Danny is A Great GM. Love the Moves

[PhoSita]

The Cs are far more likely to make a leap via trade than free agency.

You're probably right.

So, what do they have to trade?

[LarBrd33]

Pros:  Tons of draft picks, young assets and cap space.   Very bright future.  Now let's look at that.


Draft picks:   We tried offering 6 of them to move up from 16 to 9.  We couldn't do it.

Young assets:   We struck out on our attempt to trade for Love last year and seemingly have struck out on our attempt to trade for Cousins this year.  Marcus Smart + addition picks wasn't enough to get us the #4 pick this year.  Nobody wants what we have to offer.

Rookies:  We used the #16 pick to draft someone projected in the 2nd round.  It's unlikely any of those rookies will make an impact in the NBA.   If Jerry Hozier and Jackson Buggs were on another team, you wouldn't think anything of them.

Cap space:  We had 23 mil in theroetical cap space... seemingly the first time in the history of this team that we had room to sign a max contract.   We just blew 17 mil of that cap space on Amir Johnson (3rd string forward) and Jonas Jerebko (4th string forward).  We now have 6 mil in cap space... but that's only if we renounce Crowder and Bass.  In other words... We don't have cap space.

I think Danny is a Great GM too... but this team looks poised to rejoin the lotto next season.  If you were expecting us to make improvements, it's hard not to see this as a complete failure.   I had faith... but at this point, I think we're more likely to see Brad Stevens jump ship than we are seeing Boston contend next year. 

Welcome to basketball hell, gentlemen.   There's no obvious way out of this.

This is just impatience and frustration -- plain and simple. The Cs are far more likely to make a leap via trade than free agency.

You're right man. 

It's mostly confusion.  I don't see how spending 17 mil of our 23 mil in cap space on role players helps us immediately.  But perhaps there's a long-term vision here.   I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.


Correction:  The last time I was this down on the Celtics was in 2007 when Boston traded the #5 pick for a 32 year old with ankles made of glass.  That disgusted me.    It worked out ok, though.

[wiley]

I absolutely love the current Celtics team.  One of the highlights periods of my time watching them since the early 80's.  I love the management, the coach, the nature of the players the C's are bringing aboard (IQ and toughness) , their style of play,  The team will be above 500 this year, not sure how far above.  So many assets...the bigger stuff isn't far off.  I'm really glad the our GM doesn't cave to the impatient wing of the fan base, or arrogantly move players around like a fantasy GM with his virtual reality team...I guess people forgot all about the Gaston years?  To say what's going on now with management is better than anything in recent memory is an understatement of gigantic proportion.

I guess some of you had a bad day.  I find that weird but chin up, things are absolutely going the right direction.

My biggest current disappointments:  Winslow on Miami (Winslow to Charlotte wouldn't have stung much) and Marc Gasol if he doesn't choose Boston.  Didn't care about Love at all...

[mctyson]

I think Danny has done a very fine job so far.  I really like Amir Johnson as a player and I am fine slightly overpaying him for 2 years.  He fits the team well and gives us a deadly outside shooter at the 4/5.

I loved Jerebko on this team and am psyched he was resigned.

We just need an offensive threat on the wing.  If Danny can somehow get Tobias Harris (without a major trade) in here I am giving him an A.

[viulo]

The problem I have is this team seems to be going full speed ahead towards.... Average.

I'll give Danny the benefit of the doubt as free agency and the offseason is not over.  But as of right now, the direction of this team is very boring and mediocre.

This team is the very definition of "perpetual mediocrity" right now.   If someone out there thinks we can swap Brandon Bass for Amir Johnson and go from a borderline lotto team to contender, I respectfully must say you don't understand basketball.

We'll see what happens... but my enthusiasm for this team hasn't been this low since pre Paul Pierce.

They might be mediocre, but certainly not in a perpetual way, when the only guaranteed deals for 2016/17, apart from rookie contracts, are Bradley's and IT's - at 8,2M and 6,5M...
Maybe DA can't make a good trade this season and next year's FA is a nightmare. Then you will all get your wish and we can tank properly, the 76ers way...
Just one more year. Hang in there.

[goCeltics]

danny should of tanked, i like jerebko to a lesser extent johnson not just on this team, he hasn't allowed a proper bottoming out

[Quetzalcoatl]

The second year of Amir's contract is totally unguaranteed, right?  Ainge probably realized most GMs that are dumb enough to trade with him only want draft picks from the current year and is putting together contracts he can ship out this time next year.  Once I heard about the second year I realized it was a master stroke.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Pros:  Tons of draft picks, young assets and cap space.   Very bright future.  Now let's look at that.


