Questions on our future

[Enzzo]

So the world of salaries, luxury taxes, clauses and exceptions are beyond me. I get the basic stuff, like Wallace is getting paid way too much and it would seriously benefit us from getting his contract out.

But I'm wondering, how well are we actually set up for the future. I know we have a ton of picks and we've been unloading contracts like Lee's, but do we really have the space to sign anyone worthwhile?

Also, how well off are we compared to the other "tankers/rebuilders/crap" what ever you choose to call them?

[colincb]

Speaking to the tankers only, we have the best set of future picks in the NBA with good odds of getting 2-3 lottery picks from the Nets from 2016-18. In terms of talent, we're probably better than the other tankers with one top 5 position player and a fair amount of young talent.  Our cap situation is very good overall starting in 2015 (assuming we buy out and stretch GW’s contract over 3 years). Some of this depends on Rondo and AB's status, but we’re going to have a lot of rookie contracts too.

Orlando has 8 picks to our 9, less talent,but a better cap situation starting in 2015. Utah isn't trying to tank, have a nice core of young talent, but no star on Rondo's level, a slightly better cap situation, and 7 firsts in the next 5 years (but 2 are from GSW that figure to be mid-rounders).

Philly is the worst team in the NBA and had the worst one-month point differential of the last 25 years.  They truly stink. They have 5 firsts in the next 5 years and a ton of seconds. They have the best cap situation in the NBA, but who wants to go to a team that bad?

Lakers will be tanking from here on out have less talent, one of the better cap situations (and it's a destination), but only 3 firsts in the next 5 years. What Kobe are they getting back? If it’s not the old Kobe, they’re screwed and if it is, they still have a lot of issues.

Milwaukee has more talent than its record, but a poor cap situation, and 5 firsts in the next 5 years. Sacramento has some talent, the poorest cap situation of the tankers and only 4 firsts. Knicks aren't tanking, but are in terrible talent, cap and draft shape. Have them as the worst team in the NBA going into the future.

I say that we're in the best shape of these tankers with Utah and Orlando also in the picture. These three look to have some of the highest upside in the NBA. Lakers and Philly look to have a mediocre outlook and the Bucks and Kings look to remain in the mud, but be surpassed at the bottom by the Knicks.

A decent team with the most upside looks to be Phoenix with a likely 6 mid-round firsts over the next 2 years and lots of cap. Brooklyn looks to be a decent team with the worst outlook.

Doc’s team has one of the worst cap outlooks and only 4 firsts going forward. Very good team, but looks like a pretender.

[Smokeeye123]

Speaking to the tankers only, we have the best set of future picks in the NBA with good odds of getting 2-3 lottery picks from the Nets from 2016-18. In terms of talent, we're probably better than the other tankers with one top 5 position player and a fair amount of young talent.  Our cap situation is very good overall starting in 2015 (assuming we buyout and stretch GW’s contract over 3 years). Some of this depends on Rondo and AB's status, but we’re going to have a lot of rookie contracts too.

Orlando has 8 picks to our 9, less talent,but a better cap situation starting in 2015. Utah isn't trying to tank, have a nice core of young talent, but no star on Rondo's level, a slightly better cap situation, and 7 firsts in the next 5 years (but 2 are from GSW that figure to be mid-rounders).

Philly is the worst team in the NBA and had the one-month point differential over the last 25 years.  They truly stink. They have 5 firsts in the next 5 years and a ton of seconds. They have the best cap situation in the NBA, but who wants to go to a team that bad?

Lakers will be tanking from here on out have less talent, one of the better cap situations (and it's a destination), but only 3 firsts in the next 5 years. What Kobe are they getting back? If it’s not the old Kobe, they’re screwed and if it is, they still have a lot of issues.

Milwaukee has more talent than its record, but a poor cap situation, and 5 firsts in the next 5 years. Sacramento has some talent, the poorest cap situation of the tankers and only 4 firsts. Knicks aren't tanking, but are in terrible talent, cap and draft shape. Have them as the worst team in the NBA going into the future.

I say that we're in the best shape of these tankers with Utah and Orlando also in the picture. These three look to have some of the highest upside in the NBA. Lakers and Philly look to have a mediocre outlook and the Bucks and Kings look to remain in the mud, but be surpassed at the bottom by the Knicks.

A decent team with the most upside looks to be Phoenix with a likely 6 mid-round firsts over the next 2 years and lots of cap. Brooklyn looks to be a decent team with the worst outlook.

Doc’s team has one of the worst cap outlooks and only 4 firsts going forward. Very good team, but looks like a pretender.

I still think LA is in fine shape. Love seems bound for Hollywood and they have a high lottery pick this year they could flip for good player or just keep it and draft Kobe 2.0

[colincb]

I still think LA is in fine shape. Love seems bound for Hollywood and they have a high lottery pick this year they could flip for good player or just keep it and draft Kobe 2.0

There is no Kobe 2.0 and Love is with Minnesota for another couple of years

[Neurotic Guy]

To Colincb:  Additionally, we have a potential 10th 1st rounder if Philly makes a solid turnaround with Carter-Williams, Noel and whoever they select with their 2 lottery picks this year.  Doubtful, but they could finish in the playoffs in the East next year and give their #1 to Boston. 

Also, the swap in 2017 with Brooklyn is a potentially huge asset for the Celtics.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I still think LA is in fine shape. Love seems bound for Hollywood and they have a high lottery pick this year they could flip for good player or just keep it and draft Kobe 2.0

There is no Kobe 2.0 and Love is with Minnesota for another couple of years

Pretty funny how the Lakers are in complete flux without any apparent direction yet some still believe they're in great shape.

Pretty sad too. Because they could very well pop out of nowhere and nab Love/Melo.

It's not that BOS is a bad FA destination. There's no BOS disadvantage, just L.A. advantage.

[slamtheking]

To Colincb:  Additionally, we have a potential 10th 1st rounder if Philly makes a solid turnaround with Carter-Williams, Noel and whoever they select with their 2 lottery picks this year.  Doubtful, but they could finish in the playoffs in the East next year and give their #1 to Boston. 

Also, the swap in 2017 with Brooklyn is a potentially huge asset for the Celtics.

their trades at the deadlines effectively scuttled any realistic chance of them making the playoffs next year.  Shipping out Hawes and Turner for essentially nothing left them with only 3 players worth keeping next season--MCW, Noel and Thad.   2 picks this year won't get them anywhere.  they'll stink until MCW goes FA on them.

[freshinthehouse]

I don't know if I'd put our talent ahead of Orlando.  I would trade our 25 and under crowd for theirs any day.  The one trump card we have is a bonifide all-star who can fetch more on the open market than any of ORL's vets.

[colincb]

To Colincb:  Additionally, we have a potential 10th 1st rounder if Philly makes a solid turnaround with Carter-Williams, Noel and whoever they select with their 2 lottery picks this year.  Doubtful, but they could finish in the playoffs in the East next year and give their #1 to Boston. 

Also, the swap in 2017 with Brooklyn is a potentially huge asset for the Celtics.

I considered the Philly pick (Young is a nice piece too), but it's a very long-shot to me.  Had to look at some other conditional picks too and make a best guess also.

Like you said, the 2017 swap though could be huge and we could then have three lottery picks from the Nets. Even when Brooklyn gets some free cap in 2016 it still has Williams on the books for $22+ MM and he's breaking down now physically (and has always been a defensive liability), they can't get two more max contracts to make a threesome, and they gave the right to swap 2015's pick away too. I have them ranked a tad higher than the NYKs 5 years out, but they could be worse easily enough.