Will the Celtics be tanking in 2015?

[IlCapitano]

I can see Rondo staying with us ONLY if they get him a few nice pieces by the summer of 2015.

Otherwise, if we're going to tank for 3-4-5 years, whatever, I don't see why would he stay in Boston and spend his prime years tanking.

And I also think most fans want this too. Even two years without playoffs and being irrelevant are too bad.

And also, if it's the plan to try to "repeat" the 2007 and not develop young talents for years like Cleveland or Philly do, we MUST keep Rajon.

He is definitely top 5 point guard in this league, with all his flaws. He is not no. 1 go-to guy, but definitely a guy who can be a leader and give a contention team one more dimension.

He may seem uninterested in the regular season at times (not always certainly), but when it comes to playoffs, only Tony Parker can be in the same room with him.

Not to mention triple-doubles he's putting in his dream.

And I certainly think he's been overcritisized lately. Sure he's not playoff Rondo but it is completely normal for him to do some things out of the ordinary, like forsing drive to the basket and trying some hard shots, shooting more threes etc.

He needs to feel where he is at the moment, he needs to bring back his old touch around the basket, and when is he going to do it if not in one season we're seriously tanking?

And I've seen many of you being mad about about these last two wins (me too), and then same those people critisize Rondo for not bringing the ball up-court more faster, playing better defense, etc. You can't have it both ways.

[mmmmm]

No chance.  They had a free pass this season due to the way the season ticket process works.  Most of this season's tickets were sold (renewed) last season.  That will change this offseason and there will be pressure to get people to the arena.

this was a draft class worth tanking for

Funny, there are no more crappy teams 'in the tank' this year than any other year.

Less than last year, in fact.

[slamtheking]

we'll be back in the lottery again next year again.  no need to try to tank.  we don't have enough starting-quality talent to make a difference for next year. 

I really think the moves to bring the team back to contender status happen in the summer of 2016 when
Bass is already gone and Green and Wallace are off the books. 

anyone saying Rondo will want out before then is just purely speculating.  IMHO, Rondo wants to be here to contend again and he'll be what draws the big names to Boston in 2 years

[freshinthehouse]

Speaking of tanking for 2015...

The official measurements of Team USA for the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit were released on Saturday.

Player: Height, Wing Span
Cliff Alexander: 6-8, 7-3.5
Joel Berry II: 6-.25, 6-3.25
James Blackmon: 6-3, 6-8.5
Stanley Johnson: 6-7, 6-11
Tyus Jones: 6-1.25, 6-3
Jahlil Okafor: 6-10.75, 7-5
Kelly Oubre: 6-6.5, 7-2
Theo Pinson: 6-6, 6-11
Reid Travis: 6-8, 7-0
Myles Turner: 6-11.5, 7-3.75
Justise Winslow: 6-6, 6-10

As of now Okafor, Tuner, and Alexander are supposed to go top 3. Great measurements for all 3.

Myles Turner would look very good in green. 

[nickagneta]

Speaking of tanking for 2015...

The official measurements of Team USA for the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit were released on Saturday.

Player: Height, Wing Span
Cliff Alexander: 6-8, 7-3.5
Joel Berry II: 6-.25, 6-3.25
James Blackmon: 6-3, 6-8.5
Stanley Johnson: 6-7, 6-11
Tyus Jones: 6-1.25, 6-3
Jahlil Okafor: 6-10.75, 7-5
Kelly Oubre: 6-6.5, 7-2
Theo Pinson: 6-6, 6-11
Reid Travis: 6-8, 7-0
Myles Turner: 6-11.5, 7-3.75
Justise Winslow: 6-6, 6-10

As of now Okafor, Tuner, and Alexander are supposed to go top 3. Great measurements for all 3.

Myles Turner would look very good in green.

And so the hype for the 2015 draft and the reasoning behind why we have to be the worst team in the league next year to draft some current 17 year old kid begins. 

[blink]

I truly believe that if Ainge holds onto the 2 first rounders from this year that the Celtics may just be worse next year than this year. And they won't have to tank. They will just suck.

I have to agree with this.  I 'could' see next years team having less overall talent and experience than the 13-14 team does.  Mainly because any of Rondo, Hump, Bass, Green, AB could be gone next year, depending on the long term decision making process.  It could go a lot of ways, but the incoming 2 fist rounders will probably be less NBA ready than the vets that are out-going, whomever they might be.

[Kane3387]

Here's some names to keep an eye on for next year.

That said, there are plenty of prospects in the 2014 high school class with huge NBA upside. Let’s take a look at 10 recruits in the class who have the most NBA potential.

1. Myles Turner (Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity)
He’s a legit 6-11, 225 pounds, is extremely skilled and has just started to come into his own. The Dallas native has a size-21 shoe, can step out and make shots and is also able to score in the post. NBA guys love length and potential, and Turner possesses both. Turner, who could become a LaMarcus Aldridge-type down the road, has a final eight of Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona and Ohio State.

2. Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young)
While his upside isn’t quite as high as Turner’s, the 6-11 big man has the size and is super skilled. He can score with both hands in the post, has terrific footwork and has an extremely high IQ. He won’t necessarily blow you away with his athleticism, but there just aren’t many post guys at any level with his skill set. He’s a true center, and those are few and far between in both college and the NBA. Okafor is considering Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Arizona, Baylor, Michigan State and Ohio State.

3. Emmanuel Mudiay (Arlington, Texas/Prime Prep)
He’s almost the opposite of Jones at the point guard spot. Mudiay is big, strong and athletic. He’s a big-time talent who will be a scoring point but is able to find teammates for easy baskets as well. He’s also quick enough to get past defenders and strong enough to finish through contact. His weakness is consistency with his perimeter shot, but that easily can be improved with repetition and work ethic. His final five are Kentucky, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and SMU.

4. Kelly Oubre (Fort Bend, Texas/Findlay Prep)
This one might shock a few people, but I love his blend of skill, size and athleticism at the wing spot. He is a highflier who also can make shots and has the potential to be a terrific defender. NBA folks at the Nike Global Challenge were as high on the Texas native as anyone else in the gym. Oubre is still looking at Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Florida, Georgetown, Louisville, Oregon and UNLV.

5. Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie)
The 6-9 power forward already has an NBA-ready body. He’s big, strong, physical and has a higher skill set than many people realize. He’s the prototypical 4-man, and his game will translate due to his size, aggressiveness and ability to rebound. Alexander’s recruitment is still unclear with teams like Kansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Louisville, Memphis, Kentucky, Florida, DePaul, Indiana, Baylor and Arizona in play.

6. Stanley Johnson (Fullerton, Calif./Mater Dei)
Johnson was as good as just about any player in the country during the July recruiting period. He’s a big, strong wing who puts points on the board whether by powering his way to the basket or making shots from the perimeter. He’ll rebound well for his position and also can defend. Johnson has the body, toughness and skill set to be successful both in college and the NBA. The front-runners appear to be Kentucky, Arizona and maybe either USC or UCLA.

7. Trey Lyles (Indianapolis/Arsenal Tech)
Lyles is an average athlete, but he does everything well despite being limited in that regard. The 6-8 power forward knows how to play, can score in a variety of ways, passes it well and also rebounds at a high rate. He has some Tim Duncan in him, even though he’s a few inches shorter. Lyles, a one-time Indiana commit, has narrowed it to Kentucky, Louisville, Florida and Butler.

8. Karl Towns Jr. (Metuchen, N.J./St. Joseph)
The length and talent are unquestionable, but there are many who question whether Towns will ever put it all together. He plays soft and has a reputation for being selfish at times, but the Kentucky commit is a legit 7-footer and has so much natural talent for someone his size. Towns could be a star down the line, but he also very well could be g a bust.

9. Rashad Vaughn (Golden Valley, Minn./Findlay Prep)
Vaughn is still a work in progress, especially when it comes to shot selection and decision-making. However, he has the size, length and ability to put points on the board in a hurry. The Minnesota native is legit 6-5 shooting guard and is able to put the ball on the floor as well as make shots from deep. Vaughn still has plenty of schools in the mix, including Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina.

10. Justin Jackson (Tomball, Texas/HCYA)
It was actually a tough call for this last spot between the skilled Jackson and another North Carolina commit, athletic forward Theo Pinson (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian). However, there’ll be a place for Jackson in the NBA due to his ability to make shots from midrange at an impressive rate and also his ability to make enough from beyond the 3-point arc. Jackson is simply a playmaker.

[LarBrd33]

No chance.  They had a free pass this season due to the way the season ticket process works.  Most of this season's tickets were sold (renewed) last season.  That will change this offseason and there will be pressure to get people to the arena.

this was a draft class worth tanking for

Funny, there are no more crappy teams 'in the tank' this year than any other year.

Less than last year, in fact.

Irrelevant.

Boston tanked this year.  Boston didn't tank last year.  This was a year worth tanking for us.  I dont' care about anyone else.

[pokeKingCurtis]

No chance.  They had a free pass this season due to the way the season ticket process works.  Most of this season's tickets were sold (renewed) last season.  That will change this offseason and there will be pressure to get people to the arena.

this was a draft class worth tanking for

Funny, there are no more crappy teams 'in the tank' this year than any other year.

Less than last year, in fact.

Irrelevant.

Boston tanked this year.  Boston didn't tank last year.  This was a year worth tanking for us.  I dont' care about anyone else.

I've read someone call this draft one that's not truly worth tanking for as there are no surefire superstars and a lot of depth in terms of good players.

The same guy said the Anthony Davis draft, if anything, was a "must-tank".

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

we'll be back in the lottery again next year again.  no need to try to tank.  we don't have enough starting-quality talent to make a difference for next year. 

I really think the moves to bring the team back to contender status happen in the summer of 2016 when
Bass is already gone and Green and Wallace are off the books. 

anyone saying Rondo will want out before then is just purely speculating.  IMHO, Rondo wants to be here to contend again and he'll be what draws the big names to Boston in 2 years

prolly so.

