Frontcourt Is Going To Be An Issue This Postseason

[slamtheking]

Just a reminder that Brad and ownership punted the season by needing to get under the tax. We traded a better player in Simons and decent pick for Vucevic to save money when we could have kept Simons (and his valuable scoring) and brought in an impact Center with our TPE.

It?s great that Chisholm will get back some tax dollars from the league, but that doesn?t help us this season. And it?s not going to help us next season when we very obviously are going to duck the tax again in order to reset the clock.

All this whole Tatum and Brown are in their primes.

 

Cannot disagree more. As was about to get a huge drop in value when JT came back and PP went back to his 6th man role. What touches were left for AS?  He would have dropped into a BS role, without the defense ability. They NEEDED a 15 to 20 minute big that could stretch the D.  Provide a little more O punch than Q. They got it, as well as getting under the cap.

again. His point was they could have kept Simons AND used the big tpe for a big man.  They could have had both.  Money and only money prevented that.

Money and the long-term penalties for being a repeat 2nd apron team.  So we could have Simons sit on the bench?  Sit out injured?  I am not sure what the argument is.

Just to note, nowhere in any of my posts did I state that I thought we should be a 2nd apron team. Getting under the tax and getting under the 2nd apron are two entirely different things. Moranis and ozgod understand this.

Also, it didn?t have to be Simons. They could have still made the Vucevic trade and then used part of the TPE to get another impact player while still staying under the 2nd apron. Vucevic has been underwhelming so far, though, so I wouldn?t have minded if we went in a different direction.

The only thing getting under the tax did was make Chisholm more money and apparently win Brad EOTY. It didn?t make our team better in a year where we are one of the favorites to come out of the east

The Celtics could not use the TPE until they were under the 1st apron.   Trading Simons to create a TPE put the Celtics under the Apron that allowed them to take Vooch into the pre-existing Apron.   


The Celtics are a better playoff team with an extra C then with an extra guard.   Who would have played when both the other C were in foul trouble?

Insert head banging against wall gif

So explain how to use the TPE if the Celtics were over the 1st Apron.   


Explain who would be playing C when the foul trouble keeps happening


And finally, where are the minutes coming from to get Simons out there?

You?re acting like there were no other ways to add salary. I used the TPE as an example, but we could have traded for a player who fit within the cap restrictions and then traded that player for someone making more salary.

I have no idea why people are trying to make the argument that this team, as currently constructed below the tax, is the best possible team we could field in the middle of the primes of Jaylen and Jayson.

I?m not a GM, so I don?t know who is available and what they?re available for, but I just don?t think we are putting the best possible team out there (while also staying under the 2nd apron).

Ozgod is right that nobody?s going to care that we duck the tax if and when we lose these playoffs. They are going to wonder what we could have done differently. Hopefully it at least means that we will really spend again in the future. But I even hate that argument because it means we can only be over the tax sometimes rather than all the time with two healthy superstars

it's easy to say that they should have done more but without some concrete examples of what opportunity (i.e. player) was available that would have improved the team that Brad passed on AND would fit your quasi-criteria of options available to add players, this just equates to
[/list]

[jambr380]

Just a reminder that Brad and ownership punted the season by needing to get under the tax. We traded a better player in Simons and decent pick for Vucevic to save money when we could have kept Simons (and his valuable scoring) and brought in an impact Center with our TPE.

It?s great that Chisholm will get back some tax dollars from the league, but that doesn?t help us this season. And it?s not going to help us next season when we very obviously are going to duck the tax again in order to reset the clock.

All this whole Tatum and Brown are in their primes.

 

Cannot disagree more. As was about to get a huge drop in value when JT came back and PP went back to his 6th man role. What touches were left for AS?  He would have dropped into a BS role, without the defense ability. They NEEDED a 15 to 20 minute big that could stretch the D.  Provide a little more O punch than Q. They got it, as well as getting under the cap.

again. His point was they could have kept Simons AND used the big tpe for a big man.  They could have had both.  Money and only money prevented that.

Money and the long-term penalties for being a repeat 2nd apron team.  So we could have Simons sit on the bench?  Sit out injured?  I am not sure what the argument is.

