Enjoy the quick fix. Danny set this franchise back.

[Mass_1081]

Tanking is a false hope that does nothing but kill the credibility of your organization.  The same teams are in the lottery year after year on the outside prayer they get a superstar to change their franchise.  That happens once every four or five years maybe?

So you want to lose year after year after year hoping to get lucky?  Not me. 

The best way to get into contention is exactly what Ainge has done.  Try to acquire assets that can be moved for a disgruntled vet that won't resign where he is while putting together a team that is good enough to attract a vet difference maker to sign in free agency. 

You think any player is signing with Philly if they have an option to sign with a decent team?  Especially with the salary cap going up, nobody worth anything will sign in Philly for years and years.

The Pelicans lucked out and got a guy who will perhaps be the best player in the NBA in the next few years and they STILL haven't made the playoffs.  They probably won't before Davis either leaves or has to sign a new contract.  What if he says, "hey I'm not staying in New Orleans so you might as well trade me."  What team is in a position to land him going into his prime?

That is the most efficient way to get better.  Have assets to make a move when those opportunities present themselves.

The Pelicans are the eight seed in the west and its just because of Davis. They still need to find a couple peaces to put around him. Nba players are divas, they either want to play with other stars or in a city with nice weather. Right now we don't have either. love watching this team fight for the playoffs, but I'm not going to lie to myself, not having a lottery pick will make Ainge's job a little more difficult this season. We have to hope to either get really lucky with a draft pick or that Ainge can work his magic and a team prefers picks over talent( we don't have near the chips we had in 07). The winning culture thing is bull also, any way you cut it this team still had a losing season, let's not kid ourselves.

[Boris Badenov]

I disagree wholeheartedly with the premise of this thread.

The only way to get better is by actually winning and improving in the standings which the Celtics have done.

That's how you acquire free agents, by winning.

Good players don't want to come to a sucky team that's rebuilding for years on end.

No thanks!

Free agents want to play with other great players.  Boston doesn't have any. If I'm a young free agent, I'd rather play with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and DeAngelo Russell and try to build something spectacular in Philly. 

Philly doesn't have any either. You just named one player who's played a single season of starting-caliber NBA ball, one chronically injured guy who's never set foot on an NBA court and one guy who is more likely to never play for the 76ers than to ever play for them.

Come on. I appreciate what the 76ers are doing, maybe even more than most other people on this board. But you're inventing a fantasy version of the Sixers and comparing it to the actual version of the Celtics. Do you really think Kevin Love is sitting in his hotel room pining away to move to the 76ers this summer because they might get DeAngelo Russell?

And while the 76ers have roster assets that pretty clearly trump ours, the Celtics right now have two equally important assets - Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens - that I wouldn't trade straight up for Noel, Embiid and the 76ers pick this year.

[chlldaddy]

I completely agree with Danny and Brad but add Wyc to it also. We have a sounds front office which might be attractive to a lot of people. We do not have a circus like a lot of franchises.

[cltc5]

I don't care who we get if guys don't buy into the system and play their role their not gonna fit in.  See all star caliber guard  rondo and untapped athletic potential Jeff green.  They were good players but didn't fit this system.  Rondo controlled too much and Jeff took naps.  This team is built around... You guessed it team.  Whomever we get they'll be evaluated first as to whether or not that player fits for this team.  If he doesn't we won't go after him.

[PhoSita]

I disagree wholeheartedly with the premise of this thread.

The only way to get better is by actually winning and improving in the standings which the Celtics have done.

That's how you acquire free agents, by winning.

Good players don't want to come to a sucky team that's rebuilding for years on end.

No thanks!

Free agents want to play with other great players.  Boston doesn't have any. If I'm a young free agent, I'd rather play with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and DeAngelo Russell and try to build something spectacular in Philly. 

Philly doesn't have any either. You just named one player who's played a single season of starting-caliber NBA ball, one chronically injured guy who's never set foot on an NBA court and one guy who is more likely to never play for the 76ers than to ever play for them.

