Will "Tanking" actually bring quality draft picks to the Celtics?

[Celtics4ever]

To guarantee a top 5 or 6 pick, you have to have the 3rd or 4th worse record, though. Such are the vagaries of the lottery.

Do people really think we have a star on our roster already?   I don't MS has a long way to go to be such a player and the same is true on Young.   Sully and KO have proved they are not stars and limited with their defensive and athletic abilities.  The draft and free agency are are best bet at landing a star.

Smart could become one if he developed a good shot and Young needs to learn NBA defense.   Sully and Oly are what they are, guys who can play and produce to some degree but absolute liabilities on the defensive end.  They also are not consistent on offense and both limited by their subpar athletic ability.   Both are already possessing of a high skill level and therefore have finite ceilings.  I think we should be playing Smart and Young 20+ Mpg on Smart and 15+ on Young but this is balanced by the need to showcase, Bass, Turner and Thornton so we can get an asset for them.   Now Prince is added to that formula so the young guys might not see minutes until after the trade deadline which is coming up on us fast.

Everyone hates tanking, but sometimes you have to roll the dice.

[PickNRoll]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

[kozlodoev]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days. I'm sure that if a franchise type becomes available, Ainge will be happy to ship Smart, Young + almost any combination of picks for them.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days.

I think it's extremely unlikely that Smart gets moved, but if we get the #2 overall pick (Mudiay) and have the choice between giving up Smart or that pick for Cousins, I think we give up Smart. 

Rephrased: whatever deal has us debating whether to include Smart or not is probably going to be a good problem for us to have.  I agree that I don't think anybody or anything should be untouchable right now.

[guava_wrench]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days.

I have never been high on Smart, but you are underselling him. He hasn't shown himself to be less than what was expected. His 3s seems to be improving already, the defense is already there, and the expected shortcomings are generally still his shortcomings. His value has not yet dropped. No one thought he was at Parker/Wiggins caliber, but not many college guys are.

Perhaps people forget how bad college players are. They aren't developed yet. Not being an above average NBA player as a rookie is not a big deal for young guys new to the league.

[PickNRoll]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days. I'm sure that if a franchise type becomes available, Ainge will be happy to ship Smart, Young + almost any combination of picks for them.

Just curious, would you deal Smart, Young, Bass, 2015 1st, Clippers pick, 2019 Memphis pick for Boogie?  Ignore the attitude issues.

[manl_lui]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days. I'm sure that if a franchise type becomes available, Ainge will be happy to ship Smart, Young + almost any combination of picks for them.

Just curious, would you deal Smart, Young, Bass, 2015 1st, Clippers pick, 2019 Memphis pick for Boogie?  Ignore the attitude issues.

toughie, but I'm going to say yes. Boogie is arguably a top 5 center or even top 2. He is improving every year

[PickNRoll]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days.

I have never been high on Smart, but you are underselling him. He hasn't shown himself to be less than what was expected. His 3s seems to be improving already, the defense is already there, and the expected shortcomings are generally still his shortcomings. His value has not yet dropped. No one thought he was at Parker/Wiggins caliber, but not many college guys are.

Perhaps people forget how bad college players are. They aren't developed yet. Not being an above average NBA player as a rookie is not a big deal for young guys new to the league.

Agree.  There is no question in my mind that Smart is a starting-caliber rotation player in this league for the next 10 years.  That's not a foregone conclusion with the 6th pick.  Whether he reaches all-star status is another story.  I'd say 25% shot of making an all-star team at some point, but a near lock to be All-NBA defense within 4 years.

[Granath]

I haven't heard anyone say that we have a star.  I think Smart has star potential.  Young is a surefire specialist shooter, at worst.  Everyone else is expendable.  Everyone.

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days. I'm sure that if a franchise type becomes available, Ainge will be happy to ship Smart, Young + almost any combination of picks for them.

Just curious, would you deal Smart, Young, Bass, 2015 1st, Clippers pick, 2019 Memphis pick for Boogie?  Ignore the attitude issues.

Yes and I like Marcus Smart. But the league right now is top-heavy with PGs and weak on interior big men. To get a 24/12 guy who can play defense just as he's entering the prime of his career is a no-brainer.

[Finkelskyhook]

Tanking has brought us the deserved worst possible scenario in '07.  Last year's result wasn't a whole lot better.

Play to win every game.  Whether we get the 1st or 15th pick...At least you won't have to gut the entire team to rid yourself of the culture stench that was '07. 

[D.o.s.]

Tanking has brought us the deserved worst possible scenario in '07.  Last year's result wasn't a whole lot better.

Play to win every game.  Whether we get the 1st or 15th pick...At least you won't have to gut the entire team to rid yourself of the culture stench that was '07.

We wouldn't have been able to get rid of that awful team if we hadn't tanked for that draft pick, though.

[Casperian]

I don't see any tanking. We got rid of a bunch of guys who had no future with our team.

Last season, Danny kept Rondo and Green to try and add some high-profile guys to our roster. No tanking, either.

Dunno, but I think that's all in your heads.

[nickagneta]

Tanking has brought us the deserved worst possible scenario in '07.  Last year's result wasn't a whole lot better.

Play to win every game.  Whether we get the 1st or 15th pick...At least you won't have to gut the entire team to rid yourself of the culture stench that was '07.

We wouldn't have been able to get rid of that awful team if we hadn't tanked for that draft pick, though.

It could be argued that if the Celtics hadn't tanked, tried to win every game and ended up with a record one game better than Seattle's that the Celtics could have been drafting Kevin Durant.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Smart and Young are just as expendable as anyone else. There just hasn't been anyone good on the blocks these days. I'm sure that if a franchise type becomes available, Ainge will be happy to ship Smart, Young + almost any combination of picks for them.

TP I agree, now be prepared to be called a pessimist.   I think your a realist.

There is no question in my mind that Smart is a starting-caliber rotation player in this league for the next 10 years.

Do you think he is right now?   BS doesn't think so and I do not either.   His offense needs work, I love his Defense.   His ball-handling and passing are not at an elite level either.

I don't see any tanking. We got rid of a bunch of guys who had no future with our team.

Last season, Danny kept Rondo and Green to try and add some high-profile guys to our roster. No tanking, either.

Dunno, but I think that's all in your heads

I would ask you if the roster is good?   Then could we not be tanking by roster?

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]