Theoretical Celtics Rebuild

[slightly biased bias fan]

This will not happen, Brad Stevens has already stated their intention to look for ways to continue competing for a title.

But given this is a Celtics forum, I thought I would just broach the idea, what if the Celtics went into full rebuild mode. Is there any merit to this notion.

My first thought would be, if the owners were accepting of a rebuild, the front office could sell high and achieve the best possible returns on our talent. Like would the Dallas Mavericks trade Cooper Flagg for Tatum? You could say it is a fair trade and the perfect starting point for a rebuild.

If you look at most NBA teams, 95% are constructed to compete for the playoffs. Only the Wizards, Nets & Jazz look like teams destined for the lottery.

If the Celtics bottomed out next season, they would have a good chance at a high draft pick and the 2026 NBA draft is stacked with elite prospects.

Massachusetts own AJ Dybantsa is projected as a top 3 pick. Imagine the opportunity of having two local superstars as the Celtics foundational pieces.

[tenn_smoothie]

Kinda interesting, though I doubt they trade a possible generational talent for a seriously injured superstar.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Kinda interesting, though I doubt they trade a possible generational talent for a seriously injured superstar.

Obviously it would not happen for a variety of reasons, but Tatum having long term health risks should not be one of them. Tatum is young, tall & big enough that the achilles tear would not hinder him when he returns.

Flagg is a generational talent, but rookies do not win championships & Dallas only has a short window to win one. Davis could have 3 seasons left of elite production & Irving perhaps has less. When you factor in that Dallas does not have control of their own pick until 2031, in a few seasons they will be back to square one of having an elite talent in Flagg, and no one else.

Tatum is 27 and an MVP contender. Himself and Davis alone would be the best 1 - 2 combo in the NBA.

The only reason I am theorizing a Tatum trade to begin with are these new (harsher) luxury tax rules. If not for the 2nd apron taxes, the Celtics would just run back their core and probably continue being the favourites in the East. If the Celtics have to move two core pieces, the team may not have the depth to ever get back.

These new luxury tax rules have shortened every teams championship window.

OKC will have to pay Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren max extensions soon & SGA will command a full supermax in two seasons. Something will have to give in regards to their depth, especially when you factor in they are a small market team.

[droopdog7]

We at least need to be realistic.  I don't think the mavs would trade flagg for an injured JT.  They might even trade him for a healthy JT given the salary disparity. 

But yeah, I actually think that a more or less full rebuild is the best way to go.  The guy with the best value right now is White.  And it makes a lot of sense to trade White now, as he would be 32 by the time JT fully recovered and even then we might not really be competing for a title anymore.  I think he would bring back 3-5 FRPs. 

JB is a little trickier as he too is very expensive and is getting older.  But he has some value and would bring back some picks or young players too.  Hell, everyone on the roster is for sell except JT, and that is only because he is injured.

So basically, I'd be fine with blowing it up now and getting back what we can mostly because I don't see a way toward a contender with this group.  JT is a giant question mark and the stars are getting older in general with no stars to support them.

[Who]

Kinda interesting, though I doubt they trade a possible generational talent for a seriously injured superstar.

Obviously it would not happen for a variety of reasons, but Tatum having long term health risks should not be one of them. Tatum is young, tall & big enough that the achilles tear would not hinder him when he returns.

I don't know about that. The achilles hurts your lateral quickness, agility, explosiveness / burst.

There are long term concerns about how this injury will effect Tatum. If he loses too much explosiveness / burst, he will be less able to get dribble penetration or to create separation for his shot. That means less drives, less high percentage baskets at the rim, less foul shots, more jump shots, not just more jump-shots but more contested jump-shots off the dribble which are low percentage shots. That can have a large effect on his scoring efficiency & shooting percentages. Tatum's shooting has already been a bit disappointing over the last couple of years. He is not a sharp shooter. Having to rely more on his jumper, and more specifically on contested jump-shots, could lead to a significant decline in the value of his offense.

The lateral quickness & agility is a threat to his defense. Whether he can remain a high level defender or if he will drop off to a plus defender or even an average defender.

Health risks are a major concern for Tatum. In a possible trade + with no-trade in terms of his Celtics future.

[vjcsmoke]

This will not happen, Brad Stevens has already stated their intention to look for ways to continue competing for a title.

But given this is a Celtics forum, I thought I would just broach the idea, what if the Celtics went into full rebuild mode. Is there any merit to this notion.

My first thought would be, if the owners were accepting of a rebuild, the front office could sell high and achieve the best possible returns on our talent. Like would the Dallas Mavericks trade Cooper Flagg for Tatum? You could say it is a fair trade and the perfect starting point for a rebuild.

If you look at most NBA teams, 95% are constructed to compete for the playoffs. Only the Wizards, Nets & Jazz look like teams destined for the lottery.

If the Celtics bottomed out next season, they would have a good chance at a high draft pick and the 2026 NBA draft is stacked with elite prospects.

