Celtics May be forced to Tank this year.

[slamtheking]

i doubt we're bad enough to tank this year but, sticking to my offseason prediction, I think we'll probably end up as a 9th seed. At least we'll technically be in the lottery.

I'm figuring around the 12th pick for the C's.  Dallas between 8-10 and Brooklyn top 5.  it'd be swell if Minny continued winning and came close to the playoffs and handed us their first rounder too.

[Moranis]

I don't see how this team could realistically tank.  Our 2nd string is close to as good as our 1st string and we have usefull players that could be considered 3rd string.  i don't expect to win much more than 50% of games, but if we were to trade away 2 or 3 of our best players (Isaiah Thomas and who else?), I don't think we are far below .500 or at least not a bottom 5 team.  Danny would need to seriously dismantle the team and that would do more harm than good. 

It's best to instill a winning culture and try to win games.  In fact, I think we need to thin out the roster to give guys playing time, but trying to do that and get value in return is a challenge that I'm sure Danny is working on.

Boston will win games because of depth not talent.  If you take the depth away you take the wins away.  Look at teams like Brooklyn and Philly.  There starters actually keep the games close, especially early, but then as the games wear on, the starters get tired and the bench plays more and then they get killed.  Take away Boston's depth, you take away any real shot at winning most games.

[knuckleballer]

I don't see how this team could realistically tank.  Our 2nd string is close to as good as our 1st string and we have usefull players that could be considered 3rd string.  i don't expect to win much more than 50% of games, but if we were to trade away 2 or 3 of our best players (Isaiah Thomas and who else?), I don't think we are far below .500 or at least not a bottom 5 team.  Danny would need to seriously dismantle the team and that would do more harm than good. 

It's best to instill a winning culture and try to win games.  In fact, I think we need to thin out the roster to give guys playing time, but trying to do that and get value in return is a challenge that I'm sure Danny is working on.

Boston will win games because of depth not talent.  If you take the depth away you take the wins away.  Look at teams like Brooklyn and Philly.  There starters actually keep the games close, especially early, but then as the games wear on, the starters get tired and the bench plays more and then they get killed.  Take away Boston's depth, you take away any real shot at winning most games.

If you were to take away 2 or 3 of their best players, do you think they are in contention to be a bottom 5 team?  And that's assuming they don't get any talent in return.  As is, it's going to be a struggle for Stevens to give enough guys playing time to keep them happy. 

I'm not saying they would still be a playoff team, but I don't think getting rid of a few guys for the sake of improving their draft pick would be worth it as they still likely won't be in position for an elite prospect.

[Evantime34]

I wouldn't want to see us trade any of our quality young players just to get worse. However if tanking means trading everyone over the age of 25, I'm completely on board.

[rondohondo]

I don't see how this team could realistically tank.  Our 2nd string is close to as good as our 1st string and we have usefull players that could be considered 3rd string.  i don't expect to win much more than 50% of games, but if we were to trade away 2 or 3 of our best players (Isaiah Thomas and who else?), I don't think we are far below .500 or at least not a bottom 5 team.  Danny would need to seriously dismantle the team and that would do more harm than good. 

It's best to instill a winning culture and try to win games.  In fact, I think we need to thin out the roster to give guys playing time, but trying to do that and get value in return is a challenge that I'm sure Danny is working on.

Boston will win games because of depth not talent.  If you take the depth away you take the wins away.  Look at teams like Brooklyn and Philly.  There starters actually keep the games close, especially early, but then as the games wear on, the starters get tired and the bench plays more and then they get killed.  Take away Boston's depth, you take away any real shot at winning most games.

If you were to take away 2 or 3 of their best players, do you think they are in contention to be a bottom 5 team?  And that's assuming they don't get any talent in return.  As is, it's going to be a struggle for Stevens to give enough guys playing time to keep them happy. 

I'm not saying they would still be a playoff team, but I don't think getting rid of a few guys for the sake of improving their draft pick would be worth it as they still likely won't be in position for an elite prospect.

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

[kozlodoev]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

[rondohondo]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

Noel and Okafor are looking pretty [dang] good to me .....

I would only do this if we are 5-10 games under 500 in January . Turner will be gone at the end of the season anyway, and Thomas , while a very good bench player , isn't going to be game changing player when we are ready to compete again . He would be a nice piece to have , but would trade him if it means picking up a top 10 pick to add to Brooklyn's top 5 pick .

[knuckleballer]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

Noel and Okafor are looking pretty [dang] good to me .....

I would only do this if we are 5-10 games under 500 in January . Turner will be gone at the end of the season anyway, and Thomas , while a very good bench player , isn't going to be game changing player when we are ready to compete again . He would be a nice piece to have , but would trade him if it means picking up a top 10 pick to add to Brooklyn's top 5 pick .

If we are 5-10 games under 500 in January, I'd be on board with this.  But I wouldn't give Isaiah Thomas away.  I'd need more than a late first for him as he is a difference maker and on a nice contract.

[Moranis]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

Noel and Okafor are looking pretty [dang] good to me .....

I would only do this if we are 5-10 games under 500 in January . Turner will be gone at the end of the season anyway, and Thomas , while a very good bench player , isn't going to be game changing player when we are ready to compete again . He would be a nice piece to have , but would trade him if it means picking up a top 10 pick to add to Brooklyn's top 5 pick .

If we are 5-10 games under 500 in January, I'd be on board with this.  But I wouldn't give Isaiah Thomas away.  I'd need more than a late first for him as he is a difference maker and on a nice contract.

Except we acquired Thomas for a late 1st.  Guys like him don't have much value.

I think a trade like this might work for both teams (in that scenario)

Thomas, Bradley, Olynyk for Adams, Waiters, Augustin, Novak

Boston gets a potential build around center in Adams and a look at Waiters and OKC goes all in for the playoffs, while adding reasonable contract depth to their bench should they re-up KD.

