We are in an unfortunate situation

[Surferdad]

I don't argue with making the playoffs - teams should try and win. I do not think our four and out will attract any free agents, however.

I don't think we will be any good for many years. Smart is not good enough. Olynyk and Sullinger and James Young are not good enough; and Zeller is good enough to be a back-up, but not good enough to be a major cog in the machine.

It is a sad thing, but I do not think we will get anyone at 16 or 28 who will matter THAT much in our rebuilding. Stevens is a great coach, but he doesn't have THAT much to work with here. If, casual fans, we can all recognize that Kevin Looney and Chris McCollough are not game changers, then don't you think rival executives can see that?

It is unfortunate, but we are not in a position to make a splash this off-season, and I am afraid we don't have much to look forward to next year

Some of you agree with some of this, I agree with ALL of this.

This rebuild, by definition, will not be like the last one.  DA built around Paul Pierce, essentially. He can't take that route this time so it will be a lot longer.

Other team are getting better too.  Look at the teams that arguably have better young cores than Boston.  They are ahead of our curve.

Lebron is showing no signs of slowing down.

Chicago, Atlanta and Washingston will all try to get better.

In short, we need a miracle.     

[Rakulp]

I don't argue with making the playoffs - teams should try and win. I do not think our four and out will attract any free agents, however.

I don't think we will be any good for many years. Smart is not good enough. Olynyk and Sullinger and James Young are not good enough; and Zeller is good enough to be a back-up, but not good enough to be a major cog in the machine.

It is a sad thing, but I do not think we will get anyone at 16 or 28 who will matter THAT much in our rebuilding. Stevens is a great coach, but he doesn't have THAT much to work with here. If, casual fans, we can all recognize that Kevin Looney and Chris McCollough are not game changers, then don't you think rival executives can see that?

It is unfortunate, but we are not in a position to make a splash this off-season, and I am afraid we don't have much to look forward to next year

Think back to last summer.  We were hoping on "fireworks" and they didn't come.

We started the year with Rondo and Green...and we ended it with IT and Crowder.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for what those two guys gave to us in the PAST, but IT and Crowder have a FUTURE with our Celtics.  We upgraded in talent, and still have other assets to be used in the future from those trades.

We made the playoffs!  And if Lebron can will his band of misfits to a championship, it's no shame to say you lost to the eventual NBA champions.  That's a positive situation compared to last year not paying much attention to the playoffs because our team wasn't there.  No, we're not in the lottery...but hey, we have the assets to get there if we really, really want to do so.  Maybe not the top 4 picks...but probably in the top 10.

The offseason is still to come officially.  Once the trophy has been handed out, THEN we'll see what will happen and that will give us a partial picture about next year.  Just don't forget, this past year saw us make more moves during the season than the offseason. 

It ain't over til it's over...I know a lot of Boston fans won't like that quote based on the fact it came from a Yankee...but it's true.  I believe it is very possible that we will be sitting here at our computers a year from now talking about what a GREAT year it has been! 

Cheer up mate!

Rak

[sahara]

Hahah we are in a better situation than 80% of the struggling teams. If this situation doesn´t play out the best way possible, I don´t care, at least we didn´t aim to be the worst. Pride.

[Csfan1984]

Well on the bright side they are in a better position than last offseason. More assets to trade and more cap space.

[tazzmaniac]

Our situation isn't bad now.  If the Nets and we back into the playoffs again next season, then we'll be in an unfortunate situation.  If Ainge can't acquire a star player this off season, I'm hoping we regress a bit next season and miss the playoffs. 

[TheTruthFot18]

It's hard to turn multiple good players into a great player.

A lot of hopes being pinned on those future Nets picks & Mavs pick.

Depends on your definition of "good" and "great.

The Nets players to get Joe Johnson, Knicks players (much better) for Melo (also better), Lakers players for Gasol.

[jambr380]

Well on the bright side they are in a better position than last offseason. More assets to trade and more cap space.

Seriously - IT, Zeller, Crowder, even Turner, along with Dal first, Mem first, [possible] Minny first are all 'assets' we did not have last year. I am not including Smart or Young because we already 'owned' their rights. We lost Rondo and Green, but they were both free agents anyway and very likely could have walked away for nothing.

Our future could be very bright overnight if Ainge chose to cash in now; however, he is probably making the right decision to be patient.

[colincb]

What do you mean "We" Kemosabe?

No pity-partiers in my foxhole thank you. Liberty Ballers either.

[greece66]

I've seen this argument too much in forums lately, and it's high time it was adressed

LBJ is dominant in the Finals= stars matter more than a good team = the C's are in trouble

Same way every one jumped on the  SAS bandwagon last year (corner 3s, space and pace etc) , people are now adopting the 'get a dominant player' mantra.

Nothing wrong with this approach, but like the SAS approach it is not a one size fits all.

