Build a contender with our roster in the fewest moves possible

[tarheelsxxiii]

In recent threads there has been some discussion about what would make us contenders. It seems quite a few people would put us in the hunt if we (magically) added a Durant, for example. But, in the event that we did, would we still be able to win the East against LBJ, Kyrie, Love, etc.? LBJ himself could potentially negated KD. And what about the West, with GS sporting 2 all-star guards + ultimate jack-of-all-trades, or SA with Duncan (aka Benjamin Button), LMA, Parker, Ginobili, etc.?

It would be cool to see, in a perfect world obviously, how few moves people believe it could take to build a contender. This is a cognitive exercise in problem solving, too, so it'll work out our brains a bit

So, using our current roster, what kind of moves do you propose to get us to contender status in as few moves as possible?

[Eja117]

Don't forget magically out tanking all the other tankers and then magically winning the lottery and of course that player becomes really good really fast.

[Celtics4ever]

The sad thing is I think we have a long road back to contention this time, last time DA was good and lucky.   This time, it may be slower.

[Eja117]

Realistically....here we go.

Bron snaps ACL.
Steph also snaps ACL.
Durant has whatever he had this year.
Duncan finally gets old after his PEDs wear off. Finally. And LaMarcus is like "I'm not ready for this!"
CP3 and Blake Griffin get arrested in some horridly unspeakable crime Ray Rice style but actually face charges and are facing 10 - 20.
D Rose is banged up again and just can't do it any more, while Jimmy Butler gets mad at J Noah for something and they hate each other for no real reason.
Houston has worse injury problems than last year and Ty Lawson misleads everyone, leading to massive team stress. He teaches team how to self medicate.
Miami has their team headquarters/home absolutely destroyed by Hurricane Danny, Katrina style and are forced to play every game on the road. Players are unhappy and demand trades.
Marcus Smart becomes really good and Sully shows up in phenomenal shape determined to prove everyone wrong. James Young becomes inexplicably good.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Realistically....here we go.

Bron snaps ACL.
Steph also snaps ACL.
Durant has whatever he had this year.
Duncan finally gets old after his PEDs wear off. Finally. And LaMarcus is like "I'm not ready for this!"
CP3 and Blake Griffin get arrested in some horridly unspeakable crime Ray Rice style but actually face charges and are facing 10 - 20.
D Rose is banged up again and just can't do it any more, while Jimmy Butler gets mad at J Noah for something and they hate each other for no real reason.
Houston has worse injury problems than last year and Ty Lawson misleads everyone, leading to massive team stress. He teaches team how to self medicate.
Miami has their team headquarters/home absolutely destroyed by Hurricane Danny, Katrina style and are forced to play every game on the road. Players are unhappy and demand trades.
Marcus Smart becomes really good and Sully shows up in phenomenal shape determined to prove everyone wrong. James Young becomes inexplicably good.

Hahahaa. That's 17 moves, man. Barring trades, though... I 'm thinking you got it.

[Eja117]

Oh.......I interpreted "moves" as "fastest way to contend". The two are actually different. I could still be right though

[Csfan1984]

Trade for Barnes by giving up Sully, Turner, cash, 2016 Dallas 1st and C's 1st round pick.

Trade KO, AB, pj3, Philly 2nd and 2018 Brooklyn pick for Favors.

IT/Rozier
Smart/Hunter/Young
Barnes/Crowder/Jerekbo
AJ/Lee/Jerekbo
Favors/Zeller/Mickey

[tarheelsxxiii]

While it seems Cousins would be the most likely prize, I don't see any one on our roster that could headline a trade for him. We can't really fill any positions of need for them, unless Rondo comes out horrible and we include Smart in a big trade.

Then there's a general issue of Cousins' and Melo's cost... we would need to bleed half our roster to make either work, unless we could include Lee and/or Amir in one of those moves at the trade deadline.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Bradley, Sully, Young, BKN 2016, Mavs 2016, Cs 2016 for Cousins.