[TheFlex]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

Noel and Okafor are looking pretty [dang] good to me .....

I would only do this if we are 5-10 games under 500 in January . Turner will be gone at the end of the season anyway, and Thomas , while a very good bench player , isn't going to be game changing player when we are ready to compete again . He would be a nice piece to have , but would trade him if it means picking up a top 10 pick to add to Brooklyn's top 5 pick .

If we are 5-10 games under 500 in January, I'd be on board with this.  But I wouldn't give Isaiah Thomas away.  I'd need more than a late first for him as he is a difference maker and on a nice contract.

Except we acquired Thomas for a late 1st.  Guys like him don't have much value.

I think a trade like this might work for both teams (in that scenario)

Thomas, Bradley, Olynyk for Adams, Waiters, Augustin, Novak

Boston gets a potential build around center in Adams and a look at Waiters and OKC goes all in for the playoffs, while adding reasonable contract depth to their bench should they re-up KD.

Truly awful trade for Boston.

[Moranis]

get rid of IT and Turner , let Rozier and Smart be the main ball handlers and the losses will pile up because they are so young . If we were going to tank mid season , this would be the way to go .

Yes, let's be the Philadelphia 76ers, because it worked out so great for them.

Noel and Okafor are looking pretty [dang] good to me .....

I would only do this if we are 5-10 games under 500 in January . Turner will be gone at the end of the season anyway, and Thomas , while a very good bench player , isn't going to be game changing player when we are ready to compete again . He would be a nice piece to have , but would trade him if it means picking up a top 10 pick to add to Brooklyn's top 5 pick .

If we are 5-10 games under 500 in January, I'd be on board with this.  But I wouldn't give Isaiah Thomas away.  I'd need more than a late first for him as he is a difference maker and on a nice contract.

Except we acquired Thomas for a late 1st.  Guys like him don't have much value.

I think a trade like this might work for both teams (in that scenario)

Thomas, Bradley, Olynyk for Adams, Waiters, Augustin, Novak

Boston gets a potential build around center in Adams and a look at Waiters and OKC goes all in for the playoffs, while adding reasonable contract depth to their bench should they re-up KD.

Truly awful trade for Boston.

depends on how much you like Adams and Waiters.

[PhoSita]

Waiters is awful. 

I like Steven Adams for precisely the role he's playing in OKC.  I don't think he's a build-around center at all.

[Moranis]

Waiters is awful. 

I like Steven Adams for precisely the role he's playing in OKC.  I don't think he's a build-around center at all.

That is the question with Adams.  He is just 22 and in his 3rd year.  Is he going to be more like Perkins or will he be able to take it up a level or two and be more in the Noah (or better) range.  He won't ever be a dominant scoring machine, but I think he could certainly have the impact of a Noah, which is far more valuable than the pieces Boston would be giving up in that scenario.  Just comes down to how much Boston likes Adams (the rest of the players are all expiring).

[fairweatherfan]

I don't see how this team could realistically tank.  Our 2nd string is close to as good as our 1st string and we have usefull players that could be considered 3rd string.  i don't expect to win much more than 50% of games, but if we were to trade away 2 or 3 of our best players (Isaiah Thomas and who else?), I don't think we are far below .500 or at least not a bottom 5 team.  Danny would need to seriously dismantle the team and that would do more harm than good. 

It's best to instill a winning culture and try to win games.  In fact, I think we need to thin out the roster to give guys playing time, but trying to do that and get value in return is a challenge that I'm sure Danny is working on.

Boston will win games because of depth not talent.  If you take the depth away you take the wins away.  Look at teams like Brooklyn and Philly.  There starters actually keep the games close, especially early, but then as the games wear on, the starters get tired and the bench plays more and then they get killed.  Take away Boston's depth, you take away any real shot at winning most games.

That's because their starters are far better than their bench - their benches are guys who wouldn't sniff the rotation of most other teams.  That's the opposite of our current situation.  You'd have to lose at least 4-6 guys and replace them with D-Leaguers/fringe NBA guys to create that kind of disparity with our roster.

[Moranis]

I don't see how this team could realistically tank.  Our 2nd string is close to as good as our 1st string and we have usefull players that could be considered 3rd string.  i don't expect to win much more than 50% of games, but if we were to trade away 2 or 3 of our best players (Isaiah Thomas and who else?), I don't think we are far below .500 or at least not a bottom 5 team.  Danny would need to seriously dismantle the team and that would do more harm than good. 

It's best to instill a winning culture and try to win games.  In fact, I think we need to thin out the roster to give guys playing time, but trying to do that and get value in return is a challenge that I'm sure Danny is working on.

Boston will win games because of depth not talent.  If you take the depth away you take the wins away.  Look at teams like Brooklyn and Philly.  There starters actually keep the games close, especially early, but then as the games wear on, the starters get tired and the bench plays more and then they get killed.  Take away Boston's depth, you take away any real shot at winning most games.

That's because their starters are far better than their bench - their benches are guys who wouldn't sniff the rotation of most other teams.  That's the opposite of our current situation.  You'd have to lose at least 4-6 guys and replace them with D-Leaguers/fringe NBA guys to create that kind of disparity with our roster.

But Boston's starters aren't as good as pretty much every other teams starters (not all but most).  Boston will win games, especially as the season goes on, by using its pretty significant depth advantage.  If a guy misses a game here or there it doesn't matter as much.  Boston will be able to play more guys less minutes so theoretically they can play harder when on the floor.  If you take out 2 or 3 guys from the depth chart that becomes much more difficult and Boston's one true advantage over most every other team disappears and Boston is then left with an inferior starting lineup and a comparable bench.  That is not a way to win games.