Just to note, nowhere in any of my posts did I state that I thought we should be a 2nd apron team. Getting under the tax and getting under the 2nd apron are two entirely different things. Moranis and ozgod understand this.

Also, it didn?t have to be Simons. They could have still made the Vucevic trade and then used part of the TPE to get another impact player while still staying under the 2nd apron. Vucevic has been underwhelming so far, though, so I wouldn?t have minded if we went in a different direction.

The only thing getting under the tax did was make Chisholm more money and apparently win Brad EOTY. It didn?t make our team better in a year where we are one of the favorites to come out of the east

The Celtics could not use the TPE until they were under the 1st apron.   Trading Simons to create a TPE put the Celtics under the Apron that allowed them to take Vooch into the pre-existing Apron.   


The Celtics are a better playoff team with an extra C then with an extra guard.   Who would have played when both the other C were in foul trouble?

Insert head banging against wall gif

So explain how to use the TPE if the Celtics were over the 1st Apron.   


Explain who would be playing C when the foul trouble keeps happening


And finally, where are the minutes coming from to get Simons out there?

You?re acting like there were no other ways to add salary. I used the TPE as an example, but we could have traded for a player who fit within the cap restrictions and then traded that player for someone making more salary.

I have no idea why people are trying to make the argument that this team, as currently constructed below the tax, is the best possible team we could field in the middle of the primes of Jaylen and Jayson.

I?m not a GM, so I don?t know who is available and what they?re available for, but I just don?t think we are putting the best possible team out there (while also staying under the 2nd apron).

Ozgod is right that nobody?s going to care that we duck the tax if and when we lose these playoffs. They are going to wonder what we could have done differently. Hopefully it at least means that we will really spend again in the future. But I even hate that argument because it means we can only be over the tax sometimes rather than all the time with two healthy superstars

it's easy to say that they should have done more but without some concrete examples of what opportunity (i.e. player) was available that would have improved the team that Brad passed on AND would fit your quasi-criteria of options available to add players, this just equates to

Like I said, I would have kept Luke and Al. If they were gone or we could only keep one of them, I would have also kept Jrue and then tried to acquire somebody like Yves Messi. We reportedly had significant interest in Jaren Jackson Jr, that would have been interesting. Ayo Dosunmu went for Dillingham and some 2nds; could we have made a deal for him? If not, maybe somebody like Coby White or Colin Sexton.

I'm not going to list every possible example and I think it's weird that people think it's necessary like it's some kind of gotcha. I absolutely agree with and understand ozgod's interpretation of why are not spending more, but it should be obvious that we aren't going enough in on this year and likely not next year (not even all in, because I agree we should stay below the 2nd apron). That's two straight prime years of our best players. And Derrick White isn't getting any younger or better.

I get it, though. I have been a big CBA and salary cap guy for a long time and I personally really get off on efficiency and value in my personal life. But when I take a step back, I realize that there aren't infinite opportunities at winning a championship. And when you are favored to get there, you should give yourself a better chance at getting one than Max Shulga, Dalano Banton, and Amari Williams. Guys you were forced to sign in order to stay below the tax.
[/list]

[slamtheking]

Just a reminder that Brad and ownership punted the season by needing to get under the tax. We traded a better player in Simons and decent pick for Vucevic to save money when we could have kept Simons (and his valuable scoring) and brought in an impact Center with our TPE.

It?s great that Chisholm will get back some tax dollars from the league, but that doesn?t help us this season. And it?s not going to help us next season when we very obviously are going to duck the tax again in order to reset the clock.

All this whole Tatum and Brown are in their primes.

 

Cannot disagree more. As was about to get a huge drop in value when JT came back and PP went back to his 6th man role. What touches were left for AS?  He would have dropped into a BS role, without the defense ability. They NEEDED a 15 to 20 minute big that could stretch the D.  Provide a little more O punch than Q. They got it, as well as getting under the cap.

again. His point was they could have kept Simons AND used the big tpe for a big man.  They could have had both.  Money and only money prevented that.

Money and the long-term penalties for being a repeat 2nd apron team.  So we could have Simons sit on the bench?  Sit out injured?  I am not sure what the argument is.

