might have to give up almost nothing of our future.
If we do trade, I prefer the power forward/wing, because that needs to be a starter quality player, and G Williams for that role seems the biggest stretch.
I'd also like to avoid trading our first for this year if possible. It is such a strong draft, that a late 1st round choice might be more like a mid round choice in an average year.

I would say that absolutely we do not want to trade our future for the present, and I don't think you need to in order to improve the team some.  It seems that there will be useful veteran players that are available between now and the trade deadline that we can bring in using TPE where we don't have to offer all that much in return.  It is an old cliche but apt that we don't want to do a deal just to do a deal but I expect that there will be some add to the roster for this season.  Not a big headline move, rather just a player or two that can incrementally improve the team.

[wdleehi]

The Celtics need another starter/6th man quality player that is consistent from game to game.   

[GreenWarrior]

When we're the 7 or 8 seed this yr. and you feel comfortable about the roster you might need to rethink things.

[dannyboy35]

  They need Kemba to be good OFF ball which he hasn’t been. Otherwise it’s going big to look like last night and last playoffs where he’s dribbling away the shot clock. It’s not necessary anymore. But Brad won’t change anything.

[td450]

I think we do have everything we need, but only if we allow some of the role players the consistent time to become what they need to be. Stevens is right in that no one is breaking away from the pack on the bench, but playing everyone too little to improve isn't the answer.

We don't have a single natural power forward. I think we should try committing to Semi in this role for 15 or 20 games. Can he fill a PJ Tucker type of role? He is strong and athletic enough. He is a committed defender. He is starting to hit corner 3's. If he can deliver that consistently, he should start. I hate starting Smart with Kemba. They might be the best players, but they don't work together.

That to me is the biggest issue the team has, but if he can grow into that, I do think we have the roster we need.

[dannyboy35]

I think we do have everything we need, but only if we allow some of the role players the consistent time to become what they need to be. Stevens is right in that no one is breaking away from the pack on the bench, but playing everyone too little to improve isn't the answer.

We don't have a single natural power forward. I think we should try committing to Semi in this role for 15 or 20 games. Can he fill a PJ Tucker type of role? He is strong and athletic enough. He is a committed defender. He is starting to hit corner 3's. If he can deliver that consistently, he should start. I hate starting Smart with Kemba. They might be the best players, but they don't work together.

That to me is the biggest issue the team has, but if he can grow into that, I do think we have the roster we need.

  Are we going to win a championship with Javonte Green in the rotation . I say never. I hate that we’re going for seeding over playing Nesmith. Nothing new with Brad though.

[Roy H.]

The Celtics need another starter/6th man quality player that is consistent from game to game.

Agreed.  I think that some of our players will grow into their roles, but we need another top six player.

[Csfan1984]

Hoping guys become what we need is way too far from saying we could have what we need. I say that because too many guys don't make the leap to hope for anything down the line.

If you can get a piece you need, go and get it. The longer you wait to see if guys can become it the more the players themselves lose value and thus you can't trade for a piece you needed.

You have to evaluate talent faster and not be gun shy simply because you selected a player in the draft. Getting known good players is always better than hoping you can develop good players.

[NKY fan]

Hoping guys become what we need is way too far from saying we could have what we need. I say that because too many guys don't make the leap to hope for anything down the line.

If you can get a piece you need, go and get it. The longer you wait to see if guys can become it the more the players themselves lose value and thus you can't trade for a piece you needed.

You have to evaluate talent faster and not be gun shy simply because you selected a player in the draft. Getting known good players is always better than hoping you can develop good players.

Brad and Danny seem pretty confident developing young inexperienced players into whatever role player they think suit them. I think they have a pretty good idea of the limits to almost all of them. Brad is outstanding at turning horrible draft picks into 15 mpg role players (but not on real contender role player level)..
That’s why it probably makes some sense to hold onto them.

Now when you have multiple draft picks and refuse to trade any of them for help now it’s different

[td450]

Stevens needs to commit to allowing some players to evolve. He seems to want to wait for someone to become obviously better.

Robert Williams or Tristan Thompson
Payton Pritchard or Jeff Teague
Grant Williams or Semi Ojeleye
Aaron Nesmith or Javonte Green

Stop vacillating and pick one from each of the above.

Yes, sometimes one guy plays better than another, but the team needs consistency. Stop splitting the baby, and play someone in a consistent role for 10-15 games, and maybe they will actually evolve. If someone is hurt, then the other guy plays, but otherwise, choose.

I think it would be clearly better to choose Robert Williams and Payton Pritchard, but it probably doesn't matter with the other two pairs who it is. Just choose.

[Walker Wiggle]

NBA trade deadline is still nearly two months away (March 25th), so unless the team is blown away by a trade offer, the sensible thing to do is wait and see how the team performs and what it needs.

Questions that could be answered by the trade deadline:

- Is Langford a potential answer to the team's need for a defensive-minded wing?
- Is Nesmith a possible option as a "zone killer" in the playoffs, without being played off the court on defense?
- Is Pritchard a legit backup PG?
- Is Kemba likely to be back to his old self, or close to it, this year?
- Is Thompson better than what he's shown so far?
- Is Grant (or Semi) playable in that "swing" bench role?

What the team actually needs hinges on the answers to these questions, which we simply don't have yet.

Fans won't like it, but the team shouldn't blow its future draft capital for a run this year and next. It needs to save that to land another star using either the TPE or Kemba in a trade. Plus, it would make more sense to have some ammunition to improve the team in 3-4 years to maximize the chances that Brown and Tatum re-sign here.

[dannyboy35]

 I think Brad is blowing it with Nesmith but he did the same with Rozier. He barely got run until multiple injuries forced him to play him good minutes. He played Tayshaun Prince knowing we weren’t going anywhere anc knowing he wouldn’t be on the team the next year. Same with Jameer Nelson over guys for awhile there.

[dannyboy35]

Stevens needs to commit to allowing some players to evolve. He seems to want to wait for someone to become obviously better.

Robert Williams or Tristan Thompson
Payton Pritchard or Jeff Teague
Grant Williams or Semi Ojeleye
Aaron Nesmith or Javonte Green

Stop vacillating and pick one from each of the above.

Yes, sometimes one guy plays better than another, but the team needs consistency. Stop splitting the baby, and play someone in a consistent role for 10-15 games, and maybe they will actually evolve. If someone is hurt, then the other guy plays, but otherwise, choose.

I think it would be clearly better to choose Robert Williams and Payton Pritchard, but it probably doesn't matter with the other two pairs who it is. Just choose.

  Preach . But I think Rob is a bad fit for Stevens. His defensive schemes ( and our d has been really good except this year) . I bet Rob would be getting minutes if he was playing in a defense like Indy on his way doing the same exact things Myles Turner is doing defensively. I wish we would keep him but with Brad I think we should move him. Although I’ve wanted to move on from Brad for years. Just an opinion. I know the arguments for Brad. I just personally hate the way we play on offense and the equal opportunity stuff .