2026-27 Celtics Off Season Discussion

[Moranis]

They need a center who can score & post up down low.

We had one but used him as a spot-up shooter.

I don't think Joe has any interest in running any inside-out offense.  Even with KP, the large majority of his time was on the perimeter.  We utilized his post skills some, but not as much as his efficiency there suggested we should have.

And yet KP's highest ever attempts from 0-3' was in Boston, as was his overall attempts inside of 10'.  KP did take a high rate of 3's as well but that was because Boston had him out of the mid and long 2 range. He was either inside or at the 3 line.  Even Vucevic set his career highest percentage of shots from 3-10 feet with 33.8% of his attempts from that range. His highest before that was his last full season in Chicago at 31.9%. Now Vooch's attempts from 0-3' were his career low, but he has been trending farther out for years, he was injured, and was trying to integrate mid season. 

[Vermont Green]

I don't see getting to the rim as being the same as running a post up, low post offense (inside out or whatever you want to call it).  Post up plays can be part of the overall offense but the shots at the rim tend to come more from another player penetrating or from off ball movement (back cuts, things like that).  Or pick and pop actions.

As to the Celtics, I don't see the need to have a center that you can run the offense through.  Post up, draw the double, and so on.  I can't think of any team that has that.  You look at NYK and Towns can hit the 3 and Brunson creates dunks through penetration.  That is how they do it.  BOS does not have a guard that can penetrate like Brunson.

For BOS, Queta is very limited offensively.  He can dunk, but not much else.  Vucevic never got in a groove, so I am not sure we know what he can do, but whatever it is, he was not doing it for the team last season and in the playoffs.  I think he could be an effective pick and pop guy or pick and roll to the hoop guy.  I don't see the need to have him post up other than opportunistically when there are certain match ups that result from switches.

[Roy H.]

I don't see getting to the rim as being the same as running a post up, low post offense (inside out or whatever you want to call it).  Post up plays can be part of the overall offense but the shots at the rim tend to come more from another player penetrating or from off ball movement (back cuts, things like that).  Or pick and pop actions.

As to the Celtics, I don't see the need to have a center that you can run the offense through.  Post up, draw the double, and so on.  I can't think of any team that has that.  You look at NYK and Towns can hit the 3 and Brunson creates dunks through penetration.  That is how they do it.  BOS does not have a guard that can penetrate like Brunson.

For BOS, Queta is very limited offensively.  He can dunk, but not much else.  Vucevic never got in a groove, so I am not sure we know what he can do, but whatever it is, he was not doing it for the team last season and in the playoffs.  I think he could be an effective pick and pop guy or pick and roll to the hoop guy.  I don't see the need to have him post up other than opportunistically when there are certain match ups that result from switches.

Just a reminder, "post" and "low post" aren't the same.  Our bigs have been successful in the high post in the past, and under Joe we got away from that a little bit even with somebody as talented as Horford. 

[Who]

I don't see getting to the rim as being the same as running a post up, low post offense (inside out or whatever you want to call it).  Post up plays can be part of the overall offense but the shots at the rim tend to come more from another player penetrating or from off ball movement (back cuts, things like that).  Or pick and pop actions.

As to the Celtics, I don't see the need to have a center that you can run the offense through.  Post up, draw the double, and so on.  I can't think of any team that has that.  You look at NYK and Towns can hit the 3 and Brunson creates dunks through penetration.  That is how they do it.  BOS does not have a guard that can penetrate like Brunson.

For BOS, Queta is very limited offensively.  He can dunk, but not much else.  Vucevic never got in a groove, so I am not sure we know what he can do, but whatever it is, he was not doing it for the team last season and in the playoffs.  I think he could be an effective pick and pop guy or pick and roll to the hoop guy.  I don't see the need to have him post up other than opportunistically when there are certain match ups that result from switches.

Just a reminder, "post" and "low post" aren't the same.  Our bigs have been successful in the high post in the past, and under Joe we got away from that a little bit even with somebody as talented as Horford.

I love high post play bigs. Opens the floor and facilitates all sorts of movement in behind the defense as opposed to out in front of the defense which is when guys are attacking from 25 feet out off the dribble with 5 defenders in between them and the rim.

Vooch could be really good if we use his skill-set.

[Larry for 3]

Not in the playoffs. He can?t rebound or play defense good enough to stay on the floor. Better off going small at that point. Major liability. He can?t score enough to offset that. Think back to that late season game against the Knicks. Vooch got yanked cause he was getting torched. Thats just the reality of him. I would rather take a flyer on KP.

[celticinorlando]

I don't think Boston makes any major moves other than around the margins for depth.

[jambr380]

I don't think Boston makes any major moves other than around the margins for depth.