Just to note, nowhere in any of my posts did I state that I thought we should be a 2nd apron team. Getting under the tax and getting under the 2nd apron are two entirely different things. Moranis and ozgod understand this.

Also, it didn?t have to be Simons. They could have still made the Vucevic trade and then used part of the TPE to get another impact player while still staying under the 2nd apron. Vucevic has been underwhelming so far, though, so I wouldn?t have minded if we went in a different direction.

The only thing getting under the tax did was make Chisholm more money and apparently win Brad EOTY. It didn?t make our team better in a year where we are one of the favorites to come out of the east

The Celtics could not use the TPE until they were under the 1st apron.   Trading Simons to create a TPE put the Celtics under the Apron that allowed them to take Vooch into the pre-existing Apron.   


The Celtics are a better playoff team with an extra C then with an extra guard.   Who would have played when both the other C were in foul trouble?

Insert head banging against wall gif

So explain how to use the TPE if the Celtics were over the 1st Apron.   


Explain who would be playing C when the foul trouble keeps happening


And finally, where are the minutes coming from to get Simons out there?

You?re acting like there were no other ways to add salary. I used the TPE as an example, but we could have traded for a player who fit within the cap restrictions and then traded that player for someone making more salary.

I have no idea why people are trying to make the argument that this team, as currently constructed below the tax, is the best possible team we could field in the middle of the primes of Jaylen and Jayson.

I?m not a GM, so I don?t know who is available and what they?re available for, but I just don?t think we are putting the best possible team out there (while also staying under the 2nd apron).

Ozgod is right that nobody?s going to care that we duck the tax if and when we lose these playoffs. They are going to wonder what we could have done differently. Hopefully it at least means that we will really spend again in the future. But I even hate that argument because it means we can only be over the tax sometimes rather than all the time with two healthy superstars

it's easy to say that they should have done more but without some concrete examples of what opportunity (i.e. player) was available that would have improved the team that Brad passed on AND would fit your quasi-criteria of options available to add players, this just equates to

Like I said, I would have kept Luke and Al. If they were gone or we could only keep one of them, I would have also kept Jrue and then tried to acquire somebody like Yves Messi. We reportedly had significant interest in Jaren Jackson Jr, that would have been interesting. Ayo Dosunmu went for Dillingham and some 2nds; could we have made a deal for him? If not, maybe somebody like Coby White or Colin Sexton.

I'm not going to list every possible example and I think it's weird that people think it's necessary like it's some kind of gotcha. I absolutely agree with and understand ozgod's interpretation of why are not spending more, but it should be obvious that we aren't going enough in on this year and likely not next year (not even all in, because I agree we should stay below the 2nd apron). That's two straight prime years of our best players. And Derrick White isn't getting any younger or better.

I get it, though. I have been a big CBA and salary cap guy for a long time and I personally really get off on efficiency and value in my personal life. But when I take a step back, I realize that there aren't infinite opportunities at winning a championship. And when you are favored to get there, you should give yourself a better chance at getting one than Max Shulga, Dalano Banton, and Amari Williams. Guys you were forced to sign in order to stay below the tax.

all of those moves would have kept them above the tax if not the first apron (most likely almost all of them would have kept them above the first apron).  Would those moves have made this a better team - almost undoubtedly -- but how would those moves ripple into following years and would getting those players have been worth missing out on the opportunity to reset the repeater tax which would really free up spending money in the years following the reset?

Personally, I would have loved to have kept Jrue and Al and Zinger but that just wasn't going to happen.  It's a hard fact of life that this new CBA is geared towards killing any hopes of building dynasties unless a team acquires a load of draft picks that hit so that they have lots of good young talent that remain cheap for several years while they're contending and before they have to blow it up due to the CBA.

I'd go one step further with acknowledging that the tear down of the roster was very much tied to Tatum's injury.  If Tatum is healthy starting this season, that changes the whole perspective of whether to expect this team to contend this season and the need/desire to keep a title team together.  There's no reasonable way to have expected this roster to have the 4th best record in the league this year to saying Brad screwed up by not keeping people he let leave or making deals to make this a better team in the offseason is really Monday-morning quarterbacking

[Celtics4ever]

I was hoping we would trade with the Nets or trade for Day'Ron Sharpe, I won't lie.  But making that deal work was out and they wanted a first made it difficult.   He was my choice over Vooch.  I did not see the Vooch coming, though I did not mind it when happened.  I don't think he was the capacity to play our kind of D with the switching in retrospect.

