2017-2018 Celtics

[green_bballers13]

The Celtics are rebuilding in a manner so that fans can watch with pride, but they are still 2-3 very good players away from contending. We have a team full of role players and young players with limited potential. While Kevin Durant and LBJ excite me in 2017, I'm not sure that they are obtainable. Then again, I never thought we would be able to ship Al Jefferson, Jeff Green, etc for KG and Ray Allen.

While I can't see how all of the pieces will fit together, there are only a couple guys that excite me on this team as it stands.

Smart/Thomas
Crowder
Amir Johnson

I like David Lee, RJ Hunter, Zeller even Bradley but won't be too upset if they end up walking. I am not overly impressed by Sully, Olynyk, or Turner.

That gives us a legit 4 guys to build around, with the need to supplement first class talent (2-3 max or near max contracts) and keeping any of our current role players. We will most likely have two picks in the teens and one in the 20s in 2016, so we can predict at least one more core player to add around. Same logic with 2017.

2018 Interesting Free Agents:
Chris Paul
Demarcus Cousins
James Harden
Kyle Lowry
Derrick Favors
Andrew Wiggins
Jabari Parker

Even just one of these guys coupled with 2 more solid draft picks and our current core lets us compete with an aging Cleveland. In the meantime, a competitive fast paced team will be fun to watch.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I will bet basically anything Amir is gone.  He is a $12 million waiveable contract after this season.  I think we can actually make a run at someone this upcoming offseason and I haven't felt that way in awhile.

Our next Nets pick will almost certainly be in the lottery and we either get a top 2 pick or we package it with Amir and whoever else.  It's win / win for once.

[green_bballers13]

I agree that Amir Johnson is not a blue chip to build around today, but I think he has the ability to turn the corner for something like 16-18ppg/10 reb, which would make him worthy of a contract in the $15m range. Besides Marcus Smart, I'm not predicting that anyone else will improve drastically.

My point is that the future is bright for this team b/c of their coach, young players, draft picks, and financial flexibility.With a GM that has a track record of pulling off succesfful blockbuster deals, I honestly do not see the reason why someone would take a pessimistic view of this rebuild, unless they are a troll or like to look at most other things negative manner.

[manl_lui]

The Celtics are rebuilding in a manner so that fans can watch with pride, but they are still 2-3 very good players away from contending. We have a team full of role players and young players with limited potential. While Kevin Durant and LBJ excite me in 2017, I'm not sure that they are obtainable. Then again, I never thought we would be able to ship Al Jefferson, Jeff Green, etc for KG and Ray Allen.

While I can't see how all of the pieces will fit together, there are only a couple guys that excite me on this team as it stands.

Smart/Thomas
Crowder
Amir Johnson

I like David Lee, RJ Hunter, Zeller even Bradley but won't be too upset if they end up walking. I am not overly impressed by Sully, Olynyk, or Turner.

That gives us a legit 4 guys to build around, with the need to supplement first class talent (2-3 max or near max contracts) and keeping any of our current role players. We will most likely have two picks in the teens and one in the 20s in 2016, so we can predict at least one more core player to add around. Same logic with 2017.

2018 Interesting Free Agents:
Chris Paul
Demarcus Cousins
James Harden
Kyle Lowry
Derrick Favors
Andrew Wiggins
Jabari Parker

Even just one of these guys coupled with 2 more solid draft picks and our current core lets us compete with an aging Cleveland. In the meantime, a competitive fast paced team will be fun to watch.

here's your first TP

1. for your 2018 FA

I believe Wiggins and Parker will be extended before they even hit FA

depending on their success in their current respective teams, I don't see Harden going anywhere. CP3 might bounce with the whole Jordan fiasco this summer. Cousins, I have a feeling will bounce if they do not make playoffs again.

Lowry I like, but all eyes on Smart and his development as pg, if he comes close to a Lowry type player, Lowry becomes redundant.

Favors isn't bad, and I would like him for a nice deal.

With that said, I wish some of our guys have a good year this year and the next so we can flip them for Cousins. I still want Cousins bad, whether it's FA or by trade.

[green_bballers13]

Yeah I too see DMC as the guy the Celtics should draft around. He and Smart could represent the future as a gritty, in your face squad that will pester opposing offenses. Favors wouldn't be a bad consolation prize, nor would a guy like Jonas Valanciunas, though I would be surprised if he doesn't resign in Toronto.

One more talented wing with DMC and this team is off to the races. Assuming we don't hit on 2 major FA's, we would have to rely on the draft for just 2 more starters (out of so many picks, this is not far-fetched). I would also add in another depth center (Varejao or Gortat).

Thus, it looks like our starting unit is only 1/2 constructed, but our depth gives us the option to build sooner than later to complete with CLE and CHI.

Smart/IT/Rozier
Draft pick/Young/Hunter
Draft pick/Crowder
Amir Johnson/Sully
DMC/Zeller/Gortat

Let's get to work Danny!

