it’s clear this team isn’t going anywhere meaningful with JT, JB, and marcus as the team’s core. at this point in their tenure, i have zero issue with hard fought losses to elite teams, but we’re still losing (and getting blown out) to lottery teams due to lazy defense, selfish offense, low IQ ball, and overall lack of effort or give-a-sh*t.
continuing to add role players and massage the roster while we wait for the j’s to mature isn’t working. it’s year five of the core playing together and can anyone honestly say this team is trending in the right direction? based on unbiased visual evidence, are they improving in any significant capacity? it’s clear they’re regressing at an alarming rate and it’s occurred across multiple seasons, coaches, gm’s, rosters/teammates, etc.
in spite of the myriad of changes, something is intrinsically wrong with the core of this team. it’s becoming more apparent there’s a cancer on this team that’s worsening and talent is no longer enough to overcome it. time for a major shakeup while the assets have high perceived value.
consequently, brad needs to be aggressive and creative before the trade deadline, and breakup the core. first of all, package marcus and get as much value as possible from teams desperate for a lockdown defender, while freeing up valuable cap space. quietly dangle JB and/or JT before the deadline and try to get a king’s ransom, which must include a truly elite player, and an appropriate supporting player(s) that fills a current gap (e.g. pure shooting two-guard), or draft picks. don’t pull the trigger unless it’s a no-brainer trade package that values one or both J’s at their “perceived” potential. only keep one of the core players if brad and ime are certain this player isn’t the cancer and will thrive within the newly constructed team.
i know, celtic’s fans…ThEy’Re OnLy 23 & 25, and YoU’rE cRaZy tO tRaDe a “tOp-15” player!!! is he though? what has he consistently proven vs. what’s our emotional valuation of his future potential? he’s an inconsistently elite shooter who can put up big numbers when his iso, step-back three-ball is falling. when it’s not (which is far too often for an emerging elite player) he can be a liability. he’s mentally soft, not a leader, doesn’t seem to possess the win-at-all-costs killer instinct, he sulks and argues calls too often, his decision making at critical times forces questions about his bball IQ, and he plays with low effort far too often. even in games when he’s scoring like an elite player, he disappears in large spurts. he possesses elite defensive ability but recently hasn’t put forth much effort on this side of the court. finally, he doesn’t make the players around him better.
are the C’s currently better when JT is on the floor? no doubt. but are the C’s championship contenders with JT as the team’s elite player? i say no; JT’s not that guy and never will be.
i understand this is a controversial opinion, but imo brad needs to sell high before the league figures it out and trade value drops precipitously. if brad decides to hold long term and misses the window, it’s going to be a long decade, C’s fans.
the trade deadline is typically post all-star game. if we’re still playing then as we are currently, how would you advise trader bradly? status quo? trade marcus? trade JT, JB, or both? shake up the remaining roster again?
