Is this team good enough?

[Neurotic Guy]

Mann is overpaid for what he brings to the table.   In previous years he was a good defender but not this year.

DL

I may not know Mann well enough to say this but don?t we already have a couple of Terrance Manns in the making, maybe with higher ceilings, that we want to get minutes for?

[Phantom255x]

I'd try a 3-team deal with LAC-BOS-BKN and hope BOS gets Zubac from it. I think it'd have to be some 3-teamer because of LAC's cap situation too, Simons + picks for Zubac doesn't work on it's own, there'd have to be a few other players or salaries involved and BKN could help with that.

But the general framework, I'd absolutely be fine giving up Simons, 2 future first round picks, and some combination of Tillman/Baylor/2nd round picks to further facilitate and make possible. Obviously I'm not saying the last 3 are "valuable" pieces but just for potential salary-matching and/or further incentive for a certain team like BKN.

[keevsnick]

I'd try a 3-team deal with LAC-BOS-BKN and hope BOS gets Zubac from it. I think it'd have to be some 3-teamer because of LAC's cap situation too, Simons + picks for Zubac doesn't work on it's own, there'd have to be a few other players or salaries involved and BKN could help with that.

But the general framework, I'd absolutely be fine giving up Simons, 2 future first round picks, and some combination of Tillman/Baylor/2nd round picks to further facilitate and make possible. Obviously I'm not saying the last 3 are "valuable" pieces but just for potential salary-matching and/or further incentive for a certain team like BKN.

Ya, if the trade is done this season the LAC has to send out an additional salary like DJJ or Lopez because they are hard capped at the first apron and so only have 1.2 million in wiggle room.

If it waits until the offseason Boston could just take his into the Porzingis TPE because Simons will expire and open up enough room under their first apron to actually use the TPE.

As of now Boston can trade their 26' OR 27' firsts, but not both. They can also trade 31' OR 32' firsts, but not both. This is due to the Stepien rule, you can't be without a first rounder in two consecutive years and they've already traded 29'. So they can really only trade two first rounders as of right now.

They do have the 26' 2nd Best Of NOP/NYK/POR/MIN which right now seems very likely to be the Pelicans pick and almost certainly in the 31-35 range. They also have the 26' 2nd best of ORL/DET/MIL which with Giannis out and maybe on the trade block could also end up high in the 2nd round.

[Goldstar88]

Santi Aldama wouldn?t be a bad option either. Clarke should be back in a month so he could be JJJ primary backup. Then you have Edey and Londale at C. Memphis could use another guard with Morant and Pippen Jr both being injury prone.

[Phantom255x]

I'd try a 3-team deal with LAC-BOS-BKN and hope BOS gets Zubac from it. I think it'd have to be some 3-teamer because of LAC's cap situation too, Simons + picks for Zubac doesn't work on it's own, there'd have to be a few other players or salaries involved and BKN could help with that.

But the general framework, I'd absolutely be fine giving up Simons, 2 future first round picks, and some combination of Tillman/Baylor/2nd round picks to further facilitate and make possible. Obviously I'm not saying the last 3 are "valuable" pieces but just for potential salary-matching and/or further incentive for a certain team like BKN.

Ya, if the trade is done this season the LAC has to send out an additional salary like DJJ or Lopez because they are hard capped at the first apron and so only have 1.2 million in wiggle room.

If it waits until the offseason Boston could just take his into the Porzingis TPE because Simons will expire and open up enough room under their first apron to actually use the TPE.

As of now Boston can trade their 26' OR 27' firsts, but not both. They can also trade 31' OR 32' firsts, but not both. This is due to the Stepien rule, you can't be without a first rounder in two consecutive years and they've already traded 29'. So they can really only trade two first rounders as of right now.

They do have the 26' 2nd Best Of NOP/NYK/POR/MIN which right now seems very likely to be the Pelicans pick and almost certainly in the 31-35 range. They also have the 26' 2nd best of ORL/DET/MIL which with Giannis out and maybe on the trade block could also end up high in the 2nd round.

They could definitely try for Zubac this offseason and maybe just settle on a backup big at the deadline or buyout market. But that said, it's hard not to look at this East and think we can't make a bit of a run, even to the ECF if matchups dictate it and ASSUMING Tatum does plan to return in March. Also I think I read the Clippers might decide to blow it up and also reset their own payroll a bit, which in that case if they dangle him at the deadline I think you have to try, there's no guarantee he'll still be there this offseason.

[Goldstar88]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

[SparzWizard]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

Celtics really need to beat the Knicks in the postseason. These guys been having our number in the playoffs for awhile and it's time to pay back.

[Phantom255x]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

Celtics really need to beat the Knicks in the postseason. These guys been having our number in the playoffs for awhile and it's time to pay back.

Would be nice, but Brad would definitely have to execute the plan Goldstar88 layed out. That team has KAT but also just a lot of size in general around Brunson. DET's frontcourt is great too. They can't be relying on solely Queta against the likes of DET/CLE/NY/ORL. Minott and JT can play some smallball 5, sure, but that's not ideal for long periods of time.

[Goldstar88]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

Celtics really need to beat the Knicks in the postseason. These guys been having our number in the playoffs for awhile and it's time to pay back.

Would be nice, but Brad would definitely have to execute the plan Goldstar88 layed out. That team has KAT but also just a lot of size in general around Brunson. DET's frontcourt is great too. They can't be relying on solely Queta against the likes of DET/CLE/NY/ORL. Minott and JT can play some smallball 5, sure, but that's not ideal for long periods of time.

