Path to 2026 Contention

[keevsnick]

I think San Antonio and Boston make a lot of sense as trade partners, but I think there's fundamentally a close to 0% chance it happens in season. Massive trades like this are much easier in the offseason were teams have more cap space, more available roster spots and know where their draft picks will be.

but besides that, I think both teams are in an evaluation phase. For example, if Brown is going to play this well and stays healthy then by definition the Celtics window is wide open. Two all-nba level guys together is a clear contender in the East. San Antonio meanwhile probably wants more info on their young guys before they do a win-now trade, because if Harper is a 20-5-5 guy right away they aren't trading him for Brown, not given his age and contract situation.

In short, I think this is an offseason discussion.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'm going to go on record here and say that I think Stevens target with be Anthony Davis.

I think the team will need to completely commit to Flagg's timeline.

If we were able to move forward with Brown-Tatum-Davis to try to a win a championship in our next 3 year window, I think we'd have a chance.

We then keep one of White-Pritchard-Simons. Queta starts at center next to Davis. Minott is our energy guy off the bench with Hugo.

[Who]

I'm going to go on record here and say that I think Stevens target with be Anthony Davis.

I think the team will need to completely commit to Flagg's timeline.

If we were able to move forward with Brown-Tatum-Davis to try to a win a championship in our next 3 year window, I think we'd have a chance.

We then keep one of White-Pritchard-Simons. Queta starts at center next to Davis. Minott is our energy guy off the bench with Hugo.

I was listening to Evan Turner on Sports Illustrated with Chris Mannix. E Turner believes Dallas should blow it up. I disagree. I think they got a very strong team once they healthy. They should be patient.

But it is interesting that some people are talking about this. Some reports about Nico Harrison's job being under pressure. Some talk heating up on J-Kidd too. He is getting blamed for how bad their offense is. There is dysfunction there at the moment.

[Moranis]

Boston doesn't have the assets to acquire Davis

[Jiri Welsch]

What's Going Well

• Gonzalez, Minott, and Walsh all have shown flashes
• Simons appears to have high level offensive talent and isn't a huge liability on defense
• Brown is continuing to develop as an elite three-level scorer
• Queta looks like a solid backup big man
• They look to be a great defensive team at times

What's Not Going Well

• Pritchard and White are not playing well. Pritchard seems to be someone you wouldn't want to start at PG in a competitive playoff series.
• We are lacking a starting quality big
• They're not shooting as well from three as they need to

[Vermont Green]

Boston doesn't have the assets to acquire Davis

You wouldn't trade Brown for Davis and picks or you don't think Brown would be enough to get Davis?  Durability is a major concern for me with Davis.

[Moranis]

Boston doesn't have the assets to acquire Davis

You wouldn't trade Brown for Davis and picks or you don't think Brown would be enough to get Davis?  Durability is a major concern for me with Davis.

If Dallas is trading Davis they won't want Brown and the late 1st's that Boston has. They'd be trading Davis to go all in around Flagg which means they'd want young players and better draft picks.  A team like the Spurs would have what they'd want.

[Vermont Green]

Boston doesn't have the assets to acquire Davis

You wouldn't trade Brown for Davis and picks or you don't think Brown would be enough to get Davis?  Durability is a major concern for me with Davis.

If Dallas is trading Davis they won't want Brown and the late 1st's that Boston has. They'd be trading Davis to go all in around Flagg which means they'd want young players and better draft picks.  A team like the Spurs would have what they'd want.

So how about Brown to SAN, Davis + Picks to BOS, Harper and whatever to DAL.  Do you think SAN would want Brown or Davis more?

You have been saying that you think SAN would want Brown as a win now addition, to not miss any of Wenbanyama's window.  This is just a variation on that concept.  For the record, I like Brown better than Davis (depending on what picks were to come with him of course) and I like Brown better than most any package of prospects and picks, depending on the prospects and the picks of course.

I find the whole premise illogical to be honest.  And trying to see if I am missing something.  That SAN would want to trade for Brown because of Wembanyama's window while at the same time, BOS would trade Brown away for the same reason.  That somehow SAN's prospects and picks can't support Wenbanyama's window better than Brown but can support Tatum's window better than Brown.  How can Brown be good for Wenbanyama's window but bad for Tatum's?

[keevsnick]

Davis is an amazing player, he's also never healthy for any stretch of time. He'll be 33 by the end of this seaosn, and big men don't typically get healthier as they age.

I'm out of Davis, for his age/contract/injury combo I just wouldn't want him.

[Moranis]

Boston doesn't have the assets to acquire Davis

You wouldn't trade Brown for Davis and picks or you don't think Brown would be enough to get Davis?  Durability is a major concern for me with Davis.

If Dallas is trading Davis they won't want Brown and the late 1st's that Boston has. They'd be trading Davis to go all in around Flagg which means they'd want young players and better draft picks.  A team like the Spurs would have what they'd want.

So how about Brown to SAN, Davis + Picks to BOS, Harper and whatever to DAL.  Do you think SAN would want Brown or Davis more?

