If the goal is to seriously tank, here is what I would do

[LooseCannon]

-Offer to take on any bad multi-year contract for draft picks.  If the Knicks had any picks to trade, trying to trade the expiring contract of Bass for picks and Jose Calderon would be a no-brainer for a legit tanking team.  Maybe something like Jeff Green and Jameer Nelson for Brandon Jennings and Gigi Datome if SVG is willing to give up a first to get rid of a bad PG who he seems to hate.

-Keep James Young in the D-League and Marcus Smart coming off the bench to prevent them from developing too quickly.  You don't want them to win too many games too soon.

-Shop Sullinger.  He's not going to be one of the top three players on a contender.  You don't have to trade him, but be aggressive in finding out what he's worth and test his mental toughness by making him the subject of trade rumors.

I'm still opposed to tanking, but if I were to embrace the idea of going into full-on tank mode, that is what I would do.

[LarBrd33]

I think we want to keep our options open this summer.  There's a chance we'd be able to sign a star free agent or two if we clear up enough cap space.

We'll continue trying to find an expiring contract + pick for Green.  We'll try to dump Jameer for an expiring.  We'll try to land a pick for Wright and Bass, but likely will buy them out if we fail.

[CFAN38]

-Offer to take on any bad multi-year contract for draft picks.  If the Knicks had any picks to trade, trying to trade the expiring contract of Bass for picks and Jose Calderon would be a no-brainer for a legit tanking team.  Maybe something like Jeff Green and Jameer Nelson for Brandon Jennings and Gigi Datome if SVG is willing to give up a first to get rid of a bad PG who he seems to hate.

-Keep James Young in the D-League and Marcus Smart coming off the bench to prevent them from developing too quickly.  You don't want them to win too many games too soon.

-Shop Sullinger.  He's not going to be one of the top three players on a contender.  You don't have to trade him, but be aggressive in finding out what he's worth and test his mental toughness by making him the subject of trade rumors.

I'm still opposed to tanking, but if I were to embrace the idea of going into full-on tank mode, that is what I would do.

I agree with the multi year contracts. Cap space has very little value without direction. This team isn't going to pull a contending roster out of free agency so accumulating picks with the space is advantageous. The Cs basically already did this when they traded for Wallace. There are far less GMs putting their franchises into salary danger with bad long term deal in resent seasons.

As fare delaying Young and Smarts development to keep the team losing. You lose me on this point. When the minutes become available these guys need ample minutes.

Trading Sully may come into play down the line. I think KO and Sully can co-exist as a starting 4 and backup 4/5 but this is not likely. Ideally one will be moved and the remaining player establishes himself as the long term answer at the 4.   

[manl_lui]

if we were seriously tanking, I'd play Smart and Young more. Not to showcase them or anything, they are solid draft selections, but I want them to gain some more experience, make some mistakes and pay for it

as for Green, Bass, Wallace maybe even Bradley, I'd trade to contenders. Now that's really starting off with a clean slate!

[Donoghus]

At this point, its probably too late to crack the "Craptastic Three" of New York, Philly, & Minnesota.  In regards to draft position, the #4 slot is probably their best bet if they're gonna tank from here on out.  Then pray to the lottery gods that the balls bounce their way in the spring. 

Continue to develop the talent;  Smart, Young, Kelly, Sullinger.  See what you can get out of guys like Bradley, Crowder, Zeller, Turner, Wright, etc... and determine whether not any of those guys have any future with the organization (doubtful).  Work to move guys like Green, Nelson, & Bass (maybe even Turner) by the deadline.  Continue to let Wallace "earn" his paycheck on the bench.

[slamtheking]

At this point, its probably too late to crack the "Craptastic Three" of New York, Philly, & Minnesota.  In regards to draft position, the #4 slot is probably their best bet if they're gonna tank from here on out.  Then pray to the lottery gods that the balls bounce their way in the spring. 

Rubio's return may propel Minny to winning more often than they currently do.  If they ever get Pek back, that should be good for a couple more wins.

NY is giving up the season and Philly just flat out stinks.  I think it's very likely we're a bottom 4 record if not bottom 3.  not happy about counting on lottery luck to rebuild the team since we seem to be a snake-bitten franchise in that regard but if we can land a solid center prospect with top pick or, if we get screwed again and drop out of a spot to pick a center without reaching, go for one of those top SFs this year and take a flyer on Dakari Johnson with the Clips pick.

[fantankerous]

I think the OP got this entirely correct.  Regarding slowing the development of Smart and Young, it may seem counter-intuitive but is again correct.  In order to tank correctly, the team will probably need three consecutive years of finishing in the bottom 5 (and preferably bottom 3).  So development must not be allowed to interfere with that goal.  This is much easier with Young because we can currently prioritize his physical development over his basketball development.  He simply must get much stronger to handle the rigors of NBA basketball.