I think letting Al go was the right call.   He looks gassed most of the season.  A lot of these moves never happen if we kept Luke and Al, our cap would be screwed whereas it is not now.

you should give yourself a better chance at getting one than Max Shulga, Dalano Banton,

I do not care for these two either.  Not great signings or additions.

We reportedly had significant interest in Jaren Jackson Jr, that would have been interesting. Ayo Dosunmu went for Dillingham and some 2nds; could we have made a deal for him? If not, maybe somebody like Coby White or Colin Sexton.

We could have the all  interest in the world, I don't think we had the horses to pull off that trade for Jackson.   I would have loved it though.

I for one, are glad we did not get Colby White and Sexton.  Ucck.  I would not mind Ayo Dosunmu  but would he have fit into our plans to get below the aprons?  We'd still have a big hole at C, once Queta and Garza foul out.   You going to play Tatum at the C?  Maybe Banton?

This is team we have these playoffs, folks.

[Phantom255x]

At this rate, KAT/Robinson are gonna kill this unit next round. Gonna need adjustments

[Moranis]

Just a reminder that Brad and ownership punted the season by needing to get under the tax. We traded a better player in Simons and decent pick for Vucevic to save money when we could have kept Simons (and his valuable scoring) and brought in an impact Center with our TPE.

It?s great that Chisholm will get back some tax dollars from the league, but that doesn?t help us this season. And it?s not going to help us next season when we very obviously are going to duck the tax again in order to reset the clock.

All this whole Tatum and Brown are in their primes.

 

Cannot disagree more. As was about to get a huge drop in value when JT came back and PP went back to his 6th man role. What touches were left for AS?  He would have dropped into a BS role, without the defense ability. They NEEDED a 15 to 20 minute big that could stretch the D.  Provide a little more O punch than Q. They got it, as well as getting under the cap.

again. His point was they could have kept Simons AND used the big tpe for a big man.  They could have had both.  Money and only money prevented that.

Money and the long-term penalties for being a repeat 2nd apron team.  So we could have Simons sit on the bench?  Sit out injured?  I am not sure what the argument is.

Just to note, nowhere in any of my posts did I state that I thought we should be a 2nd apron team. Getting under the tax and getting under the 2nd apron are two entirely different things. Moranis and ozgod understand this.

Also, it didn?t have to be Simons. They could have still made the Vucevic trade and then used part of the TPE to get another impact player while still staying under the 2nd apron. Vucevic has been underwhelming so far, though, so I wouldn?t have minded if we went in a different direction.

The only thing getting under the tax did was make Chisholm more money and apparently win Brad EOTY. It didn?t make our team better in a year where we are one of the favorites to come out of the east

The Celtics could not use the TPE until they were under the 1st apron.   Trading Simons to create a TPE put the Celtics under the Apron that allowed them to take Vooch into the pre-existing Apron.   


The Celtics are a better playoff team with an extra C then with an extra guard.   Who would have played when both the other C were in foul trouble?

Insert head banging against wall gif

So explain how to use the TPE if the Celtics were over the 1st Apron.   


Explain who would be playing C when the foul trouble keeps happening


And finally, where are the minutes coming from to get Simons out there?

You?re acting like there were no other ways to add salary. I used the TPE as an example, but we could have traded for a player who fit within the cap restrictions and then traded that player for someone making more salary.

I have no idea why people are trying to make the argument that this team, as currently constructed below the tax, is the best possible team we could field in the middle of the primes of Jaylen and Jayson.

I?m not a GM, so I don?t know who is available and what they?re available for, but I just don?t think we are putting the best possible team out there (while also staying under the 2nd apron).

