Andrew Sharp (Grantland) says C's deadline losers

[boscel33]

I agree with the post.  I heard last night on 98.5 that they thought the Celtics had the best plan to move forward of the three teams in Boston.  I don't agree at all!  They can't decide if they're tanking or going for it, and I don't believe mid-season is when you make that decision.

[PhoSita]

Lol, so the C's are losers because the coach is so good that they've had to make adjustments midway through their rebuilding plan? Yeah, that makes sense. I'd much rather be LAL and at least know my team wants to stink because we have few good young players and a horrible coach!

Yeah, pretty silly criticism.

Oh no, the Celtics hired a good coach.
 
Oh no, the young players the Celtics already drafted are too productive and play too well together so the team isn't absolutely abysmal.

Horrible conundrum!


It's amusing that now Danny is being accused of "not knowing what he wants to do" when, following the Rondo and Green trades, the talk was that the Celtics were clearly racing to the bottom.  Well, it didn't work out that way because the coach and the players that form the core of this team right now just aren't terrible enough for that.  Aw, fiddlesticks.


I can appreciate what Danny did with the IT deal.  Gave the team an offensive focal point, which was needed.  Actually allows the team to effectively run pick and roll sets, which it is vital that the young guys learn how to do.

Danny also dumped an unnecessary vet and converted one of the gazillion picks into a tangible asset in the form of a highly productive guard who is locked up for a few years at a very low price.

What is there really to complain about?  Not an amazing deal, but a good one.  The Celtics were not going to be drafting high whether they made the deal or not.

I guess the Celtics should have traded Bradley, Sullinger, Olynyk, Zeller, and Crowder for D-Leaguers, washed up vets, and low 1sts / protected 2nds like Philly.  Hasn't done anything for Philly, yet.

[kozlodoev]

Celtics

“Wait, W T F are they doing?”

I just can’t understand whether the Celtics are tanking or not. If they are going for the eighth seed … why? If they are trying to land in the top five, why trade for Thomas? Giving up the Cavs pick is not as big of a deal as “first-round pick” sounds, but still. Adding a scoring combo guard to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in any context, and especially not one in which the goal is to rebuild through the draft.

This is what happens you plan to tank for a year or two and accidentally hire a great coach who gets the most out of everyone on the roster. If the Celtics had Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens, their tanking intentions would be crystal clear right now.

Just because you think you know what the goals of the team are doesn't make it a fact.

Also, you need to look no further than Philly to see how well the idea of making sure you have zero guys who can play and "rebuilding through the draft" works.

Also, he thinks Stevens is a great coach. This guy is hilarious (and clueless). Please consider the state of  the East to understand why the Celtics are in playoff contention.

[Chris22]

Thomas is our first first round draft pick of 2015.

And a good one.

[D.o.s.]

Also, he thinks Stevens is a great coach. This guy is hilarious (and clueless).

In his defense, Sharp was/is a Wizards and Cowboys fan, so we can probably blame second-hand idiocy here. It's osmosis.

[PhoSita]

Stevens is not a great coach.  He's shown some good things so far, though, in my opinion.

He certainly looks great compared to the Ty Corbins and Byron Scotts of the world.

[Boris Badenov]

“Wait, W T F are they doing?”

Collecting assets.

I just can’t understand whether the Celtics are tanking or not.

We're collecting assets. Sometimes that leads to a better team today and sometimes it leads to a worse team today. 

If they are going for the eighth seed … why?

Sometimes making the playoffs will happen when you collect assets in a certain way.

If they are trying to land in the top five, why trade for Thomas?

Sometimes collecting assets means getting better in the present.

Giving up the Cavs pick is not as big of a deal as “first-round pick” sounds, but still.

It's not a big deal at all given that what we did was to trade a less-valuable asset for a more-valuable asset.

Adding a scoring combo guard to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in any context...

It does if you're collecting assets.

...and especially not one in which the goal is to rebuild through the draft.

The draft is not the only way to collect assets.

This is what happens you plan to tank for a year or two and accidentally hire a great coach who gets the most out of everyone on the roster.

It also happens when you've spent two straight years collecting assets that will improve the team in both the future and the present.

If the Celtics had Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens, their tanking intentions would be crystal clear right now.

Having Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens would not represent asset collection.

[Cman]

“Wait, W T F are they doing?”

Collecting assets.

