No matter what, this is a nice young team. I'm excited about the future

[Tr1boy]

Lets think about it this way.  The team payroll is low , we don't have one legit starter on the team, we have a brilliant young coach and seriously overachieved this season.  In the 2nd half we had the 2nd best record in the east.

We might get swept by the Cavs on Sunday (though I have faith we will win one for the city) but that doesn't diminish what this team was able to accomplish this season. From should not even think about making the playoffs, picking anywhere from 8-12 to actually making 7th place beating out teams like the Heat, Pacers (actually have stars).

Some think it was a bad idea to lose a few spots in the lottery, but I think this playoffs experience will be more valuable down the line. Jae Crowder for example is becoming an even better player. And we will be closer to one or two key players  (hopefully we can attract FAs)  to becoming a real dangerous team in the east.   We have a ton of picks to go alot of different ways.

We can be excited about this teams future unlike teams like the Magic, 76ers who look like are going nowhere. 

[PhoSita]

Paint me a picture.  The team signs one significant free agent this summer -- not one of the restricted guys, and not one of the All-Stars hitting the market.

Also, the team makes a move on draft day.  Maybe they trade up.  Maybe they trade for a guy who's already been in the league a few years.

Next summer, they make another key signing, or trade for a guy with only a year left on his deal (I.e. Expiring in 2017) who is on the outs with his current team.

What does that three player core look like?  Who from the current team is still around?

[BDeCosta26]

I think people who beat that tanking debate horse to death really don't take into consideration that 95% of Celtic fans aren't like us (the kind of people who stalk nba forums), and that tanking year after year is horribly alienating to the average fan. Ainge has this team set up for the future as well as any franchise in the league, and we've still managed to rebuild all the way to a .500 record and a 7th seed in less than two years. Which means a lot to the average basketball fan. With this idea floating around that it's either tank or bust for everyone not in LA, Miami or NY, what Ainge and CBS have done here is great for the fans.

Nevermind that the best product of our rebuild so far, Brad Stevens, would never put up with outright losing on purpose in order to move up 5 spots into the late lottery in the draft like some folks around here suggest. Keeping Stevens in Boston is a good enough reason by itself for the playoff push. And with everything else involved, I don't feel like it should even warrant defending.

That said, I haven't been this excited for what's to come with this team since probably 2010. Stevens is absolutely fantastic, our young guys have played very well, we have one of the best GM's in the league, and plenty of assets to play with. And I felt good about all that before the season, now that CBS' star has risen higher than we ever could've hoped and this team is getting a lot of good attention in league circles, the chances of a high-level free agent or two signing here are higher than ever and I'm even more optimistic.

[LarBrd33]

I have faith in Ainge.  If he strikes out this summer we have a problem.

[PhoSita]

Sure, so long as the Bruins keep missing the playoffs, fielding a sub-.500 bottom seed playoff team that gets ousted in the first round should continue to keep casual Boston fans engaged during the month of April.

[PhoSita]

I have faith in Ainge.  If he strikes out this summer we have a problem.

Tell me what getting a hit, or alternatively striking out, looks like to you.

[Tr1boy]

I think people who beat that tanking debate horse to death really don't take into consideration that 95% of Celtic fans aren't like us (the kind of people who stalk nba forums), and that tanking year after year is horribly alienating to the average fan. Ainge has this team set up for the future as well as any franchise in the league, and we've still managed to rebuild all the way to a .500 record and a 7th seed in less than two years. Which means a lot to the average basketball fan. With this idea floating around that it's either tank or bust for everyone not in LA, Miami or NY, what Ainge and CBS have done here is great for the fans.

Nevermind that the best product of our rebuild so far, Brad Stevens, would never put up with outright losing on purpose in order to move up 5 spots into the late lottery in the draft like some folks around here suggest. Keeping Stevens in Boston is a good enough reason by itself for the playoff push. And with everything else involved, I don't feel like it should even warrant defending.

That said, I haven't been this excited for what's to come with this team since probably 2010. Stevens is absolutely fantastic, our young guys have played very well, we have one of the best GM's in the league, and plenty of assets to play with. And I felt good about all that before the season, now that CBS' star has risen higher than we ever could've hoped and this team is getting a lot of good attention in league circles, the chances of a high-level free agent or two signing here are higher than ever and I'm even more optimistic.

good post

[GC003332]

There is a reason Ainge gave Stevens a 6 year contract, This teams core as it has been talked about months ago probably doesn't even exist yet, when hopefully the Celts are a legit contender again there may be only 2 or 3 of these guys still left on the roster.How those Dallas and Brooklyn draft picks play out next season and wether Ainge uses that 12.9 million trade exception or not are just stepping stones.
Give Ainge credit when he goes all in he goes all in.
He is just getting warmer up to go all in.

