Analyze This Quote From Wyc

[Neurotic Guy]

No idea what he meant between the lines so I’ll take it at face value. He thinks the Cs are not head and shoulders favorites in the East. What this has to do with filling out the roster I have no idea.  I don’t think the Cs are done.

[Csfan1984]

It's the fact the team regressed in the finals and had so much trouble with the Heat that has me second guessing the team. If you took out those series performances and add Galo + Brogdon I'm calling for a chip. To see how this team got worse in those two series left that deep a wound for me. Maybe Wyc feels the same way. Positive emotions didn't improve with the recent gut punch of losing Galo so I too would be practicing caution.

[Sophomore]

People keep saying Wyc is “cheap”.

I’d like to know who you’re comparing them to, and where you’re getting numbers for other teams’ spending. I can’t find current numbers that are fully up to date, but stories I was reading around the time Boston got Brogdon instead of using the TPE had us 4th or 5th in the league.

If Boston had spent most of the TPE already there would be two consequences. First, it would have cost draft picks and about $60 million to get a role player who’d probably be 5th-8th best player on the team. Maybe an ownership group should be willing to spend like that but I wouldn’t say it’s “cheap” not to put down that kind of money on a rotation player. Second, and this is maybe more important, it would be spending before we know what our needs are. They could work a trade or use a TPE at the deadline. Why the fierce urgency of now?

They aren’t refusing to sign Melo or Howard because the owners are cheap. Those players are available for the minimum. Right or wrong, I believe there are basketball reasons the team doesn’t want them.

[action781]

I personally feel no need to add to our depth (particularly our main weakness, a 3rd center) right at this moment.

Last postseason, we went into the season with no third center.  Then we picked up Theis midseason.

In 2008, we went into the season with what looked like a very thin bench.  Then we picked up PJ Brown midseason.  Also, Leon Powe ended up being a surprise.

I'm ok with rolling into the season with some uncertainty there, seeing if any of our deep bench players can surprise us, and if not then working the trade market and buyouts midseason.

As for letting the 17M TPE expire, we just don't know what players were available and at what prices.  Maybe the players some of us regret not getting simply were not available.  Or at least not without giving up additional assets that we considered too much.

[Yuckabuck33]

In the same interview he says he thinks the Celtics are contenders, so anyone reading this quote as Wyc saying the team is not as good or last year's Finals run was a flukr is tearing it out of context.

He's not saying anything that Brad hasn't said every single year. He's obviously a. avoiding bulletin board material and b. keeping the team from underachieving like the previous years.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Anyone who thinks Al Horford is gonna be as effective as last season, is kidding themselves--it was a Huge Championship or Bust year for him and I highly doubt it will be duplicated. It will be a big blow to the team if and when he drops off.

[Neurotic Guy]

Anyone who thinks Al Horford is gonna be as effective as last season, is kidding themselves--it was a Huge Championship or Bust year for him and I highly think it will be duplicated. It will be a big blow to the team if and when he drops off.

If you’re basing your prediction on age which I’ll guess you are since I doubt you have any inside information on Al’s health, it stands to reason that you’d also expect JT, JB, Rob, PP, Grant and Hauser to show improvement based on their ages. I’m wondering if you think their progress will counter the blow to the team when Al is unable to be quite as effective as last year.  BTW, some drop off is different than being a complete non-factor. I’ll assume some drop off means he can still provide average defense, wise ball movement, and some offense at fewer minutes. You saw his legs last year (actually 3 months ago) and those legs looked pretty lively.

And hopefully another backup is secured at some point.

[nickagneta]

Anyone who thinks Al Horford is gonna be as effective as last season, is kidding themselves--it was a Huge Championship or Bust year for him and I highly think it will be duplicated. It will be a big blow to the team if and when he drops off.

If you’re basing your prediction on age which I’ll guess you are since I doubt you have any inside information on Al’s health, it stands to reason that you’d also expect JT, JB, Rob, PP, Grant and Hauser to show improvement based on their ages. I’m wondering if you think their progress will counter the blow to the team when Al is unable to be quite as effective as last year.  BTW, some drop off is different than being a complete non-factor. I’ll assume some drop off means he can still provide average defense, wise ball movement, and some offense at fewer minutes. You saw his legs last year (actually 3 months ago) and those legs looked pretty lively.

And hopefully another backup is secured at some point.

If Al can do 90% of what he did defensively last year, still set great screens, still pass well and hit his threes in the mid to high 30's, he will be just what this team needs.

I think that extremely possible.

