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.
by about 3 million, which there are ways to shed (even if it is just rerouting Hield somewhere else).
I brought it up more to show there were options out there to get younger and better. Kuminga was one example. There were other guys actually moved that would have helped Boston.
Except your various plans involve the Celtics carrying salary significantly above the second apron into (and after) the trade deadline.
Yeah, but that is sort of the point. Heck Boston could have just kept Mann and the 22nd pick instead of dumping them to the Nets. Mann would be a nice piece off the bench right now with his shooting from the wing position.
I totally get why Boston made all the moves it made for financial reasons, but there is no question the team could be better had some of those financial moves not been made. And that is the issue, especially if Boston flames out early or loses a very close series at some point where a bit more talent might have been the difference. If Boston wins the title, they got the best of both worlds or if they make the Finals and then get smoked, maybe it wouldn't have mattered, but anything else does sort of become a what if in my view.
Terrance Mann shot worse from 3 than all our bench wings this year, turns the ball over more, and plays worse defense (his defense isn?t bad, but it is not as good as Walsh, Hugo, or Scheierman). He would not have made the team any better, and would have barely played. Maybe he would have beaten out Ron Harper Jr. for minutes, but we are talking the 12th man in the rotation. Maybe he would have helped at times in the regular season, but the regular season was perfectly successful without him. He would not be getting any more minutes than Hugo is in the postseason.
There was a reason draft compensation was attached to him. He provides 9th-11th man value at 50% more than we pay Sam Hauser.