You have been saying that you think SAN would want Brown as a win now addition, to not miss any of Wenbanyama's window.  This is just a variation on that concept.  For the record, I like Brown better than Davis (depending on what picks were to come with him of course) and I like Brown better than most any package of prospects and picks, depending on the prospects and the picks of course.

I find the whole premise illogical to be honest.  And trying to see if I am missing something.  That SAN would want to trade for Brown because of Wembanyama's window while at the same time, BOS would trade Brown away for the same reason.  That somehow SAN's prospects and picks can't support Wenbanyama's window better than Brown but can support Tatum's window better than Brown.  How can Brown be good for Wenbanyama's window but bad for Tatum's?

Assuming the trade is basically the same, they'd want Davis more I think because Davis can provide cover for Wemby and vice versa. 

As for the second part, because Brown is basically a lesser version of Tatum.  There is no one like either of those guys in San Antoinio and the Spurs have Fox, Castle, and Harper all playing similar roles and positions (throw Vassell into that mix as well). So the Spurs have a surplus of guards and a dearth of wings.  And Tatum isn't playing this year so this is a lost season for Boston whereas if the Spurs acquired Brown right now they'd be much more likely to win the title this year.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Bluntly speaking, I do not see a path.

I will happily eat my words if Brad Stevens conjures some trade magic, but I cannot see it. There are too many holes in the roster and the Celtics have very little valuable assets (outside of the core guys).

Where are the Celtics going to get an elite centre who can protect the rim and space the floor? In theory, Isaiah Stewart should be available. Stewart is an overqualified backup, but given the Celtics are in direct competition with the Pistons, why would the Pistons help a rival team significantly improve?

Even the Giannis trade window appears to be closing. The Bucks have done a great job restructuring their roster and have found a hidden gem in Ryan Rollins.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the yardstick for success. In 2026, they have everyone locked down under contract, and their players (given their ages) will continue improving. The Thunder are so far ahead of the Celtics, it is ridiculous.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I am of the opinion that Celtics should have hit the reset button in the offseason.

The Celtics could have traded Tatum for Cooper Flagg.

Then traded Brown & White to the San Antonio Spurs for Dylan Harper, 2028 Celtics draft pick & salary filler.

Queta
Barnes
Flagg
Harper
Prichard

Kornet, Hauser, Johnson, Simons, Olynyk, Hugo Gonzalez

That is a fun developmental team. It is good enough to win some games but not too good as to jeopardise the Celtics chances at a top 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

[Jiri Welsch]

I am of the opinion that Celtics should have hit the reset button in the offseason.

The Celtics could have traded Tatum for Cooper Flagg.

Then traded Brown & White to the San Antonio Spurs for Dylan Harper, 2028 Celtics draft pick & salary filler.

Queta
Barnes
Flagg
Harper
Prichard

Kornet, Hauser, Johnson, Simons, Olynyk, Hugo Gonzalez

That is a fun developmental team. It is good enough to win some games but not too good as to jeopardise the Celtics chances at a top 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

You're underestimating how good Tatum will be in the next five years. He will make the team a contender on his own (assuming healthy).

[Phantom255x]

I am of the opinion that Celtics should have hit the reset button in the offseason.

The Celtics could have traded Tatum for Cooper Flagg.

Then traded Brown & White to the San Antonio Spurs for Dylan Harper, 2028 Celtics draft pick & salary filler.

Queta
Barnes
Flagg
Harper
Prichard

Kornet, Hauser, Johnson, Simons, Olynyk, Hugo Gonzalez

That is a fun developmental team. It is good enough to win some games but not too good as to jeopardise the Celtics chances at a top 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I am of the opinion that Celtics should have hit the reset button in the offseason.

The Celtics could have traded Tatum for Cooper Flagg.

Then traded Brown & White to the San Antonio Spurs for Dylan Harper, 2028 Celtics draft pick & salary filler.

Queta
Barnes
Flagg
Harper
Prichard

Kornet, Hauser, Johnson, Simons, Olynyk, Hugo Gonzalez

That is a fun developmental team. It is good enough to win some games but not too good as to jeopardise the Celtics chances at a top 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

You're underestimating how good Tatum will be in the next five years. He will make the team a contender on his own (assuming healthy).

I know that Tatum is a top five talent, but what has destroyed the Celtics is the new luxury tax rules. Instead of the NBA giving teams 5 years to prepare for the new rules, they enforced them on day 1. The Celtics were built under a different CBA.

If not for the new (harsher) cap rules, the Celtics would still have Porzingis, Horford, Holiday & Kornet. Unfortunately because of the new repeater tax, all these players walked for nothing.

The Celtics have no way of significantly improving without moving Brown or White, and that becomes a lateral move.

Now look at Oklahoma,

Oklahoma City Thunder

Roster

Caruso
Gilgeous-Alexander
Williams
Holmgren
Hartenstein

Dort
Wallace
Mitchell
Wiggins
Williams
Sorber
Topic

Draft Capital

All their own 1st round picks available.

2026 Jazz pick (1-8 protected)
2026 76ers pick (1-4 protected)
2027 Nuggets pick (1-5 protected)
2027 Clippers pick swap
2027 Spurs pick (1-16 protected)
2028 Mavs pick swap