Come on. I appreciate what the 76ers are doing, maybe even more than most other people on this board. But you're inventing a fantasy version of the Sixers and comparing it to the actual version of the Celtics. Do you really think Kevin Love is sitting in his hotel room pining away to move to the 76ers this summer because they might get DeAngelo Russell?

And while the 76ers have roster assets that pretty clearly trump ours, the Celtics right now have two equally important assets - Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens - that I wouldn't trade straight up for Noel, Embiid and the 76ers pick this year.

I tend to agree with you, but I do think that NBA players pay attention to college sports, and players that have some pedigree entering the league have more draw than players that don't ... e.g. our guys.

[SHAQATTACK]

Welp......I'm having way more fun than last year . 

Can't tank every year.

Life's a Beach   ...

[SHAQATTACK]

Opps 

[nickagneta]

Since when is Boston a mid market team?

Boston is a bit hard to classify.  In terms of market size, it's large.  In terms of how it would rank as far as appeal to NBA free agents, it's in the middle, or maybe the bottom third.

I disagree wholeheartedly about the Celtics appeal to free agents. About the only proof there is of your claim is that the Celtics have never signed a big time free agent but then again they have never had the cap space to do so.

The Celtics are from a large television market. They have one of the better local tv and radio deals. While having the talent to compete they have proven time and again they are willing to spend over the luxury tax threshold. And this year for the first time they have cap space and probably will have just as much next year when the salary cap takes an astronomical leap.

Boston is a large market NBA team any way you look at it. With cap space guaranteed for them over the net two years, will we finally be able to see just how attractive a free agent destination Boston truly is in the NBA.

[Boris Badenov]

I disagree wholeheartedly with the premise of this thread.

The only way to get better is by actually winning and improving in the standings which the Celtics have done.

That's how you acquire free agents, by winning.

Good players don't want to come to a sucky team that's rebuilding for years on end.

No thanks!

Free agents want to play with other great players.  Boston doesn't have any. If I'm a young free agent, I'd rather play with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and DeAngelo Russell and try to build something spectacular in Philly. 

Philly doesn't have any either. You just named one player who's played a single season of starting-caliber NBA ball, one chronically injured guy who's never set foot on an NBA court and one guy who is more likely to never play for the 76ers than to ever play for them.

Come on. I appreciate what the 76ers are doing, maybe even more than most other people on this board. But you're inventing a fantasy version of the Sixers and comparing it to the actual version of the Celtics. Do you really think Kevin Love is sitting in his hotel room pining away to move to the 76ers this summer because they might get DeAngelo Russell?

And while the 76ers have roster assets that pretty clearly trump ours, the Celtics right now have two equally important assets - Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens - that I wouldn't trade straight up for Noel, Embiid and the 76ers pick this year.

I tend to agree with you, but I do think that NBA players pay attention to college sports, and players that have some pedigree entering the league have more draw than players that don't ... e.g. our guys.

I'd say that for most marquee players looking to move the thought process is:

1. Is it LA, Miami or New York?
2. Does the team have a championship core?
3. Is the team a borderline contender?
4. Is the organization/front office/coach good?

And for most, things stop at #1 (Carmelo, Chris Paul, Shaq, DH, etc.) or #2 (Love, KG, etc.). But I can't think of any superstar who's willingly moved to a team that doesn't meet these criteria, but instead has a few top 5 picks who haven't yet become stars.

Maybe I'm just not thinking of the right examples.

[sahara]

Since when is Boston a mid market team?

Boston is a bit hard to classify.  In terms of market size, it's large.  In terms of how it would rank as far as appeal to NBA free agents, it's in the middle, or maybe the bottom third.

I disagree wholeheartedly about the Celtics appeal to free agents. About the only proof there is of your claim is that the Celtics have never signed a big time free agent but then again they have never had the cap space to do so.

The Celtics are from a large television market. They have one of the better local tv and radio deals. While having the talent to compete they have proven time and again they are willing to spend over the luxury tax threshold. And this year for the first time they have cap space and probably will have just as much next year when the salary cap takes an astronomical leap.