[slamtheking]

of the proposed FA's available for that year, I could only really see Cousins or Favors as possibly available players that may consider coming here. 

[D.o.s.]

Good post, interesting idea. I will go further, though, and say that I think the Celtics only have one player on the roster that's worth keeping during this rebuild, so we can be more malleable with who we sign and who we pursue -- i.e. we don't have to worry about logjams so much since what we don't seem to have anywhere on our roster is a logjam of talent.

[Ilikesports17]

Good post, interesting idea. I will go further, though, and say that I think the Celtics only have one player on the roster that's worth keeping during this rebuild, so we can be more malleable with who we sign and who we pursue -- i.e. we don't have to worry about logjams so much since what we don't seem to have anywhere on our roster is a logjam of talent.

Marcus Smart I assume?

[D.o.s.]

So far, yes. Haven't seen enough from our newest draftees to feel one way or another about them yet.

[SHAQATTACK]

LBJ. Controls the East for now .  It's the easiest route to the finals ....avoiding the Western teams loaded with talent.  He is here to stay .

Until his skill decline ,  only a few players are good enough to build a team around to beat him today .....and those players are all out West.

[green_bballers13]

LBJ. Controls the East for now .  It's the easiest route to the finals ....avoiding the Western teams loaded with talent.  He is here to stay .

Until his skill decline ,  only a few players are good enough to build a team around to beat him today .....and those players are all out West.

I agree. Until LBJ starts to show a decline, the Cavs are most likely going to have a diesel team, virtually impossible to beat in a 7 game series for a rebuilding Celtics team. That being said, if DMC and Harden (or similar talent) come available, I wouldn't forego the opportunity to have at least the 2nd best team in the East just b/c of Lebron's presence. While Lebron's team has been in the running for years now, they have lost big series to the likes of the Mavs, Spurs, and Warriors. Are LBJ's teams tough? Yes. Unbeatable? Certainly not.

[LilRip]

Good post, interesting idea. I will go further, though, and say that I think the Celtics only have one player on the roster that's worth keeping during this rebuild, so we can be more malleable with who we sign and who we pursue -- i.e. we don't have to worry about logjams so much since what we don't seem to have anywhere on our roster is a logjam of talent.

Marcus Smart I assume?

Evan Turner

[PhoSita]

There are lots of players I like on this team.  I don't really expect any of them to be in here in 3-4 years other than Smart and maybe one of the guys drafted this summer.

I believe strongly that when you're rebuilding, you figure out who your core stars are going to be, then you worry about putting together the supporting cast and deciding what your roster and your gameplan need to look like in order to maximize that core.

The Celtics have no core right now, so in that sense D.o.s. and the original poster are right, they can feel free to shuffle the pieces however they like right now in an effort to get some core pieces.  The only problem is when the imbalance of the roster results in some of the "assets" withering on the vine due to a lack of playing time.  Other teams don't tend to clamor to trade for guys getting DNP-CDs for a middle of the road team, especially rookie contract guys who have yet to demonstrate an ability to crack an NBA rotation.

[Big333223]

of the proposed FA's available for that year, I could only really see Cousins or Favors as possibly available players that may consider coming here.

Same.

Signing a free agent is such a crap shoot, I doubt this team gets remade that way. Plus, teams are getting to be too smart to just let someone wlka away in free agency. Most of these guys will be traded before they leave. Greg Monroe is the exception (Detroit mismanaged that deal).

[Bosstown]

The Celtics are rebuilding in a manner so that fans can watch with pride, but they are still 2-3 very good players away from contending. We have a team full of role players and young players with limited potential. While Kevin Durant and LBJ excite me in 2017, I'm not sure that they are obtainable. Then again, I never thought we would be able to ship Al Jefferson, Jeff Green, etc for KG and Ray Allen.

While I can't see how all of the pieces will fit together, there are only a couple guys that excite me on this team as it stands.

Smart/Thomas
Crowder
Amir Johnson

I like David Lee, RJ Hunter, Zeller even Bradley but won't be too upset if they end up walking. I am not overly impressed by Sully, Olynyk, or Turner.

That gives us a legit 4 guys to build around, with the need to supplement first class talent (2-3 max or near max contracts) and keeping any of our current role players. We will most likely have two picks in the teens and one in the 20s in 2016, so we can predict at least one more core player to add around. Same logic with 2017.

2018 Interesting Free Agents:
Chris Paul
Demarcus Cousins
James Harden
Kyle Lowry
Derrick Favors
Andrew Wiggins
Jabari Parker

Even just one of these guys coupled with 2 more solid draft picks and our current core lets us compete with an aging Cleveland. In the meantime, a competitive fast paced team will be fun to watch.

U can take Wiggins and Parker off the list, they're RFA and if their progress is anything like it's projected to be I highly doubt their respective teams don't match.