[JSD]

Another Wyc quote:

"I think we’re spending about $200 million on the roster this year, and Brad has the green light to spend more," Grousbeck told the Globe. "People can write or think whatever they want. Or, you can actually look at what we do, which is do whatever we possibly can to win a championship. And we’re in the mode right now of completely adding on. Are you going to trade future draft picks and young players under 30? Hopefully not. But money is not a consideration whatsoever, and this roster shows that."

This seems a bit disconnected from reality, after we just let a $17 million TPE expire, and are dumpster diving for free agents.

I was about to post this. Does this cheap prick think we don’t have eyeballs?

[footey]

Kind of agree with Wyc.

I think if Gallo had been injured before the Fournier TPE expired, we would have used it.  Gallo injury has changed my prognosis for the team.

if the 7th or 8th man getting hurt alters your entire outlook for the season then the team wasn't good enough before the injury.

Having Gallo on team last year could very well have been the difference needed to beating the Warriors. The margins are very small between winning and losing at the top.

[Roy H.]

Kind of agree with Wyc.

I think if Gallo had been injured before the Fournier TPE expired, we would have used it.  Gallo injury has changed my prognosis for the team.

if the 7th or 8th man getting hurt alters your entire outlook for the season then the team wasn't good enough before the injury.

Having Gallo on team last year could very well have been the difference needed to beating the Warriors. The margins are very small between winning and losing at the top.

I think that’s part of Moranis’ point.  If the margins are that small, where an injury to a role player can significantly hurt a team’s chances, shouldn’t they do everything in their power to add talent?

If we’d used the TPE on Kelly Olynyk, for instance, we’d look a lot better right now.

[#1P4P]

With the team being odds on favorites to win the NBA Championship, he’s trying to temper expectation for a toxic media and fanbase.

He might be afraid of a repeat of the 2018-19 Celtics, which was the last time we were in a similar position (favored to win the East, not the title).

Whatever his agenda/superstition is, this team’s success is anchored on the defense being elite. If the defense is elite, this team will live up to its standing.

I know quality depth is important as well and Gallinari’s injury affects that, but I’m sure one of the team’s priorities going into training camp will be making sure that the 3rd big is on the roster. If he’s already on the roster, we’ll go into the season as is; if not, we’ll acquire one during the season.

The Caboclo signing has been an afterthought, but I think he’ll give us exactly what we want from that spot (a plus defender for spot minutes/starts).

[ozgod]

I personally feel no need to add to our depth (particularly our main weakness, a 3rd center) right at this moment.

Last postseason, we went into the season with no third center.  Then we picked up Theis midseason.

In 2008, we went into the season with what looked like a very thin bench.  Then we picked up PJ Brown midseason.  Also, Leon Powe ended up being a surprise.

I'm ok with rolling into the season with some uncertainty there, seeing if any of our deep bench players can surprise us, and if not then working the trade market and buyouts midseason.

As for letting the 17M TPE expire, we just don't know what players were available and at what prices.  Maybe the players some of us regret not getting simply were not available.  Or at least not without giving up additional assets that we considered too much.

This is something to consider. Having $17m to spend (total cost $70m when you add the luxury tax cost) doesn't mean there was a player that was worth spending it on, unless you want to overpay for someone. This is where I feel when someone says "money was not a consideration", when you're the guy who is given the responsibility to spend (i.e. Brad) you would still want to spend it wisely, rather than blowing huge sums of money on players who might not be worth it. Because those decisions all come back to you, as a professional. Especially if the role you are filling is a bench or No. 7-8 guy role.

I can't be too critical of letting the TPE expire. As for adding more depth now, I'm ok if they sign a Melo type player, but maybe they want more $ than vet min, who knows. Maybe they want to wait till someone (us?) gets desperate later on in the season. Imagine having Tatum injured and out for the season in November. Our needs just increased far beyond a backup big.

I don't know enough about it all to know if they can find someone to fill a non guaranteed contract and waive them without impact on our cap space, but that's why I'm ok waiting till a bit later to see what we really need to spend $$$ on. Not spending anything now doesn't mean you won't spend anything ever.

[Roy H.]

I personally feel no need to add to our depth (particularly our main weakness, a 3rd center) right at this moment.

Last postseason, we went into the season with no third center.  Then we picked up Theis midseason.

In 2008, we went into the season with what looked like a very thin bench.  Then we picked up PJ Brown midseason.  Also, Leon Powe ended up being a surprise.

I'm ok with rolling into the season with some uncertainty there, seeing if any of our deep bench players can surprise us, and if not then working the trade market and buyouts midseason.

As for letting the 17M TPE expire, we just don't know what players were available and at what prices.  Maybe the players some of us regret not getting simply were not available.  Or at least not without giving up additional assets that we considered too much.

