If you want to tank this season, shouldn't you want to tank next season, too?

[JBcat]

Well,  I see the Atlantic division up for grabs next year.  I don't see the Knicks or Nets getting any better next year with their lack of assets.  If anything,  we might have a chance to be better than them even if we don't make any drastic moves.  I'm not sure Toronto is for real in the long term.  There is a chance they could level out being a .500 team at best.  Philly has a ton of gaping holes on their roster.  Even if they hit it on draft night, they still might be a few years away from being any good.

We might have as good chance as anyone winning the division if our young guys continue to develop, and a couple minor tweaks to go with our drafts picks.

[Mr October]

Tanking next year depends primarily on 2 factors.

1. What do the celtics do with their lotto pick in June. Will they trade for a star player? Will they draft a raw talent who wont affect the wins column as a rookie? Will they draft a rookie who does make a big impact?

2. Does rondo return to full health and all star form this summer?

If rondo is still busted, and the celtics draft a project, tank away. No matter what, the coach and players should try to win, just as they are trying this season. I expect rondo to be healthy, and for the team to make a run for the playoffs next year.

Tank or not, i dont want the celtics to rush into any crippling new contracts, joe Dumars style.

[Londongreen]

Yes, Embiid and Jahlil Okafor (A dream, after soo many years without a legit Center)...Move one to the 4, or keep them at the 5 and let Sully and KO be the 4. With a second pick this year, a SF with the second pick or super anylze and try find talent wherever like the spurs.

[LooseCannon]

Can the Celtics be contenders next season?  If not, should the team try to be non-sucking non-contenders or should Ainge's goal be for the team to be as bad as possible?

[PhoSita]

Can the Celtics be contenders next season?  If not, should the team try to be non-sucking non-contenders or should Ainge's goal be for the team to be as bad as possible?

They can't be contenders next season.  Let's put that to rest.

But, they've got two 1st round picks this summer, and plenty of assets to perhaps acquire another up and coming player.  So being just-pretty-good next season could have value in terms of developing those players, getting our young guys to learn how to win together, and setting the stage to attract free agents and convince Rondo to stay in the summer of 2015.

[LooseCannon]

Can the Celtics be contenders next season?  If not, should the team try to be non-sucking non-contenders or should Ainge's goal be for the team to be as bad as possible?

They can't be contenders next season.  Let's put that to rest.

But, they've got two 1st round picks this summer, and plenty of assets to perhaps acquire another up and coming player.  So being just-pretty-good next season could have value in terms of developing those players, getting our young guys to learn how to win together, and setting the stage to attract free agents and convince Rondo to stay in the summer of 2015.

I'm just saying that if they want to appear coherent and logically consistent, anyone who wanted to trade Rondo to improve the Celtics' draft position should probably want to trade him this off-season with the intention of tanking for next season if next year's draft is at least as good as this year's draft.

[freshinthehouse]

Count me in for another bad season next year.  This team is more than just one prospect away from competing.  I'd like to see us move all of our vets that are 27 and older, not pick up any additional vets on long term deals, suck hard this year, and than go into 2015-16 with two young cornerstones, other assorted young'ns, and scads of cap space.

[JSD]

I've been a big pro-tanker. 

I don't want to tank next season.   I think it's a one-time thing.  This is a top-heavy draft with a handful of guys who can be very special.  It was a great year to bottom out.  Taking advantage of Rondo's injury and a well-timed bailout by Brooklyn.  This year it makes sense.  I wouldn't have been in favor of tanking last season when the draft was supposed to be weak.

Best-case scenario you nab a franchise player you can build around.  Worst-case scenario you get a pick 7-15 and use it as a trade asset.

Either way, I expect us to be significantly improved next year.

This is pretty much where I stand. I think a historically good draft and Rondo being injured created a perfect tank storm. Next year I expect this team to be in the playoffs.

[Jailan34]

Honestly my best case scenario is nabbing Parker (or any of the top 3) going into next season and really develop our players, their chemistry. If that lands me in the lottery again, which it likely will sure thats fine. Then next season I would worry about signing vet's and role players.

[BballTim]

Given that it seems unlikely that the Celtics can make enough moves this summer to become a contender next season and some people believe that the 2015 draft is better than the 2014 draft?

  What does that mean, 10-12 superstars?

[slamtheking]

I'm anticipating 2 years of poor play and a major bounce back for the 15-16 season.

I figure we'll end up with the 7th-8th pick (no lucky bounce as per our usual).  While that could grab player the figures to be decent, I think it's more likely Danny moves that pick for either a decent all-star player or for a developing young player and a lower pick to fill 2 spots.

Since the teams worse than us in the standing are pretty much in the East, they'll net a really good player in the draft and pass us in the standings next year since we won't add a real game changer for next year.

That positions us with another high pick in the lottery for the following draft which as a number of highly-touted big men.  yes Rondo's deal is up but Sully, KO and our new player from this draft (or player we traded for) will have improved and with a really good pick in the next draft and more cap flexibility (bass' contract has then expired)  we're in a good position to really make a nice bounce back into relevancy.

[LooseCannon]

Given that it seems unlikely that the Celtics can make enough moves this summer to become a contender next season and some people believe that the 2015 draft is better than the 2014 draft?

  What does that mean, 10-12 superstars?

It's a combination of people becoming less certain about players such as Wiggins, the non-zero possibility that Parker and Embiid might stay in school another year, and 2015 being seen as a better year for drafting a big man.

[LilRip]

These are the reasons why I guess I would be considered as one of the "pro-tankers":

1. Good draft this year
2. Rondo's injury
3. No young prospect on this team who I think could be something special, other than Sully. I mean, we pretty much had players who were who they were (green, Wallace, hump, Crawford, lee, bass) or guys whose ceiling will likely be role players (Bradley, pressey, fav)
4. Roster construction by DA

I'm pushing for the "tank" coz the team, in its current state, is in flux, IMO. If next year, we're still in the same state (which seems impossible), then I'll still likely push for a "tank". But I think DA will be able to get good value out of his assets, particularly the 2014 1st rounders.

[Fafnir]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

[BballTim]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

  Cleveland doubled their win total. I think the main reason those rooks don't win right away is the team they go to has no talent around them. Say the Celts drafted a wing player who was very good, bring in a decent center and still have Rondo/Sully/AB/Green. It wouldn't win a title but they'd be solid in a hurry if the rookie was as good as advertised.