Boston is a large market NBA team any way you look at it. With cap space guaranteed for them over the net two years, will we finally be able to see just how attractive a free agent destination Boston truly is in the NBA.

Celtics are huge worldwide, along with Lakers and Bulls and whatever team Lebron is playing for. I hope the free agents will realize this too

[Celtics18]

Tanking is a false hope that does nothing but kill the credibility of your organization.  The same teams are in the lottery year after year on the outside prayer they get a superstar to change their franchise.  That happens once every four or five years maybe?

So you want to lose year after year after year hoping to get lucky?  Not me. 

The best way to get into contention is exactly what Ainge has done.  Try to acquire assets that can be moved for a disgruntled vet that won't resign where he is while putting together a team that is good enough to attract a vet difference maker to sign in free agency. 

You think any player is signing with Philly if they have an option to sign with a decent team?  Especially with the salary cap going up, nobody worth anything will sign in Philly for years and years.

The Pelicans lucked out and got a guy who will perhaps be the best player in the NBA in the next few years and they STILL haven't made the playoffs.  They probably won't before Davis either leaves or has to sign a new contract.  What if he says, "hey I'm not staying in New Orleans so you might as well trade me."  What team is in a position to land him going into his prime?

That is the most efficient way to get better.  Have assets to make a move when those opportunities present themselves.

The Pelicans are the eight seed in the west and its just because of Davis. They still need to find a couple peaces to put around him. Nba players are divas, they either want to play with other stars or in a city with nice weather. Right now we don't have either. love watching this team fight for the playoffs, but I'm not going to lie to myself, not having a lottery pick will make Ainge's job a little more difficult this season. We have to hope to either get really lucky with a draft pick or that Ainge can work his magic and a team prefers picks over talent( we don't have near the chips we had in 07). The winning culture thing is bull also, any way you cut it this team still had a losing season, let's not kid ourselves.

Yeah, I know, right.

Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, Paul Millsap, Tim Duncan, Draymond Green, Goran Dragic, Lamarcus Aldridge, Tyson Chandler . . .

These guys all come across as such divas. 

[MJohnnyboy]

Tanking is a false hope that does nothing but kill the credibility of your organization.  The same teams are in the lottery year after year on the outside prayer they get a superstar to change their franchise.  That happens once every four or five years maybe?

So you want to lose year after year after year hoping to get lucky?  Not me. 

The best way to get into contention is exactly what Ainge has done.  Try to acquire assets that can be moved for a disgruntled vet that won't resign where he is while putting together a team that is good enough to attract a vet difference maker to sign in free agency. 

You think any player is signing with Philly if they have an option to sign with a decent team?  Especially with the salary cap going up, nobody worth anything will sign in Philly for years and years.

The Pelicans lucked out and got a guy who will perhaps be the best player in the NBA in the next few years and they STILL haven't made the playoffs.  They probably won't before Davis either leaves or has to sign a new contract.  What if he says, "hey I'm not staying in New Orleans so you might as well trade me."  What team is in a position to land him going into his prime?

That is the most efficient way to get better.  Have assets to make a move when those opportunities present themselves.

The Pelicans are the eight seed in the west and its just because of Davis. They still need to find a couple peaces to put around him. Nba players are divas, they either want to play with other stars or in a city with nice weather. Right now we don't have either. love watching this team fight for the playoffs, but I'm not going to lie to myself, not having a lottery pick will make Ainge's job a little more difficult this season. We have to hope to either get really lucky with a draft pick or that Ainge can work his magic and a team prefers picks over talent( we don't have near the chips we had in 07). The winning culture thing is bull also, any way you cut it this team still had a losing season, let's not kid ourselves.

Yeah, I know, right.

Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, Paul Millsap, Tim Duncan, Draymond Green, Goran Dragic, Lamarcus Aldridge, Tyson Chandler . . .

These guys all come across as such divas.

I'm 99% sure you're being sarcastic, but I should point out Goran Dragic looked like a diva to me at this years deadline with everything that happened in Phoenix.

