Monroe + Harris + Current Core = Welcome to the treadmill!

[tankcity!]

This offseason is starting to get depressing. Can anyone see the Celtics being contenders in the next 5 years? It appears we aren't going to sign any big names and our assets aren't worth much clearly. I know everyone is banking on those BKLYN picks, but they're going to resign Lopez and Young. They have no incentive to tank, so I can't imagine that being a very high pick. Maybe it could be a lottery pick, but towards the end of it.

I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel with this team. It feels like every team in the league has better young players to build around, seriously. I went team by team, and we have literally nothing. The closest team to us is Charlotte roster wise, and that is pathetic.

It is officially time to hold Ainge accountable. If he can't bring in the assets or a core player to build around, then he should have tanked. It's as simple as that. I understand that we have to see how the offseason plays out, but it looks pretty bleak to be perfectly honest. The celtics aren't frontrunners to sign anyone except Tobias Harris who Orlando will end up matching.

[PhoSita]

They have no stars and no obvious way to get them, so yes.

[LarBrd33]

They have no stars and no obvious way to get them, so yes.

yup.

[LooseCannon]

No man's land involves:

-Having an existing roster that has reached its ceiling and is unlikely to improve
-Having a paucity of draft picks and other assets with which to improve the team, either by drafting a player who contributes, bringing in a draft-and-stash guy who you have the rights to, or trading those assets for a useful player
-Having little cap flexibility that allows you to sign free agents or make trades in which you bring in significantly more salary than you send out

None of these apply to the Celtics.  Boston has a young roster with a lot of future picks (including some with lottery potential), and a good cap situation.

[flybono]

Well shall learn our fate in a few days.. Until then patience.

[bopna]

DOOM AND GLOOM and free agency hasn't even started yet. 

[colincb]

What an original idea for a thread.

[Who]

I think the team is more in limbo than stuck in no-man's land.

There is a way forward ... they just can't grab hold of it yet.

Waiting. Waiting. Lots of waiting. For the right opportunity to fall Ainge's way. Which will happen at some point given all the flexibility he has created. It might be this year or it might be 3-4 years from now. No-one knows for sure. But there are still enough avenues open to this team (picks, cap flexibility, youth, tradable players) for this team to move forward. They are not stuck. Not dead in the water. Not left in no-man's land with no way to get out.

Just stuck ... in limbo ... waiting.

[Lucky17]

This offseason is starting to get depressing. Can anyone see the Celtics being contenders in the next 5 years?

Having lived through the instant turnaround Ainge managed before, yes, I can. If you can't, I am sorry.

[Denis998]

No man's land involves:

-Having an existing roster that has reached its ceiling and is unlikely to improve
-Having a paucity of draft picks and other assets with which to improve the team, either by drafting a player who contributes, bringing in a draft-and-stash guy who you have the rights to, or trading those assets for a useful player
-Having little cap flexibility that allows you to sign free agents or make trades in which you bring in significantly more salary than you send out

None of these apply to the Celtics.  Boston has a young roster with a lot of future picks (including some with lottery potential), and a good cap situation.

Good Brooklyn description. 

[LooseCannon]

Well shall learn our fate in a few days.. Until then patience.

That is a myopic perspective.  The Celtics could be a first round exit for the next couple of seasons and still not be in "no man's land".

[BitterJim]

No man's land involves:

-Having an existing roster that has reached its ceiling and is unlikely to improve
-Having a paucity of draft picks and other assets with which to improve the team, either by drafting a player who contributes, bringing in a draft-and-stash guy who you have the rights to, or trading those assets for a useful player
-Having little cap flexibility that allows you to sign free agents or make trades in which you bring in significantly more salary than you send out

None of these apply to the Celtics.  Boston has a young roster with a lot of future picks (including some with lottery potential), and a good cap situation.

But we're already 2 years into the rebuild and haven't won a championship yet!!!!1!! Clearly this team is never gonna contend again, all thanks to Danny "Awful" Ainge

[walker834]

No we aren't. not with all the draft picks we have.  That's why Ainge got those.

[Robb]

This offseason is starting to get depressing. Can anyone see the Celtics being contenders in the next 5 years?

Having lived through the instant turnaround Ainge managed before, yes, I can. If you can't, I am sorry.

There were a whole lot of years of not really contending before that instant turnaround regardless of how fun the Obie years kinda were.

[Lucky17]

This offseason is starting to get depressing. Can anyone see the Celtics being contenders in the next 5 years?

Having lived through the instant turnaround Ainge managed before, yes, I can. If you can't, I am sorry.

There were a whole lot of years of not really contending before that instant turnaround regardless of how fun the Obie years kinda were.

Those really weren't Ainge or Wyc years, though. I believe Obie's last year was Ainge's first.

Celtics have enjoyed a competent and committed front office since the Thanksdad Gaston era.