Ozgod is right that nobody?s going to care that we duck the tax if and when we lose these playoffs. They are going to wonder what we could have done differently. Hopefully it at least means that we will really spend again in the future. But I even hate that argument because it means we can only be over the tax sometimes rather than all the time with two healthy superstars

it's easy to say that they should have done more but without some concrete examples of what opportunity (i.e. player) was available that would have improved the team that Brad passed on AND would fit your quasi-criteria of options available to add players, this just equates to

Like I said, I would have kept Luke and Al. If they were gone or we could only keep one of them, I would have also kept Jrue and then tried to acquire somebody like Yves Messi. We reportedly had significant interest in Jaren Jackson Jr, that would have been interesting. Ayo Dosunmu went for Dillingham and some 2nds; could we have made a deal for him? If not, maybe somebody like Coby White or Colin Sexton.

I'm not going to list every possible example and I think it's weird that people think it's necessary like it's some kind of gotcha. I absolutely agree with and understand ozgod's interpretation of why are not spending more, but it should be obvious that we aren't going enough in on this year and likely not next year (not even all in, because I agree we should stay below the 2nd apron). That's two straight prime years of our best players. And Derrick White isn't getting any younger or better.

I get it, though. I have been a big CBA and salary cap guy for a long time and I personally really get off on efficiency and value in my personal life. But when I take a step back, I realize that there aren't infinite opportunities at winning a championship. And when you are favored to get there, you should give yourself a better chance at getting one than Max Shulga, Dalano Banton, and Amari Williams. Guys you were forced to sign in order to stay below the tax.

all of those moves would have kept them above the tax if not the first apron (most likely almost all of them would have kept them above the first apron).  Would those moves have made this a better team - almost undoubtedly -- but how would those moves ripple into following years and would getting those players have been worth missing out on the opportunity to reset the repeater tax which would really free up spending money in the years following the reset?

Personally, I would have loved to have kept Jrue and Al and Zinger but that just wasn't going to happen.  It's a hard fact of life that this new CBA is geared towards killing any hopes of building dynasties unless a team acquires a load of draft picks that hit so that they have lots of good young talent that remain cheap for several years while they're contending and before they have to blow it up due to the CBA.

I'd go one step further with acknowledging that the tear down of the roster was very much tied to Tatum's injury.  If Tatum is healthy starting this season, that changes the whole perspective of whether to expect this team to contend this season and the need/desire to keep a title team together.  There's no reasonable way to have expected this roster to have the 4th best record in the league this year to saying Brad screwed up by not keeping people he let leave or making deals to make this a better team in the offseason is really Monday-morning quarterbacking

I totally get the idea that the team was aiming to punt this season when Tatum got hurt, but the team was also very good at the trade deadline and the reports were Tatum was going to return this season.  They absolutely should have gone all in at the deadline and tried to build a contending team around the two stars (one of which was injured and the other is pushing 30), especially with how open the East is. Brown and Tatum likely don't have that many seasons left.  They need to maximize them.  If they don't make the Finals it will be entirely because of financial moves.  If they make the Finals and lose a close series, it will likely be because of financial moves.  When you have a path and you have the means, but the only thing stopping you is paying more money, then you aren't putting the best team on the court you could have.  If they win the title this year, it won't matter, but anything less than that and I think it is reasonable to be left wondering what might have been. 

[ozgod]

I can hear them now..."they had a TPE and they didn't use it to get someone to guard Embiid without fouling? Just to save Billionaire Bill a few bucks?" 

[slamtheking]

Just a reminder that Brad and ownership punted the season by needing to get under the tax. We traded a better player in Simons and decent pick for Vucevic to save money when we could have kept Simons (and his valuable scoring) and brought in an impact Center with our TPE.

It?s great that Chisholm will get back some tax dollars from the league, but that doesn?t help us this season. And it?s not going to help us next season when we very obviously are going to duck the tax again in order to reset the clock.

All this whole Tatum and Brown are in their primes.

 

Cannot disagree more. As was about to get a huge drop in value when JT came back and PP went back to his 6th man role. What touches were left for AS?  He would have dropped into a BS role, without the defense ability. They NEEDED a 15 to 20 minute big that could stretch the D.  Provide a little more O punch than Q. They got it, as well as getting under the cap.

again. His point was they could have kept Simons AND used the big tpe for a big man.  They could have had both.  Money and only money prevented that.

Money and the long-term penalties for being a repeat 2nd apron team.  So we could have Simons sit on the bench?  Sit out injured?  I am not sure what the argument is.