Having to play Minott or JT at the 5 would be disastrous in the playoffs. I think Queta is playing well enough to remain the starting C, so all Brad has to do is get a backup. I?d love to get Olynyk. He can stretch the floor and has good size at 7?/245lbs.

[tenn_smoothie]

I have not watched as many games this season as I normally do, so I have a question for those who have followed the team more closely.

Anfernee Simons was brought in to provide some scoring punch, along with a reputation as a weak defender.
How has his defense been ? Has he shown more effort in that area, more focus to fit in to a more defensive-minded team ?

[Who]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

I think Queta is playing well enough to remain the starting C, so all Brad has to do is get a backup. I?d love to get Olynyk. He can stretch the floor and has good size at 7?/245lbs.

I think they need a center who is at least as good as Queta if not better than Queta to be a title contender. I don't think a center worse than Queta is enough.

I don't think Olynyk is enough. San Antonio's defense falls apart whenever Wemby or Kornet are not on the floor. This despite them having several long & rangy above average perimeter defenders.

I don't think any of the names from the Plan B group are good enough to make Boston a contender. It needs to be a starting caliber big man. Someone who can share the playing time at center with Queta. A two-horsed monster at center. Tag team. Like Dallas had with D Lively and D Gafford when they made the Finals two years ago.

[keevsnick]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

I think Queta is playing well enough to remain the starting C, so all Brad has to do is get a backup. I?d love to get Olynyk. He can stretch the floor and has good size at 7?/245lbs.

I think they need a center who is at least as good as Queta if not better than Queta to be a title contender. I don't think a center worse than Queta is enough.

I don't think Olynyk is enough. San Antonio's defense falls apart whenever Wemby or Kornet are not on the floor. This despite them having several long & rangy above average perimeter defenders.

I don't think any of the names from the Plan B group are good enough to make Boston a contender. It needs to be a starting caliber big man. Someone who can share the playing time at center with Queta. A two-horsed monster at center. Tag team. Like Dallas had with D Lively and D Gafford when they made the Finals two years ago.

This is sort of where I'm at as well. I love Queta, he's been great, I still think he's overmatched at Center against the quality of big man you have to beat in the playoffs to make a deep run. In an ideal world he'd be a very good backup, the same way Kornet was.

That said we don't live in an ideal world, a starting level center may simply not be available at the deadline. If that's the case I'd like to see them add a quality back up at the level of say Day'Ron Sharpe to the mix. Not sure Queta/Sharpe is good enough long term but for this year it would at least give you the option of having 48 minutes of good center play which would allow you to use the small ball lineup as a change up rather than a look you have to use.

[Goldstar88]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

I think Queta is playing well enough to remain the starting C, so all Brad has to do is get a backup. I?d love to get Olynyk. He can stretch the floor and has good size at 7?/245lbs.

I think they need a center who is at least as good as Queta if not better than Queta to be a title contender. I don't think a center worse than Queta is enough.

I don't think Olynyk is enough. San Antonio's defense falls apart whenever Wemby or Kornet are not on the floor. This despite them having several long & rangy above average perimeter defenders.

I don't think any of the names from the Plan B group are good enough to make Boston a contender. It needs to be a starting caliber big man. Someone who can share the playing time at center with Queta. A two-horsed monster at center. Tag team. Like Dallas had with D Lively and D Gafford when they made the Finals two years ago.

The Celtics won a championship recently without having a legit center for most of the postseason. Warriors have several championships with Looney as their 5.

[Who]

Celtics are now in 4th place. Only 1.5 games behind Toronto for 3rd. Per Chris Haynes, Tatum has told him that he?s coming back this season.  The East looks wide open. OKC isn?t going to have an easy path to the Finals with the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers out West.

Celtics need to add another big, but other than that, the rotation looks good.

Starters: White, Brown, Walsh, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Hauser, Minott, ?

Brad has some work to do and there are plenty of options out there for a backup big.

One of Claxton, Aldama, Olynyk, Capela should be top targets.

Plan B: Jock Londale, Marvin Bagley, Nick Richards, Jay Huff, Day?Ron Sharpe, Kevon Looney, Dwight Powell.

I think Queta is playing well enough to remain the starting C, so all Brad has to do is get a backup. I?d love to get Olynyk. He can stretch the floor and has good size at 7?/245lbs.

I think they need a center who is at least as good as Queta if not better than Queta to be a title contender. I don't think a center worse than Queta is enough.

I don't think Olynyk is enough. San Antonio's defense falls apart whenever Wemby or Kornet are not on the floor. This despite them having several long & rangy above average perimeter defenders.

I don't think any of the names from the Plan B group are good enough to make Boston a contender. It needs to be a starting caliber big man. Someone who can share the playing time at center with Queta. A two-horsed monster at center. Tag team. Like Dallas had with D Lively and D Gafford when they made the Finals two years ago.

The Celtics won a championship recently without having a legit center for most of the postseason. Warriors have several championships with Looney as their 5.

It is not about the center position exclusively but the center position relative to the talent level of the rest of the roster.

That BOS team that won a title had Jrue Holiday. This team doesn't.

(1) If the team acquires another strong player elsewhere in the rotation, then they can acquire and win with a lesser center backing up Queta.

(2) Without such an acqusition, they need a center equal or better than Queta.