[gpap]

Does anyone realize how easy it is to field a competitive team in the NBA right now?

Just wondering.

It's not really rocket science or a geometry equation.

Pick up some decent players this summer (they don't even have to be superstars like Love or Melo) and we are right back in the playoffs again next year.

If anyone is waiting for the Celtics to draft the next Lebron in one of the upcoming drafts, I am afraid you are going to be disappointed.

[Mr October]

Does anyone realize how easy it is to field a competitive team in the NBA right now?

Just wondering.

It's not really rocket science or a geometry equation.

Pick up some decent players this summer (they don't even have to be superstars like Love or Melo) and we are right back in the playoffs again next year.

If anyone is waiting for the Celtics to draft the next Lebron in one of the upcoming drafts, I am afraid you are going to be disappointed.

I don't think it will be that easy. In free agency the celtics only have enough space to sign one slightly above mid level guy. And that guy might be Avery Bradley.

Meanwhile we lose experienced depth when Bayless and Humphries walk. In their place could be 2 rookies who will make more mistakes than those 2 during their rookie year. If Rondo is traded, it would probably be for youth.

The only way i see a return to the playoffs is a semi splashy trade for a center like Asik, maybe Sanders.

[PhoSita]

Does anyone realize how easy it is to field a competitive team in the NBA right now?

Just wondering.

It's not really rocket science or a geometry equation.

Pick up some decent players this summer (they don't even have to be superstars like Love or Melo) and we are right back in the playoffs again next year.

Maybe getting a 7th or 8th seed wouldn't be so hard.  It's possible simply trading for Asik would be enough.  Then again, it might not.

Putting together a decent supporting cast that can play winning basketball, especially right away, isn't that easy. 

I'm pretty sure Milwaukee went into this season expecting to be decent, and instead they turned out to be the worst team in the league.


As Mr. October points out, even in a best-case scenario the Celtics are likely to be very young and inexperienced next year.  In some ways even more so than this season.  They will in all likelihood still lack an elite individual scorer, a "closer."  This means it'll still be very hard for them to win those close games (of which they lost many this season).


If making the playoffs were so easy, the Knicks would be in them far more often.

[gpap]

Does anyone realize how easy it is to field a competitive team in the NBA right now?

Just wondering.

It's not really rocket science or a geometry equation.

Pick up some decent players this summer (they don't even have to be superstars like Love or Melo) and we are right back in the playoffs again next year.

If anyone is waiting for the Celtics to draft the next Lebron in one of the upcoming drafts, I am afraid you are going to be disappointed.

I don't think it will be that easy. In free agency the celtics only have enough space to sign one slightly above mid level guy. And that guy might be Avery Bradley.

Meanwhile we lose experienced depth when Bayless and Humphries walk. In their place could be 2 rookies who will make more mistakes than those 2 during their rookie year. If Rondo is traded, it would probably be for youth.

The only way i see a return to the playoffs is a semi splashy trade for a center like Asik, maybe Sanders.

Which is part of my point.

Pick up a decent center (which by today's standards is like having another Kareem Abdul Jabar), add a couple decent scorers (Ray Allen/JJ Redick types) and you've got yourself a pretty good team. Probably even better than you'd expect.

When I see teams like the Bobcats, Wizards and Raptors flourishing in the EC, I can't imagine raking up 40-45 wins in the East is going to be difficult.

Now, if we are talking about getting reaching Miami/Indiana status, that's another story.

However, I've never been one to subscribe to the belief that if you can't beat Miami then there's no point in being competitive.

Remember, Miami is either one Lebron injury or one Chris Bosh departure to free agency away from being much worse than they are now.

[gpap]

Does anyone realize how easy it is to field a competitive team in the NBA right now?

Just wondering.

It's not really rocket science or a geometry equation.

Pick up some decent players this summer (they don't even have to be superstars like Love or Melo) and we are right back in the playoffs again next year.

Maybe getting a 7th or 8th seed wouldn't be so hard.  It's possible simply trading for Asik would be enough.  Then again, it might not.

Putting together a decent supporting cast that can play winning basketball, especially right away, isn't that easy. 

I'm pretty sure Milwaukee went into this season expecting to be decent, and instead they turned out to be the worst team in the league.


As Mr. October points out, even in a best-case scenario the Celtics are likely to be very young and inexperienced next year.  In some ways even more so than this season.  They will in all likelihood still lack an elite individual scorer, a "closer."  This means it'll still be very hard for them to win those close games (of which they lost many this season).


If making the playoffs were so easy, the Knicks would be in them far more often.

Yeah but the Knicks problems are much deeper.

I think they've got a star in Melo right now who already has one foot out the door.

A bad offseason of pickups in acquiring Bargani and World Peace.

And then a couple of veterans who are now past their prime in Stat and Chandler.

In other words, between not wanting it bad enough and bad roster moves, that's why the Knicks are in the shape they are in.

I think it just has more to do with a badly assembled roster then it does not being good enough to compete in the lackluster east.