I also agree with the OP's doubts about whether this strategy should be adopted.  I'd unequivocally so no if I thought any of Olynyk, Sullinger, Zeller, Smart or Crowder could be one of the top three players on a contender.   

[hwangjini_1]

-Offer to take on any bad multi-year contract for draft picks.  If the Knicks had any picks to trade, trying to trade the expiring contract of Bass for picks and Jose Calderon would be a no-brainer for a legit tanking team.  Maybe something like Jeff Green and Jameer Nelson for Brandon Jennings and Gigi Datome if SVG is willing to give up a first to get rid of a bad PG who he seems to hate.

-Keep James Young in the D-League and Marcus Smart coming off the bench to prevent them from developing too quickly.  You don't want them to win too many games too soon.

-Shop Sullinger.  He's not going to be one of the top three players on a contender.  You don't have to trade him, but be aggressive in finding out what he's worth and test his mental toughness by making him the subject of trade rumors.

I'm still opposed to tanking, but if I were to embrace the idea of going into full-on tank mode, that is what I would do.

or...take the lazy man way to tanking. have a starting line up of the following and play them all 38 minutes a night.

pg - pressey
sg - nelson
sf - thorton
pf - crowder
c - olly

watch out knicks and sixers, here come the celtics! 

[Who]

I think we want to keep our options open this summer.  There's a chance we'd be able to sign a star free agent or two if we clear up enough cap space.

If you were a star free agent, would you want to play on this team?

I wouldn't. This team is too far away from winning.

[Who]

-Offer to take on any bad multi-year contract for draft picks.  If the Knicks had any picks to trade, trying to trade the expiring contract of Bass for picks and Jose Calderon would be a no-brainer for a legit tanking team.  Maybe something like Jeff Green and Jameer Nelson for Brandon Jennings and Gigi Datome if SVG is willing to give up a first to get rid of a bad PG who he seems to hate.

Agreed -- I think this is the best use of the Celtics' cap flexibility. I do not think they'll be able to get top players to sign here given how bad the team currently is. I also believe the draft is the best way for Boston to add talent in the interim and will make Boston more attractive to free agents further down the road. So swapping out someone like Bass and eating a 2-3 year contract to get another 1st rounder is a very attractive option right now.

[knuckleballer]

I think we want to keep our options open this summer.  There's a chance we'd be able to sign a star free agent or two if we clear up enough cap space.

If you were a star free agent, would you want to play on this team?

I wouldn't. This team is too far away from winning.

I think we need to be looking at 2016 for a star free agent at this point.  Get another prospect in this upcoming draft, develop the young guys we have, and hope for the best.  We have four first rounders in 2016, we should be able to make moves at that time.  This rebuild is painful, but we should have known it was going to be.

[LarBrd33]

I think we want to keep our options open this summer.  There's a chance we'd be able to sign a star free agent or two if we clear up enough cap space.

If you were a star free agent, would you want to play on this team?

I wouldn't. This team is too far away from winning.

Depends what the team looks like this summer.   We could end up landing a very high pick in this draft... and there's still a chance one of the kids will start to break out.   And if we have the cap space to sign two (like say Rondo and Gasol), it might be doable. 

[Future Celtics Owner]

-Keep James Young in the D-League and Marcus Smart coming off the bench to prevent them from developing too quickly.  You don't want them to win too many games too soon.

Even if they play great we would still be a bottom 3 team. I would not try to stop them from developing for any reason. I would though trade or sit players that are not part of our plans.

[nickagneta]

What. I would do is just keep doing what they are doing. Tanking means losing. Currently this team is so dysfunctional and pathetic that the Celtics don't have to do anything more than let poor team construction, lack of talent, lack of experience in their head coach and the general malaise since the Rondo trade continue to make this probably one of the four worst teams in the league.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Things I would do:
1: Aim for the free agent class of 2016.
2: Use all our TPE's and exceptions to help teams shed cap space for picks and assets(BUT KEEP 2016 N MIND).
3: When Free Agency 2016 hits only have guys on rookie contracts or vet min....that way we will be far far below even the minimum salary.*They're exceptions to this like getting a good player on a bargain salary
4:Trade either Sully or KO or both. One trade I would do would be for Rudy Gobert for Sully/KO
5:Trade Avery Bradley, to make way for Young, for pieces that will not be around for 2016. Preferably maybe a 3 team trade.
6:Trade Green....there are plenty of trades ideas on these forums. Just as long as they do not conflict with the above plans
7:Draft well: Karl Towns, Jaylen brown if we can
8:Sell Anthony Davis on the Celtics and how much damage he would do in the East......sign Anthony Davis