This is something to consider. Having $17m to spend (total cost $70m when you add the luxury tax cost) doesn't mean there was a player that was worth spending it on, unless you want to overpay for someone. This is where I feel when someone says "money was not a consideration", when you're the guy who is given the responsibility to spend (i.e. Brad) you would still want to spend it wisely, rather than blowing huge sums of money on players who might not be worth it. Because those decisions all come back to you, as a professional. Especially if the role you are filling is a bench or No. 7-8 guy role.

I can't be too critical of letting the TPE expire. As for adding more depth now, I'm ok if they sign a Melo type player, but maybe they want more $ than vet min, who knows. Maybe they want to wait till someone (us?) gets desperate later on in the season. Imagine having Tatum injured and out for the season in November. Our needs just increased far beyond a backup big.

I don't know enough about it all to know if they can find someone to fill a non guaranteed contract and waive them without impact on our cap space, but that's why I'm ok waiting till a bit later to see what we really need to spend $$$ on. Not spending anything now doesn't mean you won't spend anything ever.

This is a very defensible and realistic position.

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is the team bragging about money being no object, while at the same time saying we're overrated.

It is hard to acquire "chunk" contacts in the NBA, and it's hard to maintain big salary slots over the cap.  We had a $17 million slot that could have been converted into short-term help, or into expiring contracts to be traded later.  Instead, we let that asset evaporate.  Is there any doubt we could have used it to acquire Evan Fournier, or Alec Burks, or Nerlens Noel, or Kelly Olynyk, or Josh Richardson, or Derrick Favors?  All would have helped, and all other than Fournier would have been easily moveable later in a bigger deal.

I just wish Wyc and Brad would be candid.  They're happy having a contender, and didn't want to spend the money to improve our chances slightly-to-moderately.

[Big333223]

I personally feel no need to add to our depth (particularly our main weakness, a 3rd center) right at this moment.

Last postseason, we went into the season with no third center.  Then we picked up Theis midseason.

In 2008, we went into the season with what looked like a very thin bench.  Then we picked up PJ Brown midseason.  Also, Leon Powe ended up being a surprise.

I'm ok with rolling into the season with some uncertainty there, seeing if any of our deep bench players can surprise us, and if not then working the trade market and buyouts midseason.

As for letting the 17M TPE expire, we just don't know what players were available and at what prices.  Maybe the players some of us regret not getting simply were not available.  Or at least not without giving up additional assets that we considered too much.

This is something to consider. Having $17m to spend (total cost $70m when you add the luxury tax cost) doesn't mean there was a player that was worth spending it on, unless you want to overpay for someone. This is where I feel when someone says "money was not a consideration", when you're the guy who is given the responsibility to spend (i.e. Brad) you would still want to spend it wisely, rather than blowing huge sums of money on players who might not be worth it. Because those decisions all come back to you, as a professional. Especially if the role you are filling is a bench or No. 7-8 guy role.

I can't be too critical of letting the TPE expire. As for adding more depth now, I'm ok if they sign a Melo type player, but maybe they want more $ than vet min, who knows. Maybe they want to wait till someone (us?) gets desperate later on in the season. Imagine having Tatum injured and out for the season in November. Our needs just increased far beyond a backup big.

I don't know enough about it all to know if they can find someone to fill a non guaranteed contract and waive them without impact on our cap space, but that's why I'm ok waiting till a bit later to see what we really need to spend $$$ on. Not spending anything now doesn't mean you won't spend anything ever.

This is a very defensible and realistic position.

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is the team bragging about money being no object, while at the same time saying we're overrated.

It is hard to acquire "chunk" contacts in the NBA, and it's hard to maintain big salary slots over the cap.  We had a $17 million slot that could have been converted into short-term help, or into expiring contracts to be traded later.  Instead, we let that asset evaporate.  Is there any doubt we could have used it to acquire Evan Fournier, or Alec Burks, or Nerlens Noel, or Kelly Olynyk, or Josh Richardson, or Derrick Favors?  All would have helped, and all other than Fournier would have been easily moveable later in a bigger deal.

I just wish Wyc and Brad would be candid.  They're happy having a contender, and didn't want to spend the money to improve our chances slightly-to-moderately.

I don't understand this assumption. The team took on big money this summer so they have a willingness to spend.

It's possible they just didn't want any of those players. Some maybe for defensive reasons, some maybe for offensive reasons, some for personality reasons. Just bringing in a warm body for the sake of spending the money wouldn't have helped anyone.

In retrospect, now that Gallo is out having Kelly Olynyk would be nice but I don't think that move made sense when Gallo was going to be here and healthy.