Massachusetts own AJ Dybantsa is projected as a top 3 pick. Imagine the opportunity of having two local superstars as the Celtics foundational pieces.

Cooper Flagg for Tatum won't work because of his long term injury. Cooper Flagg for Jaylen Brown? I'd consider it. I'm not sure the Mavericks would do it though.

[droopdog7]

This will not happen, Brad Stevens has already stated their intention to look for ways to continue competing for a title.

But given this is a Celtics forum, I thought I would just broach the idea, what if the Celtics went into full rebuild mode. Is there any merit to this notion.

My first thought would be, if the owners were accepting of a rebuild, the front office could sell high and achieve the best possible returns on our talent. Like would the Dallas Mavericks trade Cooper Flagg for Tatum? You could say it is a fair trade and the perfect starting point for a rebuild.

If you look at most NBA teams, 95% are constructed to compete for the playoffs. Only the Wizards, Nets & Jazz look like teams destined for the lottery.

If the Celtics bottomed out next season, they would have a good chance at a high draft pick and the 2026 NBA draft is stacked with elite prospects.

Massachusetts own AJ Dybantsa is projected as a top 3 pick. Imagine the opportunity of having two local superstars as the Celtics foundational pieces.

Cooper Flagg for Tatum won't work because of his long term injury. Cooper Flagg for Jaylen Brown? I'd consider it. I'm not sure the Mavericks would do it though.

We'd be absolute fools not to trade jb for flagg.  And, the mavs would be absolute fools to make the trade.  So there is no uncertainty anywhere in this trade.

[ozgod]

This will not happen, Brad Stevens has already stated their intention to look for ways to continue competing for a title.

But given this is a Celtics forum, I thought I would just broach the idea, what if the Celtics went into full rebuild mode. Is there any merit to this notion.

My first thought would be, if the owners were accepting of a rebuild, the front office could sell high and achieve the best possible returns on our talent. Like would the Dallas Mavericks trade Cooper Flagg for Tatum? You could say it is a fair trade and the perfect starting point for a rebuild.

If you look at most NBA teams, 95% are constructed to compete for the playoffs. Only the Wizards, Nets & Jazz look like teams destined for the lottery.

If the Celtics bottomed out next season, they would have a good chance at a high draft pick and the 2026 NBA draft is stacked with elite prospects.

Massachusetts own AJ Dybantsa is projected as a top 3 pick. Imagine the opportunity of having two local superstars as the Celtics foundational pieces.

I'm not sure how they could make it happen within the constraints of the salary cap. Dallas are an over the cap and the tax so they have to send out 100% of the salary they are taking in. Assuming we are trading for Flagg and not the No.1 pick, Flagg would be on $13.8m, so Dallas would have to part with around $38m of rotation players in addition to him. It would gut Dallas's lineup and probably put them over the 2nd apron with AD, JT and Cryrie making $152m between the 3 of them. They would already be at the cap with those 3 players. But it would be an interesting lineup for them on NBA2k for sure (as long as you turned the salary cap rules off  )

[Moranis]

The Mavs have enough players under loveable contracts thst they could do that trade under the cap, but it would be a lot of their depth for an injured player and a prime asset so they wouldn't do it. 

[flybono]

Shakeup is needed either at Head Coach, Top 8 personnel and or Organizational philosophy

Move on Giannis
If it takes Brown so be it

As constituted minus Tatum your a 45 win Team which makes the 26  number 1 pick a decent trade chip

Far as Mazzulla I?m not a fan, zero in game adjustments and I believe it was said on this board why not use more of your bench?

If Stevens is looking to run this back minus Tatum he?s a fool
Most important nobody knows what new Ownership is looking to do?

[Neurotic Guy]

Shakeup is needed either at Head Coach, Top 8 personnel and or Organizational philosophy

Move on Giannis
If it takes Brown so be it

As constituted minus Tatum your a 45 win Team which makes the 26  number 1 pick a decent trade chip

Far as Mazzulla I?m not a fan, zero in game adjustments and I believe it was said on this board why not use more of your bench?

If Stevens is looking to run this back minus Tatum he?s a fool
Most important nobody knows what new Ownership is looking to do?

Been watching Brad work for a while and, though human, he?s no fool.  If he cant implement a plan to strengthen the roster or reboot planning for Tatum?s return, it won?t be for lack of trying. Making substantive trades in their current cap situation and with the big contracts they?d need to trade with their old or unhealthy players won?t exactly be easy. He may end up rolling it back thinking they?ll be in a better trading place a year from now. 
Re  Giannis I?m in the get him camp.  But I think the Bucks would be crazy to trade with their old Cs.  Even Brown and White wouldn?t put the Bucks in contention, especially not knowing what they?ll get from Lilliard moving forward.  Bucks will have a bidding war with teams with far better young and future assets than the Cs could offer. 
Re   Mazzulla, I agree. I think Cs could do better.  But, Brad knows far better than me.  He sees so much more of Joe than I do and he has confidence in him I?m ok with that.   The overemphasis on the three drives me crazy.