Ok, so the Celtics have the 16th pick this year...it might be best if we tried to estimate Ainge's master plan for the J's. Nothing else matters right?
Keep them or trade one...
I want to keep both of them but, I want to win and so does Ainge.
Our team is "too young to win a title"...
The Celtics have a very limited bench...
The frontcourt isn't anything close to a championship unit...
When is it "time to go all in with the J's" and spend for a title and I don't think it's next year...maybe the year after.
Let's do a dream sequence, that is impossible, but makes a point you can't have a $35M player at every position:
(Ex.)Chris Paul 4 years ago (competent distributing vet PG)
Jaylen Brown
Jason Tatum
(Ex.)Blake Griffin 5 years ago (good shooting vet PF)
(Ex.)Thompson plays hard defense, knows his role
There's three veterans and the J's.
Fournier (Ainge may need to "pay" someone else)
Robert (?) (spent half of career on IR)
Prtichard (Small but legit off bench - cheap)
Nesmith (could be legit - cheap - bench hustle)
Grant (ok 9th guy)
Ainge has problems as Smart has to recover from whatever it is that's been messing with him this season and Walker is not the answer he was in the bubble. ...except when the Heat was hammering him in the ECF title series and the other night.
I agree with those of you who see that 16th pick getting traded for some or one of the unanswered questions above.
I don't know if Walker can get traded or, you start another PG and have him off the bench at $35M.
I know Smart could go a lot of places, but if Ainge doesn't care as 2023/4 is the "all in year" next year is Smart's final year anyways.
As this is a draft thread? Is there a draft pick at 16 who might be a 6th man or starter in the 23/24 season and will help win a title?
Why the heck not, unless they can use it for a trade that does the same thing.
Does Ainge need more young guys?