[Celtics18]

Tanking is a false hope that does nothing but kill the credibility of your organization.  The same teams are in the lottery year after year on the outside prayer they get a superstar to change their franchise.  That happens once every four or five years maybe?

So you want to lose year after year after year hoping to get lucky?  Not me. 

The best way to get into contention is exactly what Ainge has done.  Try to acquire assets that can be moved for a disgruntled vet that won't resign where he is while putting together a team that is good enough to attract a vet difference maker to sign in free agency. 

You think any player is signing with Philly if they have an option to sign with a decent team?  Especially with the salary cap going up, nobody worth anything will sign in Philly for years and years.

The Pelicans lucked out and got a guy who will perhaps be the best player in the NBA in the next few years and they STILL haven't made the playoffs.  They probably won't before Davis either leaves or has to sign a new contract.  What if he says, "hey I'm not staying in New Orleans so you might as well trade me."  What team is in a position to land him going into his prime?

That is the most efficient way to get better.  Have assets to make a move when those opportunities present themselves.

The Pelicans are the eight seed in the west and its just because of Davis. They still need to find a couple peaces to put around him. Nba players are divas, they either want to play with other stars or in a city with nice weather. Right now we don't have either. love watching this team fight for the playoffs, but I'm not going to lie to myself, not having a lottery pick will make Ainge's job a little more difficult this season. We have to hope to either get really lucky with a draft pick or that Ainge can work his magic and a team prefers picks over talent( we don't have near the chips we had in 07). The winning culture thing is bull also, any way you cut it this team still had a losing season, let's not kid ourselves.

Yeah, I know, right.

Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, Paul Millsap, Tim Duncan, Draymond Green, Goran Dragic, Lamarcus Aldridge, Tyson Chandler . . .

These guys all come across as such divas.

I'm 99% sure you're being sarcastic, but I should point out Goran Dragic looked like a diva to me at this years deadline with everything that happened in Phoenix.

I put Dragic and Aldridge near the end of my list because I suspect those two are probably the divaiest of that bunch. 

And, yes, of course I was being sarcastic.  The rest of those guys all come across to me as lunch-pail type workers who care more about doing their jobs and being good pros than hanging around on beaches with scantily clad ladies and partying with celebrities.

Maybe they've fooled me.

[Jonny CC]

Tanking is a false hope that does nothing but kill the credibility of your organization. 

What does tanking have to do with credibility? 

Tanking might kill your ability to attract big time free agents, but being mediocre does, too.

The only thing that raises an organization's "credibility" as far as attracting free agents is to have elite talent already in place. 

Nobody is going to go out of their way to join the Celtics simply because they tried hard and didn't give up even though most of their opponents have better players at the top of the rotation.

Do you think an organization is "credible" when it loses on purpose??  I think Philly has been an embarrassment and I would be pretty p---ed if I was a Sixers fan.   

Regarding free agents, the bottom line is that the almighty dollar is what ultimately attracts them.

[slamtheking]

This franchise could have had an easy path to success. You people bash me for comparing the situation to Philly but let's take the homer glasses off and be honest with ourselves. Is there anyone on our current roster you would rather have than Noel or Embiid? Absolutely the answer is no. How did the Sixers get there? A strong number of tank trades and tank moves. Bass had no business staying. They had no business getting IT. They had no business making most of the moves they did. Crowder is going to be an overpaid bum next year and we will probably pay him since the Green Teamers will cry after making the playoffs.

The "best" part of making the playoffs? We now get to see what value combining the 15th and 25th picks in a trade would have!!! Awesome! They'll never fire the guy just like the Bruins would never fire Sinden but this is awful for the franchise that desperately needs top picks because they'll never be a top free agent destination.

saw the thread title and figured it had to be one of 3 posters here -- guessed right.

Rehashing the rehash. Boston is way ahead of Philly. We have all but a rim protector and we will get one this year. Noel is the only proven player.  Embrid  could be the next Sam Bowie.  We have cap space a major TPE, our Picks. The Nets  Picks may be in the Lottery both times.  We also have a coach people will want to play for moving forward. I look for to Danny's next move with Great anticipation. 

right there with you.