Lee/Johnson, Smart, KO, BKN 2017 (if that's possible?), Cs 2017, BKN 2018, Cs 2016 (2/4, including 76ers) 2nd round picks

Doubt either of those get it done.

If they did, though, we would be able to retain Amir/Lee, Thomas, Crowder, Jerebko, Turner.

Cousins/Amir/Zeller
Melo/Amir/Jerebko
Crowder/Turner
Turner/Young
IT/Rozier

That team can't win the East... :/

[PhoSita]

Would have to involve getting a couple of top ten picks from the Mavs and Nets and flipping them for a star like Cousins,  having Smart turn into a legit star prospect, and then signing a major free agent like Horford or Conley.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Would have to involve getting a couple of top ten picks from the Mavs and Nets and flipping them for a star like Cousins,  having Smart turn into a legit star prospect, and then signing a major free agent like Horford or Conley.

Good point. Overlooked signing a Horford or Conley. In a perfect world, that could turn into a big 3. If it's Conley, Smart would need to shift to SG, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he isn't a facilitator.

[PhoSita]

Would have to involve getting a couple of top ten picks from the Mavs and Nets and flipping them for a star like Cousins,  having Smart turn into a legit star prospect, and then signing a major free agent like Horford or Conley.

Good point. Overlooked signing a Horford or Conley. In a perfect world, that could turn into a big 3. If it's Conley, Smart would need to shift to SG, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he isn't a facilitator.

I see Smart as a future 2 who can average something like 14-5-5-2.


That's where I think he can stand out the most compared to others at his position.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Would have to involve getting a couple of top ten picks from the Mavs and Nets and flipping them for a star like Cousins,  having Smart turn into a legit star prospect, and then signing a major free agent like Horford or Conley.

Good point. Overlooked signing a Horford or Conley. In a perfect world, that could turn into a big 3. If it's Conley, Smart would need to shift to SG, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he isn't a facilitator.

Sounds like a practical ceiling for him. I see him as more of a 2 as well, though he has to find a way to get to and finish at the rim regardless of which position he plays.

I see Smart as a future 2 who can average something like 14-5-5-2.


That's where I think he can stand out the most compared to others at his position.

Sounds like a practical ceiling. I see him as a 2 as well, though he's going to have to find a way to get to and finish at the rim if he is going to achieve that, regardless of position.

[wahz]

Durant tells okc he won't resign with them. Perhaps the Celtics have best package to give back. We immediately contend but probably aren't good enough until remaining youngsters develop. Okc gets a lot for a guy who would just walk. We get KD to commit to us.

The trade checkers don't work well for this move as they don't show all our trade exceptions. And of course our picks.  :

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6613890.

We start Amir, Crowder, KD, Turner, Isaiah.  Most minutes off bench go to KO, Lee, Rozier, Hunter,Jerebko. Zeller and PJ last two active guys. I can see that team winning 55 games, but I love KD and think he will like Isaiah. I think Crowder and Amir are tough, quality guys. Turner is getting better. And I think Hunter and Rozier will be good

[tarheelsxxiii]

Durant tells okc he won't resign with them. Perhaps the Celtics have best package to give back. We immediately contend but probably aren't good enough until remaining youngsters develop. Okc gets a lot for a guy who would just walk. We get KD to commit to us.

The trade checkers don't work well for this move as they don't show all our trade exceptions. And of course our picks.  :

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6613890.

We start Amir, Crowder, KD, Turner, Isaiah.  Most minutes off bench go to KO, Lee, Rozier, Hunter,Jerebko. Zeller and PJ last two active guys. I can see that team winning 55 games, but I love KD and think he will like Isaiah. I think Crowder and Amir are tough, quality guys. Turner is getting better. And I think Hunter and Rozier will be good

Tough to lure KD here, but I'd go for that.. imagine that'd put us in the top 4 in the East.