Draft picks:   We tried offering 6 of them to move up from 16 to 9.  We couldn't do it.

Young assets:   We struck out on our attempt to trade for Love last year and seemingly have struck out on our attempt to trade for Cousins this year.  Marcus Smart + addition picks wasn't enough to get us the #4 pick this year.  Nobody wants what we have to offer.

Rookies:  We used the #16 pick to draft someone projected in the 2nd round.  It's unlikely any of those rookies will make an impact in the NBA.   If Jerry Hozier and Jackson Buggs were on another team, you wouldn't think anything of them.

Cap space:  We had 23 mil in theroetical cap space... seemingly the first time in the history of this team that we had room to sign a max contract.   We just blew 17 mil of that cap space on Amir Johnson (3rd string forward) and Jonas Jerebko (4th string forward).  We now have 6 mil in cap space... but that's only if we renounce Crowder and Bass.  In other words... We don't have cap space.

I think Danny is a Great GM too... but this team looks poised to rejoin the lotto next season.  If you were expecting us to make improvements, it's hard not to see this as a complete failure.   I had faith... but at this point, I think we're more likely to see Brad Stevens jump ship than we are seeing Boston contend next year. 

Welcome to basketball hell, gentlemen.   There's no obvious way out of this.

BOOOOOM!!!

#got'em!

I laughed. I agree on all accounts, but the presentation was funny (in a good way). TPs till my fingers get sore.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth #20]

Another thread started by a Knicks fan to upset us Celtics fans, job well done!

[PhoSita]

They might be mediocre, but certainly not in a perpetual way, when the only guaranteed deals for 2016/17, apart from rookie contracts, are Bradley's and IT's - at 8,2M and 6,5M...

I agree that the team isn't necessarily locked into mediocrity in any tangible way -- i.e. bogged down with long term contracts.

But on the flip side, what's going to come along to get them out of mediocrity? 

The team appears content to aim for the middle for the time being.  So no high draft picks, unless the Nets implode.  Not holding my breath.

Very little reason to think free agents are going to suddenly decide Boston is a place they want to be, given what we've seen play out so far during this free agency period.  How is the situation going to be different next year?

As for trades, where is the major asset going to come from that will give the Celts some real firepower in trade talks?  If it's simply throwing more mid-round 1sts and role player prospects at teams, I don't have much hope.

[ssspence]

The Cs are far more likely to make a leap via trade than free agency.

You're probably right.

So, what do they have to trade?

Parts. Same as they had in 2007. And yes, Jefferson was a better part than, say, Smart. But the picks the Cs have now are far better. There's real promise in the Nets picks (2.5 of them), the Dallas pick... heck, even the Wolves pick could work out if the Blazers and Mavs fall out of the West playoffs.

Danny's creativity as a transactional GM is really really good. I think we'll see more action this week / month that will be 2-3 year plan stuff.

Now, what I'm interested to see is whether Danny improves his record as a draft GM. He's been good, but hardly great. What is Rozier turns into a starter? Then there's a market for him or Smart. What if Mickey can be a 8-man rotation lunch pail guy? Then I think the Cs can get a little value for Olynyk (in a league obsessed with shooting at the 4) or Sully (still has a clear NBA role when healthy).

I think Ainge is smart. Today was not his battleground. He understood that, with teams seeing a rising cap and going nuts. I respect his creativity (non-guaranteed deals) and restraint. And I like bringing JJ back for $5mil.

[viulo]

Take a look at the Harden trade. What did Houston give away that we don't have? Jeremy Lamb? Kevin Martin? Come on...

[wiley]

They might be mediocre, but certainly not in a perpetual way, when the only guaranteed deals for 2016/17, apart from rookie contracts, are Bradley's and IT's - at 8,2M and 6,5M...

I agree that the team isn't necessarily locked into mediocrity in any tangible way -- i.e. bogged down with long term contracts.

But on the flip side, what's going to come along to get them out of mediocrity? 

The team appears content to aim for the middle for the time being.  So no high draft picks, unless the Nets implode.  Not holding my breath.

Very little reason to think free agents are going to suddenly decide Boston is a place they want to be, given what we've seen play out so far during this free agency period.  How is the situation going to be different next year?

As for trades, where is the major asset going to come from that will give the Celts some real firepower in trade talks?  If it's simply throwing more mid-round 1sts and role player prospects at teams, I don't have much hope.

Some star free agent who is serious about the game, appreciates team play, great coaching, excellent defense and the strong tradition (a chance to add their name next to other legends) will eventually sign with the Celtics.  Maybe Durant....

[BDeCosta26]

Pros:  Tons of draft picks, young assets and cap space.   Very bright future.  Now let's look at that.


