Can the Celtics Be Legitimate Contenders in 2014-2015?

[LooseCannon]

I have in mind a roster that looks something like this:

-Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sullinger
-a center who can anchor the defense and protect the rim
-a sixth man type who can come off the bench and hit threes and provide credible defense against bigger SGs (I think Bradley can defend those guys, but he might need some protection against fouling out) or a starting SF who can push Green into that role
-a bench that could include Olynyk, Faverani, Crawford, Pressey, Bass or Humphries (but probably not both), Wallace, and Lee.  Not all of those guys, but some of them.

Getting that center, combined with a motivated and healthy Rondo, plus some additional time for Brad Stevens to fine-tune his schemes, could have the Celtics as a top-five defense.  I'd argue that if you do that, it wouldn't take more than an average offense to make the Celtics a team that won't be a favorite but has a realistic longshot chance at winning the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics are multiple players away from being a contender.  Instead of acquiring all of those players at once or drafting them and waiting for them to develop, perhaps it makes sense to acquire them one at a time, maybe one during the season when some teams are selling off talent cheaply in an attempt to tank, another during the off-season, and possibly a finishing piece for bench depth during next season.

Obviously, I am thinking of Omer Asik as a possible step in this plan, although it doesn't have to be him. 

[D.o.s.]

I think that Stevens adding wrinkles to his system is pretty essential for this plan to work--he's definitely not running a very complicated offense or defense, which is part of the reason I think so many guys who were having trouble last year are flourishing now.

But after a year of film, teams are going to have a better idea of how to deal with a Stevens-style offense--look at how teams have adapted to the Thibs defense in the last few years.

Of course, I think he can absolutely do that.

[Celtics18]

I think we are most likely looking at one more year of rebuilding (not saying we can't be a solid playoff team next year, though), and that  2015-2016 will be the year that we legitimately put ourselves back in the hunt.

All without tanking.   

[slamtheking]

I don't think 2015 is too soon at all but it depends on who we pick up in the next draft and if Danny can move some of the role players we have to fill the talent gaps.

We have a number of solid role players but only 1 real all-star right now.  If Danny can land a starting-caliber center (I'm on the fence about Asik - his contract next year is a killer for someone who's a non-factor on offense) or a SG that can create their own shot and defend (I see AB and Crawford as a bench brigade rather than either being a starter)

A team of Rondo-Exum (hypothetically)-Green-Sully-Asik (hypothetically)  (figuring Bass and Lee going for Asik)
with a bench of
AB, Crawford, Wallace, KO, Fav and maybe a cheaper Humphries on a short deal with another 1st rounder from next year would be a pretty solid team in the East. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

maybe.

[SparzWizard]

As long as the East remains weak, we're one solid Center away from contending.

[saltlover]

I guess is depends how you define contender.  I don't expect the C's to have much more of a chance to win the title next year than this year, but I could see them having a better record and having the #3 seed in the east, and closer to the #2 seed than the #4.  I doubt they'll be able to eclipse Indiana or Miami, unless LeBron leaves.

[Quetzalcoatl]

If we can get:

a top 10 pick
a healthy Rondo

It would be a good start and we'd probably be an above 500 team.  The problem is that the league is going to be a lot more competitive next year.  Imagine Chicago with Exum and Rose back?  Philadelphia with Jabari Parker? New York with Randle? We'll have to trade assets to get a top notch player, because we're not going to be in the lottery.  I don't know who that player is, although I'm betting Danny is more focused on this route than before.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Sure. Boston went from worst to first in one season with the New Big Three, and I think this year's team has more assets to work with than the 2007–08 team had. Whether that will happen is anyone's guess, but it's possible.

[obnoxiousmime]

Sure. Boston went from worst to first in one season with the New Big Three, and I think this year's team has more assets to work with than the 2007–08 team had. Whether that will happen is anyone's guess, but it's possible.

I don't believe that at all. That team had Rondo, Pierce, Jefferson, Perk, Tony Allen, Delonte West, Gerald Green, and a 5th overall pick.

We don't have anybody on the team as good as Pierce now and we don't have a young player as valuable as Big Al was(Sully isn't there yet). We also don't have a 5th overall pick based on our record now (though, ironically we do have Jeff Green who was taken with that pick) and the future picks are no guarantee to be anything but in the 20s.

I think right now we have a lot of good-but-not-great assets. Sullinger is the best piece as he won't be a FA for awhile. After that, Bradley is going to get paid soon (some might say overpaid) and will be less valuable. Crawford is soon to be an unrestricted free agent. Bass is on a reasonable deal but he's a rotation guy not a star. Green is playing up to but not exceeding his current deal. We don't really know what Olynyk is yet.

In terms of bloated deals, the 07 team had Ratliff as an expiring (one year left) and Sczerbiak with two years left. This offseason Wallace's deal will be like Sczerbiak's. So I guess you could say this offseason the Celts cap situation is slightly better than 07, as instead of Ratliff they have some players who could be nice sign-and-trade candidates (Bradley, Crawford) and one still-productive expiring in Bass.

Finally, let's just consider Courtney Lee (2 years, 11 million remaining) and Brian Scalabrine (3 years, 9.6 million remaining) a wash!

[Jailan34]

Sure. Boston went from worst to first in one season with the New Big Three, and I think this year's team has more assets to work with than the 2007–08 team had. Whether that will happen is anyone's guess, but it's possible.

I don't believe that at all. That team had Rondo, Pierce, Jefferson, Perk, Tony Allen, Delonte West, Gerald Green, and a 5th overall pick.

We don't have anybody on the team as good as Pierce now and we don't have a young player as valuable as Big Al was(Sully isn't there yet). We also don't have a 5th overall pick based on our record now (though, ironically we do have Jeff Green who was taken with that pick) and the future picks are no guarantee to be anything but in the 20s.

I think right now we have a lot of good-but-not-great assets. Sullinger is the best piece as he won't be a FA for awhile. After that, Bradley is going to get paid soon (some might say overpaid) and will be less valuable. Crawford is soon to be an unrestricted free agent. Bass is on a reasonable deal but he's a rotation guy not a star. Green is playing up to but not exceeding his current deal. We don't really know what Olynyk is yet.

In terms of bloated deals, the 07 team had Ratliff as an expiring (one year left) and Sczerbiak with two years left. This offseason Wallace's deal will be like Sczerbiak's. So I guess you could say this offseason the Celts cap situation is slightly better than 07, as instead of Ratliff they have some players who could be nice sign-and-trade candidates (Bradley, Crawford) and one still-productive expiring in Bass.

Finally, let's just consider Courtney Lee (2 years, 11 million remaining) and Brian Scalabrine (3 years, 9.6 million remaining) a wash!

My thoughts exactly man, I'm getting kind of sick of the idea that this team's assets resemble 07 at all, its really not even close.

[Edgar]

why is Faverani not playing that much?

[guava_wrench]

why is Faverani not playing that much?

Because games only have 48 minutes.

[Edgar]

why is Faverani not playing that much?

Because games only have 48 minutes.

for the celtics ? yes
for the rest who knows... he has a lot to give there
this team is a tryout

[Chris]

why is Faverani not playing that much?

Because games only have 48 minutes.

That, and he is pretty horrendous defensively, and offensively he is very hit or miss.