 Philly (due to mainly to weaknesses and limitations of the franchise) has some time now decided it is their best chance to return to greatness (and I agree that it suits them in so far as we keep in mind there is no safe way to success, just approaches that are more or less likely to be successful- like many things in the NBA, building a contender is a hit and miss process).

Having said this, there is no reason whatsoever to be overcritical of the path Ainge has chosen and of the distance we have covered so far.

In year two of the rebuild we have a good core of talented young players, plenty of picks in the coming years, and lots of flexibility. If some think that unless we land a future all star in the coming draft/free agency we are doomed, it is bcs they misunderstood what Ainge was doing in the first place.

This will take time.

Patience.

 

[Future Celtics Owner]

What we need to do: sell high on Avery, ET, IT

Draft Turner, Upshaw. Then take in a contract from another team for a year for a pick. Be in the lottery next year. We should also trade KO for Bruno Caboclo.

Young Core of:
Marcus Smart
James Young
Brandon Ingram/Ben Simmons/Jaylen Brown
Myles Turner
Upshaw

[slamtheking]

It's hard to turn multiple good players into a great player.

  It is debatable whether we even have those...

I think there's a strong argument we have good players if good players are defined as rotation-quality.  we have quite a few of them.  almost everyone on the roster is a good role player.  problem is, we have no one that would be considered a good starter, never mind an all-star. 

[LooseCannon]

I do not think our four and out will attract any free agents, however.

I deny the idea that Boston will be completely unattractive to free agents, therefore I do not think the Celtics are in an unfortunate situation.

[jaketwice]

I don't argue with making the playoffs - teams should try and win. I do not think our four and out will attract any free agents, however.

I don't think we will be any good for many years. Smart is not good enough. Olynyk and Sullinger and James Young are not good enough; and Zeller is good enough to be a back-up, but not good enough to be a major cog in the machine.

It is a sad thing, but I do not think we will get anyone at 16 or 28 who will matter THAT much in our rebuilding. Stevens is a great coach, but he doesn't have THAT much to work with here. If, casual fans, we can all recognize that Kevin Looney and Chris McCollough are not game changers, then don't you think rival executives can see that?

It is unfortunate, but we are not in a position to make a splash this off-season, and I am afraid we don't have much to look forward to next year

After reading this it's a wonder why I even follow them. lol

No doubt about it...we need a break.

We need one name player, a good scorer, or a solid big man to invest their talent in the Celtics. We then have the chance to be better than the sum of our parts, and hopefully that will draw in a major name.

To me, a guy that watches every game, being better than the sum of your parts... is exciting. I'm not the type of fan that decieds to "get excited" when they find out the team is dominent, then find out who's the leading scorer and buy their shirt.

The fun is being involved in the voyage.

I thought Rosco's response was terrific. I posted this thread because all of the "Latest Forum Topics," were about how the Celtics could get better - or be different, or how a miracle might occur. That's not to lambaste those threads; I love the trade ideas and the draft and all that.

Rather, it's to say, as much as this stuff "would be cool," it's pretty unlikely. We should follow Rosco's lead, and enjoy the team we are probably going to get - instead of wishing for an improbable team.

[Celtics18]

A strong argument can be made that there are two types of teams in the NBA -- teams with at least one superstar (i.e. top 10-15 player) that makes it possible to seriously attempt to contend for a title, and then everybody else, stumbling around in the dark trying to grab hold of a star of their own.

If that's your viewpoint, then yeah, the Celts are in an unfortunate position, but they're hardly alone.

Given where the Celts are at -- utterly starless -- I try to just get invested in the process and enjoy how it's unfolding.  It's tough feeling like all of the manuevering and smart moves Ainge might make could amount to less than some poorly managed team lucking its way into a superstar at the top of the draft (e.g. Lakers, Knicks).

I don't think I'd exactly refer to it as "stumbling around in the dark," but I appreciate your turn of phrase. 

[Hemingway]

I don't argue with making the playoffs - teams should try and win. I do not think our four and out will attract any free agents, however.

I don't think we will be any good for many years. Smart is not good enough. Olynyk and Sullinger and James Young are not good enough; and Zeller is good enough to be a back-up, but not good enough to be a major cog in the machine.

It is a sad thing, but I do not think we will get anyone at 16 or 28 who will matter THAT much in our rebuilding. Stevens is a great coach, but he doesn't have THAT much to work with here. If, casual fans, we can all recognize that Kevin Looney and Chris McCollough are not game changers, then don't you think rival executives can see that?

It is unfortunate, but we are not in a position to make a splash this off-season, and I am afraid we don't have much to look forward to next year

This is just not true. We have the ability to sign a max free agent. That alone makes your statement wrong. We also have more picks than we can really use in the future and still have some TPEs so I would think the motivation is to make a trade.

I guess it is unfortunate that we are not a top team right now, but we are really in a better spot than most teams.