That would require Brad coming down from his very strong statements he made at his impromptu end of season presser. The one where he had an opening monologue declaring the season's record a farce and how they need to increase their margin for error.

It's possible Brad was just emotional after having our worst b2b playoff appearances in a decade, but it's also possibly he's either looking at how he can build a sustainable core for the future or looking to make a KG-like move with Giannis. As we know, Brad isn't shy about making trades.

[celticinorlando]

I don't think Boston makes any major moves other than around the margins for depth.

That would require Brad coming down from his very strong statements he made at his impromptu end of season presser. The one where he had an opening monologue declaring the season's record a farce and how they need to increase their margin for error.

It's possible Brad was just emotional after having our worst b2b playoff appearances in a decade, but it's also possibly he's either looking at how he can build a sustainable core for the future or looking to make a KG-like move with Giannis. As we know, Brad isn't shy about making trades.

Feel like as time passes he will justify keeping the group together. They might try to gear up for 2027.

What I do not like is if you don't trade Brown you probably have to sign him to the extension which will pay him 70 mill at some point in it.

[Roy H.]

I don't think Boston makes any major moves other than around the margins for depth.

That would require Brad coming down from his very strong statements he made at his impromptu end of season presser. The one where he had an opening monologue declaring the season's record a farce and how they need to increase their margin for error.

It's possible Brad was just emotional after having our worst b2b playoff appearances in a decade, but it's also possibly he's either looking at how he can build a sustainable core for the future or looking to make a KG-like move with Giannis. As we know, Brad isn't shy about making trades.

I don't think management cares all that much about living up to the statements it makes.  We all remember "fireworks", and the Red Sox have been making promises like that for years.  So, I take Brad's past words as a big nothingburger.  Even if he cared about remaining consistent, he could easily just say his comments didn't account for a healthy Tatum, etc.

That said, I think that Brad wants to make impact moves, because he knows we're not a title contender based upon our last two playoff runs. 

I think the question is, how do we define a "major move" versus something "around the margins"?

Obviously, running it back while signing a couple of vets to the minimum is the latter, and a trade for Giannis would be major.  But, what if we sign a guy like Sexton with the MLE and trade Hauser and our first for Bobby Portis?  Is that rearranging deck chairs or taking a step forward?

[Vermont Green]

I believe that BOS ownership/management is willing to make a larger deal, but those deals are much harder to make happen.  No need to do a deal just to do a deal.  If no deal comes together, it does not mean that there was not a willingness to do a large deal.  There is a big difference between not having a larger deal come together and not being willing to do a larger deal at all.

I think the most likely outcome is signing someone like Sexton, bring back Vucevic, maybe trade Hauser for Portis, but that doesn't mean they didn't legitimately explore other options.

[jambr380]

I don't think Boston makes any major moves other than around the margins for depth.

That would require Brad coming down from his very strong statements he made at his impromptu end of season presser. The one where he had an opening monologue declaring the season's record a farce and how they need to increase their margin for error.

It's possible Brad was just emotional after having our worst b2b playoff appearances in a decade, but it's also possibly he's either looking at how he can build a sustainable core for the future or looking to make a KG-like move with Giannis. As we know, Brad isn't shy about making trades.

I don't think management cares all that much about living up to the statements it makes.  We all remember "fireworks", and the Red Sox have been making promises like that for years.  So, I take Brad's past words as a big nothingburger.  Even if he cared about remaining consistent, he could easily just say his comments didn't account for a healthy Tatum, etc.

That said, I think that Brad wants to make impact moves, because he knows we're not a title contender based upon our last two playoff runs. 

I think the question is, how do we define a "major move" versus something "around the margins"?

Obviously, running it back while signing a couple of vets to the minimum is the latter, and a trade for Giannis would be major.  But, what if we sign a guy like Sexton with the MLE and trade Hauser and our first for Bobby Portis?  Is that rearranging deck chairs or taking a step forward?

Those would be interesting moves that should presumably make us better, while likely ducking the tax...something that I do think the organization thinks is incredibly important this upcoming season.

We as fans could be sold those moves as contending moves. They could say that we finished 2nd in the conference last year, mostly without our best player, and we've strengthened areas of concern.

It likely won't be enough, though, and we will be back to where we are right now - only guys like Jaylen and White will have less value than they do now (one year older, one less year on their contract). So if we are trying to extract maximum value out of at least one of those guys, then the time to make a move is now.

I'm not even saying that I want to see major moves, just that I expect something. I think a lot of us would at least be comfortable with only adding Sexton and Portis and hoping for the best. It's true that a fully healthy Tatum could go a long way. I just hope Jaylen is prepared to take a step back.