Small Forward Position - Moving Forward

[Hemingway]

At the start of the offseason the Celtics will have Evan Turner signed for 1 more year and the rights to match any offer on Jae Crowder.
James Young could provide us with minutes at SF moving forward.

The draft has 4 SF prospects projected to go in the lottery - Hezjona, Johnson, Winslow and Oubre. To get one of these guys a trade up may or may not be required.

The Celtics will have plenty of cap space and there are several guys who are both young and productive to target. They include Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. They are all RFA. The complete list of players can be seen here.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/small-forward/


My questions to you:

1. Give me your assessment of the current situation? How do you view Turner, Crowder and Young as long term solutions to the SF position?
2. What is your plan at draft time? Are any of these guys worth targeting and trading up for? Or are you content sitting where we pick and taking BPA regardless of position.
3. Let's assume we don't draft a SF with our pick, what are your FA plans for the SF position?

[Donoghus]

They need an upgrade at the position.  I don't think either Turner or Crowder is a long term solution as a starter.  Would like to see Crowder stick around in a bench role, though.  Have no problem moving Turner or letting him walk after next season. 

I think they're gonna throw a boatload of money at one of the restricted free agents.  However, I expect whatever team to match. 

Wouldn't be surprised to see them try and address the position in the draft but also wouldn't be surprised if they don't and end up going forward in '15-'16 with stopgaps again at the position.  Perhaps try & address the need via trade or free agency down the road.   My guess is that Danny goes BFA in the draft regardless of position.

[CFAN38]

They need an upgrade at the position.  I don't think either Turner or Crowder is a long term solution as a starter.  Would like to see Crowder stick around in a bench role, though.  Have no problem moving Turner or letting him walk after next season. 

I think they're gonna throw a boatload of money at one of the restricted free agents.  However, I expect whatever team to match. 

Wouldn't be surprised to see them try and address the position in the draft but also wouldn't be surprised if they don't and end up going forward in '15-'16 with stopgaps again at the position.  Perhaps try & address the need via trade or free agency down the road.   My guess is that Danny goes BFA in the draft regardless of position.

I agree with your points,

I really like crowder as a bench 3 small ball 4.

I dont care for Turners game, he has his positives but as Smart develops his ball handling will not be needd on this tea.

I will be interested to see how J Young fits moving forward. With IT4, AB and Smart his min at Sg will be limited so he has to earn PT at SF next season.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This is a great discussion starter. Primarily because the small forward production has been a great predictor of wins for the past couple of weeks. As Crowder or Turner have succeeded, so have the Celtics, but when he couldn't score with his opportunities, we lost.

I think Young is a shooting guard with good length who could move over to small forward, but I would rather have him use his length at shooting guard next to Smart or Thomas, rather than try to use his length to guard James, Durant, or George.

I like Turner as a steady rotation player (12-18 mpg), and he has played great defense over the past few months, but his offensive production is so uneven that it really hurts us.

I really like Crowder a lot. I think he has potential to keep developing into a lite version of Paul Milsap/Draymond Green type of player. I would love to lock him up into a long-term, cheap contract. At the very least, he could be the first forward off the bench on a reasonable contract, but at the most, he could continue to develop in that role. (BTW, he is brand new to that role in the NBA. Marquette used him as a jack-knife offensive and defensive player, but Dallas ran him as a spot up shooter in the corner, and never used him in high pick-and-rolls. He has shown some ability with increased opportunities and I don't think he is done developing)

Because I like Crowder, and Young can play some SF, and Smart is versatile enough to run some SF too, and Turner is on a good contract, I think we can go after best player available in the draft. If that happens to be a SF, that's fine--especially a player like Hezjona. Besides, as a general rule, huge mistakes happen when you draft for need instead of BPA.

Realistically, the Bulls, Warriors, and Spurs are keeping their guys. They have invested too much in those players to let them walk, even if the contracts are bloated.

However, I think Tobias Harris or Kris Middleton are possibilities. Harris would provide consistent, efficient production on the wing and some versatility to play power forward.

Middleton would give us a solid defender on the wing who can guard multiple positions--imagine that next to Smart! He also shoots the three at a really good rate and has a developing offensive game.

[More Banners]

We need a starter first. The draft will bring talent, though a rookie starting next season likely isn't a recipe for winning, which is what it's all about.

Look for a draft day trade!

[Tr1boy]

Looney is someone to consider also. 6'9 , 7'3 wingspan. Has sf skills , block shots and is a good rebounder

[coffee425]

Looney is someone to consider also. 6'9 , 7'3 wingspan. Has sf skills , block shots and is a good rebounder

Until he tries to dribble. He's a decent PF prospect, but no chance he's playing on the wing.

[Tr1boy]

Three other darkhorse sfs we can get later with our 2nd is

Lebryan Nash
Chris Walker
Jordan Mickey

[jonaslopes]

I think Young is a shooting guard with good length who could move over to small forward, but I would rather have him use his length at shooting guard next to Smart or Thomas, rather than try to use his length to guard James, Durant, or George.

This.

[Hemingway]

I'd throw money at Leonard and Butler but it probably doesn't matter. Pierce wouldn't be a bad stop gap until we go all out for Durrant. Its pie in the sky but so was getting KG really. Add PP and a few other decent players and picks, have a good year and show KD that he could just slid into Paul's spot and the team would be a favorite to win.

[Csfan1984]

Turner is okay bench player. Crowder is about the same though their game is different. I'd hold onto Turner and let Crowder walk just because I want future cap space. James Young could be decent but he needs development. I can't help but feel Crowder is a waste of playing time. Team should be playing Young. Plenty of rookies are getting great minutes on teams that are growing and not contending. Unfortunately C's keep playing the mediocre non future guys way too much. Bass, Crowder, Jerekbo, shouldn't play as much. Let KO, and Young develop with PT.

For draft I would look at SF but I'd think you have to take a big. WCS, Porzingis, Turner, maybe even Portis all need to be seriously looked into. Sully and KO both look like bench guys. Zeller isn't too bad but he is in last year next season. Also the FA bigs  are likely not moving to new teams.

So if C's did draft a big they can make max offer to Leonard, Harris or Butler. With market going up today's max for a young player is going to be nothing in 2 years. If that doesn't work then try next draft and keep developing Young.

IT, Smart, AB, Young, Sully, KO, Zeller are only guys I see sticking next season. Rest can all go.

[jonaslopes]

I'd throw money at Leonard and Butler but it probably doesn't matter. Pierce wouldn't be a bad stop gap until we go all out for Durrant. Its pie in the sky but so was getting KG really. Add PP and a few other decent players and picks, have a good year and show KD that he could just slid into Paul's spot and the team would be a favorite to win.

This is my favorite strategy. Draft a center, bring Pierce for a last year, develop the young guys, don't waste our cap. Win more games and then try to do Great Things in 2016's free agency.

[spikelovetheCelts]

I'd throw money at Leonard and Butler but it probably doesn't matter. Pierce wouldn't be a bad stop gap until we go all out for Durrant. Its pie in the sky but so was getting KG really. Add PP and a few other decent players and picks, have a good year and show KD that he could just slid into Paul's spot and the team would be a favorite to win.

This is my favorite strategy. Draft a center, bring Pierce for a last year, develop the young guys, don't waste our cap. Win more games and then try to do Great Things in 2016's free agency.

I like this too. A center is what need in the Draft. I just hope we can use the Rondo TE for someone and not let it go to waste.

[pearljammer10]

Anybody but Turner.

[LooseCannon]

Anybody but Turner.

Gerald Wallace fits that description.