Just to note, nowhere in any of my posts did I state that I thought we should be a 2nd apron team. Getting under the tax and getting under the 2nd apron are two entirely different things. Moranis and ozgod understand this.

Also, it didn?t have to be Simons. They could have still made the Vucevic trade and then used part of the TPE to get another impact player while still staying under the 2nd apron. Vucevic has been underwhelming so far, though, so I wouldn?t have minded if we went in a different direction.

The only thing getting under the tax did was make Chisholm more money and apparently win Brad EOTY. It didn?t make our team better in a year where we are one of the favorites to come out of the east

The Celtics could not use the TPE until they were under the 1st apron.   Trading Simons to create a TPE put the Celtics under the Apron that allowed them to take Vooch into the pre-existing Apron.   


The Celtics are a better playoff team with an extra C then with an extra guard.   Who would have played when both the other C were in foul trouble?

Insert head banging against wall gif

So explain how to use the TPE if the Celtics were over the 1st Apron.   


Explain who would be playing C when the foul trouble keeps happening


And finally, where are the minutes coming from to get Simons out there?

You?re acting like there were no other ways to add salary. I used the TPE as an example, but we could have traded for a player who fit within the cap restrictions and then traded that player for someone making more salary.

I have no idea why people are trying to make the argument that this team, as currently constructed below the tax, is the best possible team we could field in the middle of the primes of Jaylen and Jayson.

I?m not a GM, so I don?t know who is available and what they?re available for, but I just don?t think we are putting the best possible team out there (while also staying under the 2nd apron).

Ozgod is right that nobody?s going to care that we duck the tax if and when we lose these playoffs. They are going to wonder what we could have done differently. Hopefully it at least means that we will really spend again in the future. But I even hate that argument because it means we can only be over the tax sometimes rather than all the time with two healthy superstars

it's easy to say that they should have done more but without some concrete examples of what opportunity (i.e. player) was available that would have improved the team that Brad passed on AND would fit your quasi-criteria of options available to add players, this just equates to

Like I said, I would have kept Luke and Al. If they were gone or we could only keep one of them, I would have also kept Jrue and then tried to acquire somebody like Yves Messi. We reportedly had significant interest in Jaren Jackson Jr, that would have been interesting. Ayo Dosunmu went for Dillingham and some 2nds; could we have made a deal for him? If not, maybe somebody like Coby White or Colin Sexton.

I'm not going to list every possible example and I think it's weird that people think it's necessary like it's some kind of gotcha. I absolutely agree with and understand ozgod's interpretation of why are not spending more, but it should be obvious that we aren't going enough in on this year and likely not next year (not even all in, because I agree we should stay below the 2nd apron). That's two straight prime years of our best players. And Derrick White isn't getting any younger or better.

I get it, though. I have been a big CBA and salary cap guy for a long time and I personally really get off on efficiency and value in my personal life. But when I take a step back, I realize that there aren't infinite opportunities at winning a championship. And when you are favored to get there, you should give yourself a better chance at getting one than Max Shulga, Dalano Banton, and Amari Williams. Guys you were forced to sign in order to stay below the tax.

all of those moves would have kept them above the tax if not the first apron (most likely almost all of them would have kept them above the first apron).  Would those moves have made this a better team - almost undoubtedly -- but how would those moves ripple into following years and would getting those players have been worth missing out on the opportunity to reset the repeater tax which would really free up spending money in the years following the reset?

Personally, I would have loved to have kept Jrue and Al and Zinger but that just wasn't going to happen.  It's a hard fact of life that this new CBA is geared towards killing any hopes of building dynasties unless a team acquires a load of draft picks that hit so that they have lots of good young talent that remain cheap for several years while they're contending and before they have to blow it up due to the CBA.

