Theoretical Celtics Rebuild

[Goldstar88]

Mavericks should do Brown for Flagg. They get an immediate champion-experienced vet in Brown (and Irving, Klay, Davis) and all of them are ready to contend. A nasty defensive lineup when healthy:

Irving
Brown
Klay
Davis
Gafford

Contracts don't work. Also, if you were Dallas would you really do this? Probably not. Which is why they will not do this.

Hell no!!  Nico would never be able to attend a game after trading Luka and then Flagg.

Flagg will likely be a better player than Brown. Especially on the defensive end.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I am not someone who as soon as you are not competing, wants to blow it up and tank. Perennial tanking teams definitely have an engrained losing culture.

But in saying all that, I truly believe it is time to break up our team and start from scratch.

The 2025-26 salary cap will be 154 million (not including luxury tax brackets). The Celtics have 135 million committed to three guys (Tatum, Brown & White).

Through little to no fault of the Celtics, the past 8 years have disrupted what should have been a Celtics dynasty.

Hayward immediately breaking his leg and never returning to same level. Irving reneging on his commitment to re-sign with the Celtics, Horford walking in free agency, Stevens suffering from burnout, Udoka stalking accusations & Tatum tearing his ACL. These issues cost the Celtics a salary cost control period that the Thunder are now enjoying.

After winning an NBA championship, SGA, Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren will make a combined 58.5 million dollars next season.

[action781]

I'm not in favor of blowing it up.  But you make a good point that a lot of our players have high values being not far removed from a championship.  IF I were to blow it up, here's how I'd approach it:

-Keep Tatum.  His trade value is probably just too low right now and you need a star.
-Trade JB and Derrick White this offseason.
-Let players cook this season to drive up trade value and consider trades by the deadline.
-Resign Kornet (I don't think there will be any market for him above the taxpayer MLE. Let him walk for more than that.)

Trade Derrick White & Hauser to Spurs for Castle + Keldon Johnson + Branham + future 1st. (Saves 6.1 M)
Trade JB + Queta to Detroit for Ausar T + Jaden I + Ron H + Isaiah S + Fontecchio + 4 future 1sts.  (Saves 4.6 M)

Rotation:
Castle & Simons (PP & Ivey backups)
Keldon J & Ausar T (Holland, Baylor S, Niang backups)
Kornet (Stewart, Tillman backup)

Castle and Ausar are genuine long term pieces, on very favorable contracts, that can both grow and fit nicely with Tatum to be our next core.  Other young players (Ivey, PP, Simons, Holland, Keldon, Stewart) could be keepable or tradable.  Building up a stockpile of draft picks along with hopefully getting lucky in the 2026 draft.