Draft picks:   We tried offering 6 of them to move up from 16 to 9.  We couldn't do it.

Young assets:   We struck out on our attempt to trade for Love last year and seemingly have struck out on our attempt to trade for Cousins this year.  Marcus Smart + addition picks wasn't enough to get us the #4 pick this year.  Nobody wants what we have to offer.

Rookies:  We used the #16 pick to draft someone projected in the 2nd round.  It's unlikely any of those rookies will make an impact in the NBA.   If Jerry Hozier and Jackson Buggs were on another team, you wouldn't think anything of them.

Cap space:  We had 23 mil in theroetical cap space... seemingly the first time in the history of this team that we had room to sign a max contract.   We just blew 17 mil of that cap space on Amir Johnson (3rd string forward) and Jonas Jerebko (4th string forward).  We now have 6 mil in cap space... but that's only if we renounce Crowder and Bass.  In other words... We don't have cap space.

I think Danny is a Great GM too... but this team looks poised to rejoin the lotto next season.  If you were expecting us to make improvements, it's hard not to see this as a complete failure.   I had faith... but at this point, I think we're more likely to see Brad Stevens jump ship than we are seeing Boston contend next year. 

Welcome to basketball hell, gentlemen.   There's no obvious way out of this.

This is just impatience and frustration -- plain and simple. The Cs are far more likely to make a leap via trade than free agency.

You're right man. 

It's mostly confusion.  I don't see how spending 17 mil of our 23 mil in cap space on role players helps us immediately.  But perhaps there's a long-term vision here.   I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.


Correction:  The last time I was this down on the Celtics was in 2007 when Boston traded the #5 pick for a 32 year old with ankles made of glass.  That disgusted me.    It worked out ok, though.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this roster trims down as well, and who stays/who goes because it's clear trades HAVE to be made.

But I don't understand, how can this team be "the definition of perpetual mediocrity" when they've only been mediocre (and I'd say that's a stretch, they were one of the best teams in the league post IT trade, just not LeBron and the Cavs good). Let's look closer..

2012-13: 7th seed, lost in 1st round to NYK, traded PP and KG for the Nets soul.

2013-14: Tank Fest!! Of course, we weren't the only ones tanking and the Ping pong balls didn't fall our way, we had the worst possible pick we could've had. Selects Smart at #6 (One of the few in his class who made a difference towards his team winning games)

2014-15: Ainge trades Rondo and Green in a move to improve lottery position, but the IT trade comes along and you just can't pass that up. Stevens gets an overachieving love able group to the 7th seed

2015-16: Roster not even finalized. TBD

How is that "perpetual mediocrity?" You can say that in 3 years if we keep overachieving our way to 7th and 8th seeds, but not now. I get that everyone is disappointed, but we don't even know who's gonna be on our team this year. Ainge has made enough good moves to buy himself some leeway here. Let's see how this plays out

[biggs]

I absolutely love the current Celtics team.  One of the highlights periods of my time watching them since the early 80's.  I love the management, the coach, the nature of the players the C's are bringing aboard (IQ and toughness) , their style of play,  The team will be above 500 this year, not sure how far above.  So many assets...the bigger stuff isn't far off.  I'm really glad the our GM doesn't cave to the impatient wing of the fan base, or arrogantly move players around like a fantasy GM with his virtual reality team...I guess people forgot all about the Gaston years?  To say what's going on now with management is better than anything in recent memory is an understatement of gigantic proportion.

I guess some of you had a bad day.  I find that weird but chin up, things are absolutely going the right direction.

My biggest current disappointments:  Winslow on Miami (Winslow to Charlotte wouldn't have stung much) and Marc Gasol if he doesn't choose Boston.  Didn't care about Love at all...

How's that Kool aid bro? IND and MIA at full strength may knock us out of playoff contention and greedy ownership has set us up for years of mediocrity. Wish I could share your optimism, but this is easily the worst  possible outcome for our rebuild. Meanwhile, MIN already has a better core than us moving forward, and LA and NYK will always surpass us in the only avenue we left ourselves to find talent in free agency.

Our draft picks are worthless.

Free agents don't want to come here.

We're a "dirty" team now after taking out Love.

BS is too good to tank and he will leave if we plan to.

Expiring contracts aren't worth what they used to be in the current NBA.

And to top it all off Lopez and Young are resigning with Brooklyn.

I'm glad you're having fun watching this team, I like watching them too, but we have no other options than trading for unwanted players and overpaying mediocre free agents to climb to our plateau of mediocrity.

Thank you greedy ownership. Playoffs, yay! $!

Yes, the sky is falling. But, hey, at least we have a fun team to watch right?