I'd go one step further with acknowledging that the tear down of the roster was very much tied to Tatum's injury.  If Tatum is healthy starting this season, that changes the whole perspective of whether to expect this team to contend this season and the need/desire to keep a title team together.  There's no reasonable way to have expected this roster to have the 4th best record in the league this year to saying Brad screwed up by not keeping people he let leave or making deals to make this a better team in the offseason is really Monday-morning quarterbacking

I totally get the idea that the team was aiming to punt this season when Tatum got hurt, but the team was also very good at the trade deadline and the reports were Tatum was going to return this season.  They absolutely should have gone all in at the deadline and tried to build a contending team around the two stars (one of which was injured and the other is pushing 30), especially with how open the East is. Brown and Tatum likely don't have that many seasons left.  They need to maximize them.  If they don't make the Finals it will be entirely because of financial moves.  If they make the Finals and lose a close series, it will likely be because of financial moves.  When you have a path and you have the means, but the only thing stopping you is paying more money, then you aren't putting the best team on the court you could have.  If they win the title this year, it won't matter, but anything less than that and I think it is reasonable to be left wondering what might have been.

I don't disagree that finances drove the roster moves particularly at the deadline.  Personally, I'd prefer tax bills be [dang]ed and pay what you must to put a contender together but I know I'm not paying the bills nor am I privy to Brad's plans for the following offseason. 

in light of how OKC and SAS are playing this year, even though we'd only face one in the playoffs, did Brad think that there were any players out there that he could acquire, regardless of the financial hit, that would give this team better than longshot odds at winning the title?  I doubt he did.  I suspect he's looking to evaluate what happens with OKC and SAS this season and look to make his improvements this offseason.  I still think that will take staying under the tax into heavy consideration to reset the penalties but I'd hope that if a solid opportunity presented itself to improve the team's title chances next season he'd pounce on it.

having said that, watching the various players on the team this year and especially the playoffs, I don't think there's really anything he could have done to address all the holes on this team: (1) Q's fouling issues and the lack of a good defensive backup (2) White's mysterious subpar season and absolute disappearance in a lot of games, especially the playoffs (3) Hauser's inconsistency with his shot all season and the playoffs (4) Joe's continued inability to adapt to in-game situations or developing a Plan B on offense when the team's only offensive game plan (3 point barrage) isn't working.

[Roy H.]

having said that, watching the various players on the team this year and especially the playoffs, I don't think there's really anything he could have done to address all the holes on this team: (1) Q's fouling issues and the lack of a good defensive backup (2) White's mysterious subpar season and absolute disappearance in a lot of games, especially the playoffs (3) Hauser's inconsistency with his shot all season and the playoffs (4) Joe's continued inability to adapt to in-game situations or developing a Plan B on offense when the team's only offensive game plan (3 point barrage) isn't working.

Yeah, there have been some flaws this year, some expected and others not.  I don't think anybody can say that we're truly one player away.

With perfect hindsight do I wish that Brad had kept Horford at the taxpayer MLE?  Sure.  But I don't think Al is the difference between a title and a playoff slog that ends early.

[slamtheking]

having said that, watching the various players on the team this year and especially the playoffs, I don't think there's really anything he could have done to address all the holes on this team: (1) Q's fouling issues and the lack of a good defensive backup (2) White's mysterious subpar season and absolute disappearance in a lot of games, especially the playoffs (3) Hauser's inconsistency with his shot all season and the playoffs (4) Joe's continued inability to adapt to in-game situations or developing a Plan B on offense when the team's only offensive game plan (3 point barrage) isn't working.

Yeah, there have been some flaws this year, some expected and others not.  I don't think anybody can say that we're truly one player away.

With perfect hindsight do I wish that Brad had kept Horford at the taxpayer MLE?  Sure.  But I don't think Al is the difference between a title and a playoff slog that ends early.

I get the frustrations of some here that think Brad could have and should have done more to improve the roster but even if he could have foreseen Tatum coming back this season and playing as well as he is, there's no realistic way Brad could have structured this team to address the holes that were exposed in the playoffs last year and the ones that have been exposed this year.  The only realistic solution if money was no option was to keep everyone that left - Jrue, KP, Al and Kornet.  That team contends even with Q's foul issues, Hauser's shooting issues and White having a craptastic season.

[jambr380]

having said that, watching the various players on the team this year and especially the playoffs, I don't think there's really anything he could have done to address all the holes on this team: (1) Q's fouling issues and the lack of a good defensive backup (2) White's mysterious subpar season and absolute disappearance in a lot of games, especially the playoffs (3) Hauser's inconsistency with his shot all season and the playoffs (4) Joe's continued inability to adapt to in-game situations or developing a Plan B on offense when the team's only offensive game plan (3 point barrage) isn't working.