I just can’t understand whether the Celtics are tanking or not.

We're collecting assets. Sometimes that leads to a better team today and sometimes it leads to a worse team today. 

If they are going for the eighth seed … why?

Sometimes making the playoffs will happen when you collect assets in a certain way.

If they are trying to land in the top five, why trade for Thomas?

Sometimes collecting assets means getting better in the present.

Giving up the Cavs pick is not as big of a deal as “first-round pick” sounds, but still.

It's not a big deal at all given that what we did was to trade a less-valuable asset for a more-valuable asset.

Adding a scoring combo guard to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in any context...

It does if you're collecting assets.

...and especially not one in which the goal is to rebuild through the draft.

The draft is not the only way to collect assets.

This is what happens you plan to tank for a year or two and accidentally hire a great coach who gets the most out of everyone on the roster.

It also happens when you've spent two straight years collecting assets that will improve the team in both the future and the present.

If the Celtics had Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens, their tanking intentions would be crystal clear right now.

Having Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens would not represent asset collection.

Thank you. That was a thoroughly entertaining read.

[loco_91]

Lol, so the C's are losers because the coach is so good that they've had to make adjustments midway through their rebuilding plan? Yeah, that makes sense. I'd much rather be LAL and at least know my team wants to stink because we have few good young players and a horrible coach!

touche. what a knucklehead article...

[Asher77]

“Wait, W T F are they doing?”

Collecting assets.

I just can’t understand whether the Celtics are tanking or not.

We're collecting assets. Sometimes that leads to a better team today and sometimes it leads to a worse team today. 

If they are going for the eighth seed … why?

Sometimes making the playoffs will happen when you collect assets in a certain way.

If they are trying to land in the top five, why trade for Thomas?

Sometimes collecting assets means getting better in the present.

Giving up the Cavs pick is not as big of a deal as “first-round pick” sounds, but still.

It's not a big deal at all given that what we did was to trade a less-valuable asset for a more-valuable asset.

Adding a scoring combo guard to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in any context...

It does if you're collecting assets.

...and especially not one in which the goal is to rebuild through the draft.

The draft is not the only way to collect assets.

This is what happens you plan to tank for a year or two and accidentally hire a great coach who gets the most out of everyone on the roster.

It also happens when you've spent two straight years collecting assets that will improve the team in both the future and the present.

If the Celtics had Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens, their tanking intentions would be crystal clear right now.

Having Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens would not represent asset collection.

TP

[fairweatherfan]

All in all, your league's in a weird place when multiple analysts can look at a deal, agree that it improved a team without sacrificing their future, and conclude the deal made them "losers".

[Eric M VAN]

“Wait, W T F are they doing?”

Collecting assets.

I just can’t understand whether the Celtics are tanking or not.

We're collecting assets. Sometimes that leads to a better team today and sometimes it leads to a worse team today. 

If they are going for the eighth seed … why?

Sometimes making the playoffs will happen when you collect assets in a certain way.

If they are trying to land in the top five, why trade for Thomas?

Sometimes collecting assets means getting better in the present.

Giving up the Cavs pick is not as big of a deal as “first-round pick” sounds, but still.

It's not a big deal at all given that what we did was to trade a less-valuable asset for a more-valuable asset.

Adding a scoring combo guard to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in any context...

It does if you're collecting assets.

...and especially not one in which the goal is to rebuild through the draft.

The draft is not the only way to collect assets.

This is what happens you plan to tank for a year or two and accidentally hire a great coach who gets the most out of everyone on the roster.

It also happens when you've spent two straight years collecting assets that will improve the team in both the future and the present.

If the Celtics had Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens, their tanking intentions would be crystal clear right now.

Having Byron Scott instead of Brad Stevens would not represent asset collection.

Wut he wrote. Well Done. A TP was awarded.

[satch]

Having the most bing ping balls does not guarantee you will get the highest pick. Brains plus luck is what we need.

[PhoSita]

All in all, your league's in a weird place when multiple analysts can look at a deal, agree that it improved a team without sacrificing their future, and conclude the deal made them "losers".

For real.

Winning a trade handily can somehow mean you lost the trade?  Nuts.

[guava_wrench]

Why do these airheads keep asking whether the C's are tanking or not? They are making the moves that they feel will give them the best team a few years from now. People need to stop projecting their simplistic feelings on organizations.