[BDeCosta26]

I have faith in Ainge.  If he strikes out this summer we have a problem.

A problem? Eh, I'd be pretty shocked and probably a bit worried if we didn't do anything at all. Like say we just resign Crowder/Jerebko and don't move in the draft in any way and don't sign a FA of any significance yeah, I'll probably be a bit worried. But I trust Ainge to make the best moves he think he can make and he's proven to be right a lot more often then he is wrong.

What if no one higher than #12 will make a deal that isn't a complete heist? What if all the RFA's get matched when we bid more than a guys worth? Should we trade one of the Sullinger/KO/Zeller trio for nothing just cause? Is it smart to give a guy like Draymond Green or Greg Monroe a max deal? If all the top-tier FA's sign extensions with their current teams, do you overpay a middling guy? What if no-one good enough makes their way onto the trade market?

I just don't want Ainge to make a stupid move, for the sake of making a move. I trust him enough to give him more than a year. Even if he doesn't do anything, this team finished 40-41 and something like 21-9 over it's last 30 before the playoffs. If we stand pat well still improve to an over .500 team that gets a low playoff seed. And the assets are still there for next summer.

[Casperian]

I have faith in Ainge.  If he strikes out this summer we have a problem.

Nah, then we just keep doing what we've done the past two years.

I just don't want Ainge to make a stupid move, for the sake of making a move. I trust him enough to give him more than a year.

Exactly.

[PhoSita]

Speaking of that Trade Exception, which teams are gonna be desperate to create cap space this summer, and how can we take advantage?

Lakers?  Maybe we can take Jordan Hill and Jordan Clarkson off their hands for nothing.

We could acquire Danilo for a pick and not give up anything else using the TPE, instead.

How about Faried as a target?  Can't shoot, but I'd love to see what Stevens could do with him.

[LarBrd33]

I have faith in Ainge.  If he strikes out this summer we have a problem.

Tell me what getting a hit, or alternatively striking out, looks like to you.

This team has many many problems.  If they stand pat, I'm not at all convinced they'd finish above .500.  I know they surged late, but a lot of that had to do with the team overachieving and them flying under the radar against unprepared teams who didn't take them seriously.   Making a couple draft picks and standing pat is striking out.  Getting a rim protector is an absolute necessity. At the very least we need to get one of those so our team is functional.  We need a go-to scorer tall enough to fit in the starting lineup.  Ideally we would trade or sign an impact player or two.  Would like to see the team either land an all-star cornerstone player or acquire a prospect who has that kind of realistic potential.   

I wouldn't say "superstar or bust", but I feel like a lot has lead up to this summer.  If we don't make some kind of splash by consolidating some assets or utilizing cap space, I'll be concerned.

[GC003332]

Speaking of that Trade Exception, which teams are gonna be desperate to create cap space this summer, and how can we take advantage?

Lakers?  Maybe we can take Jordan Hill and Jordan Clarkson off their hands for nothing.

We could acquire Danilo for a pick and not give up anything else using the TPE, instead.

How about Faried as a target?  Can't shoot, but I'd love to see what Stevens could do with him.

From my understanding the Celts have to use that 12.9 million exception by June 30 or it is go up in smoke  if they spend up on free agents in the summer. It would be weird of Ainge to create it and then not use it. So a draft night swap may happen if he believes that the Celts have no chance to reel any big fish in free agency.
At least he has got options.The 76ers got a first rounders for taking on McGee somewhat similar salary so that is what you would think the Celts should get at least.

[chambers]

Speaking of that Trade Exception, which teams are gonna be desperate to create cap space this summer, and how can we take advantage?

Lakers?  Maybe we can take Jordan Hill and Jordan Clarkson off their hands for nothing.

We could acquire Danilo for a pick and not give up anything else using the TPE, instead.

How about Faried as a target?  Can't shoot, but I'd love to see what Stevens could do with him.

All those guys are about as good as our current guys but most have reached their ceiling.
I'd rather roll the dice on some rookies and build their worth while they're under rookie contract control. I do like Jordan Clarkson though.

[jyyzzoel]

Speaking of that Trade Exception, which teams are gonna be desperate to create cap space this summer, and how can we take advantage?

Lakers?  Maybe we can take Jordan Hill and Jordan Clarkson off their hands for nothing.

We could acquire Danilo for a pick and not give up anything else using the TPE, instead.

How about Faried as a target?  Can't shoot, but I'd love to see what Stevens could do with him.

for some reason no one has noticed that the bulls (correct me if i'm wrong) don't have enough cap space to sign jimmy butler to a big contract without paying massive amounts of tax. would that $12.9 million (i think) trade exception lead to the bulls calling danny and saying "we need cap space to sign butler, joakim noah fits into the trade exception - you wanna help us out?"