Yeah, there have been some flaws this year, some expected and others not.  I don't think anybody can say that we're truly one player away.

With perfect hindsight do I wish that Brad had kept Horford at the taxpayer MLE?  Sure.  But I don't think Al is the difference between a title and a playoff slog that ends early.

I get the frustrations of some here that think Brad could have and should have done more to improve the roster but even if he could have foreseen Tatum coming back this season and playing as well as he is, there's no realistic way Brad could have structured this team to address the holes that were exposed in the playoffs last year and the ones that have been exposed this year.  The only realistic solution if money was no option was to keep everyone that left - Jrue, KP, Al and Kornet.  That team contends even with Q's foul issues, Hauser's shooting issues and White having a craptastic season.

The team could have still ducked the 2nd apron if they kept Jrue, Al, and Kornet; but not KP (they were able to clear all of KP's money with just two 2nds anyway). There would still be plenty of depth at Center with Garza then slotting down to 4th Center.

I get it, hindsight and such, but Jrue, Al, and Kornet would be nice to have right now. Also - and this is much less important - we'd still have the Pelicans pick, too

[Celtics2021]

having said that, watching the various players on the team this year and especially the playoffs, I don't think there's really anything he could have done to address all the holes on this team: (1) Q's fouling issues and the lack of a good defensive backup (2) White's mysterious subpar season and absolute disappearance in a lot of games, especially the playoffs (3) Hauser's inconsistency with his shot all season and the playoffs (4) Joe's continued inability to adapt to in-game situations or developing a Plan B on offense when the team's only offensive game plan (3 point barrage) isn't working.

Yeah, there have been some flaws this year, some expected and others not.  I don't think anybody can say that we're truly one player away.

With perfect hindsight do I wish that Brad had kept Horford at the taxpayer MLE?  Sure.  But I don't think Al is the difference between a title and a playoff slog that ends early.

I get the frustrations of some here that think Brad could have and should have done more to improve the roster but even if he could have foreseen Tatum coming back this season and playing as well as he is, there's no realistic way Brad could have structured this team to address the holes that were exposed in the playoffs last year and the ones that have been exposed this year.  The only realistic solution if money was no option was to keep everyone that left - Jrue, KP, Al and Kornet.  That team contends even with Q's foul issues, Hauser's shooting issues and White having a craptastic season.

The team could have still ducked the 2nd apron if they kept Jrue, Al, and Kornet; but not KP (they were able to clear all of KP's money with just two 2nds anyway). There would still be plenty of depth at Center with Garza then slotting down to 4th Center.

I get it, hindsight and such, but Jrue, Al, and Kornet would be nice to have right now. Also - and this is much less important - we'd still have the Pelicans pick, too

No they could not have done so, at least not at the dollar amounts Kornet and Horford signed for.  Swapping out Vooch, Banton, and Shulga for those three would increase the Celtics payroll by $27.6 million and put them $8 million over the second apron.

[Celtics4ever]

I think we have more problems than just front court issues.  Neemi is foul prone, Vooch is slow, Garza hustles but has his limitations too.

But to me we really miss the calm leadership of Al and Jrue.   Tatum and Brown were in panic mode is game 2 and game 5, they were chucking up bad shots and this affected their team mates.  Jaylen Brown willed us to a good season this year.   But these two are paid millions to be the best players on our team and put up points if the three is not falling, you drive.  It is not that difficult, kudos to the sixers for outplaying us and playing hard D.

[Moranis]

I have no idea if Kuminga or Hield would make a difference at all, but that is an easy what if since they were traded straight up for KP at the deadline.  Kuminga would have at least added some decent size from a younger player.  And Hield while old can still hit a shot.

[Roy H.]

I have no idea if Kuminga or Hield would make a difference at all, but that is an easy what if since they were traded straight up for KP at the deadline.  Kuminga would have at least added some decent size from a younger player.  And Hield while old can still hit a shot.

It's not so easy, as we couldn't have made that trade because it added salary.