We are in an unfortunate situation

[Chris22]

Yes, we are in a terrible situation....
2015 - Two first round picks, ours and the Clippers
2016 - Three first round picks, ours and the Nets and the Mavs
2017 - One first round pick, the better of ours or the Nets
2018 - Two first round picks, ours and the Nets

Plus cap space, plus a great coach, plus a great GM.

I think I'll go out in the yard and eat worms.

[alewilliam789]

Well if we bring in Monroe for a max then bring in LaMarcus Aldridge as well for a max after we clear cap space by trading Wallace. Trade up for Stanley Johnson and we are definitely back in contention.

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Stanley Johnson
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Greg Monroe

Have 2 picks in Brooklyn's and the Mavericks' that have the potential to be late lottery to mid first round next year that we can either trade to move up or select a PG and SG at those picks.

[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

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.

Ernest - or perhaps, Earnest - I was just reading one of your terrific books! Although I love your writing - I have to disagree with how much that matters. One terrific free agent just doesn't do it. Has Carmelo done it in New York? Has Kobe done it in LA?

A good NBA team has a few great players, and a bunch of good ones. Even if LaMarcus Aldridge came to play here - we would not win without another great player for him to play with. He couldn't get it done with Lillard in Portland... ...Wade couldn't win without Bosh and Lebron, and Bosh was nowhere without Wade and James. Garnett and Pierce. ...you don't win alone.

Our guys are role players with a less effective coach and fewer minutes. One great player doesn't make us champions. Only several great players will do that. One great player may not even make us that good...

While I hope you are right about a trade - and as much as I love this town - Boston is not a beloved free agent destination. Most of these guys are in their early 20s.

[Future Celtics Owner]

We would be in a great situation had we not made the playoffs this year. But going forward we should shed the role players, that get us wins, and take chances for better talent.

[truthhurts34]

This thread is hilarious 

First of all, the same people that wish we didn't make the playoffs would then be wishing we tanked harder had we gotten the 13th pick.

If we had gotten the 9th pick, they would then be wishing we lost more games to get in the top 5. Had we gotten the 5th pick, shouldve had more losses and the cycle goes on and on. Wonder what the Knicks are wishing for?

We went 24-12 in the final 36 games, for a young team we not only improved but boosted the trade value of our players.

Had we stunk, the value of your Youngs would not be as high. That's why it's comical when I read we will have to give up assets to move up now. Yet simultaneously, our own assets and tradeable players improved their own value....

If you guys are losing sleep over having to now give up our 28th pick to trade up because our team improved and boosted their own trade value, perhaps you should pick up a new hobby besides playing arm chair gm.

FYI it took the 16th pick and a second rounder to move up to 13 where we drafted olynyk a few years back. Relax people.

[BornReady]

Actually the value of moving up in the draft varies from situation
As this draft is considered talented at the top 8
It will be hard to package 2 first rounders to move up to the top 8

Compared to 2013 where it was considered a weak draft so picks had less value and the mavs wanting to save money for cap space by trading down to get rookies with lower salaries

[shrinkage36]

This thread is depressing.

[GratefulCs]

You are missing one ingredient that turn all this negativity into hope and facts :
Danny Ainge

TP LGC88

[Eja117]

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

defeatism

If we're in a bad situation then so is a lot of teams. Like almost all of them

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

Of the teams without an established star the C's are definitely in one of the better situations.

Probably with Minny and Philly, only their roster value is in different places.

[__ramonezy__]

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

I think we're actually a lot closer to a championship-contending team than given credit for, especially in the East. A legitimate contender must have an effective starting line-up and a solid bench (even with Lopez, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard, blazers were still first round fodder just like us). Our approach has been to add solid players that could in the future become a very effective bench, if not starters.

Smart, Young, Sully, KO may very well be stars in the making they've only been here for 3 seasons. Everyone keeps forgetting that stars can also be drafted and groomed and not only traded for...

[cltc5]

We have a chance and that's all we can hope for after a playoff push.  We have a chance to get better as a team and acquire some players to help.  One thing that we need to hold onto is that it's more than just having a superstar to be successful.  They are defiantly part of the equation but we still need hustle guys like a delaedova, or guys looking to prove themselves like mosgov and Tristan Thompson.  We have those players in place now and In fact a whole team full of them. A good foundation with a chance to get better.  This off season is crucial.  Time will tell if indeed were in an unfortunate situation moving forward.  Rignt now theres a glimmer of hope so keep holding on.

[cltc5]

You of the fight of this celtics team into this warriors team, they're playing for a sweep and the title tonight.  You gotta bring more than just talent to the dance.

[D.o.s.]

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

I think we're actually a lot closer to a championship-contending team than given credit for, especially in the East. A legitimate contender must have an effective starting line-up and a solid bench (even with Lopez, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard, blazers were still first round fodder just like us). Our approach has been to add solid players that could in the future become a very effective bench, if not starters.

Smart, Young, Sully, KO may very well be stars in the making they've only been here for 3 seasons. Everyone keeps forgetting that stars can also be drafted and groomed and not only traded for...

I don't think anyone has forgotten that: some posters just don't see star potential in anyone currently on our roster.

[slamtheking]

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

I think we're actually a lot closer to a championship-contending team than given credit for, especially in the East. A legitimate contender must have an effective starting line-up and a solid bench (even with Lopez, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard, blazers were still first round fodder just like us). Our approach has been to add solid players that could in the future become a very effective bench, if not starters.

Smart, Young, Sully, KO may very well be stars in the making they've only been here for 3 seasons. Everyone keeps forgetting that stars can also be drafted and groomed and not only traded for...

I don't think anyone has forgotten that: some posters just don't see star potential in anyone currently on our roster.

It seems a lot of those same posters don't see any potential in anyone currently on our roster.

I think the younger players have the potential to improve.  the question becomes, how much improvement.