This is how I would build the Celtics

[walker834]

Almost at the midway point but I'd take Smart, Isaiah, Bradley, Rozier and Crowder and go with guys like that.  Put Isaiah in Turners spot as a spark plug, and give  Rozier a shot as a tough defender with slashing ability and more range than Turner.  Rozier is still developing so no rush but I'd go with Crowder at SF.  I think Young and RJ are fine as developing shooters to go  with him.  Young has to show something  but still rooting for James Young.  I'd take Sully and KO and let them hit their prime.  I like Sully's size and ability to overpower people and Kelly's length and versatility.   I'd hang onto Amir as a solid presence.  I'd also give Mickey a shot as a roleplayer off the bench next year.  I'd subtract Lee, Zeller and Turner.  I'd then go into the draft with our 5 picks and really make a hard run at a center to replace Amir as the starter.  People think we need a wing scorer and star player there and I'm not opposed to that really but I think we are ok there.   I could be wrong, and we draft a wing scorer we could use some more scoring punch, but what I more think we need is an athletic guy who can move in the paint and block shots. That could be Ben Simmons if we play him at center.  We could maybe trade a guy like KO.   Ideally I'd like a guy who really is both whether that's Simmons or Cousins or whoever.  I don't know.   Stevens is a great coach.   We will be beating the Warriors in no time.

Ainge might not be able to find that guy this draft where he might try to upgrade our guards even moreso.   He supposedly tried to do that with wInslow although that might have been all baloney and hype.  Ideally though it makes sense. We want tough guards who can score and stay with guys.  We don't really have that one guy who can do both.  Jimmy Butleresque.  Zeller might also stick because of his length depending on who we draft.  We might play a guy like Simmons all over the place, but he basically has all these picks the next few drafts to find that guy or two who can really be  game changers for us.

[walker834]

Maybe I'm underestimating Jordan Mickey. Maybe I'm underestimating Turner as a glue guy long term who can come in in spurts.   But someone has to go with all the picks we have to open up spots.  This is more just a blueprint and it's open to disagreement, differing viewpoints and options.  I would expect Ainge is looking for an athletic/versatile/physical big and athletic/versatile/physical wing though.  Stars.  A couple go to scorers to go with what we have.  I feel like if Ainge targetted Winslow that kind of gives an idea of what he's looking for there.

Ainge might have been looking to get Winslow to pair with someone else. He might have held onto Turner in that instance where maybe he couldn't get Winslow so he drafted Rozier as Turner or Bradley's possible replacement and a better option instead.  Maybe I'm overestimating Terry Rozier but I like him. Mickey too. It makes sense why Ainge would do that.

Rj hunter and Young are both kind of enigmas as well.  They are rookies but appear to be in that mold as well. Good shooters. Good basketball players with upside that fit that mold. 

Either way we want a couple guys who can really put the ball in teh basket and get after it with their athletism and physical play swatting shots or whatever.  Winslow and Simmons would have been really good I feel. It's too bad we didn't get Winslow but maybe Simmons will be it.  Maybe we'll take Jaylen Brown this draft. 

Simmons to me seems like he would be our guy.  Just an athletic forward who can swat shots and play all over the place.  If we can get Simmons and Brown that would be great.

If I'm Ainge I'm going all in this draft once the ping pong balls drop.

[obnoxiousmime]

We need an upgrade at the PF and C positions. At least one should be a scorer and one should be good at defense/rebounding. If they are two way players, that's obviously the best, but then you're describing a star and those are hard to come by.

If someone like that is available where we pick, that would be great. But I think Ainge will go BPA with the possible exception of the PG spot.

Unless we make a humongous deal for veterans with our asset haul, I don't think "we will be beating the Warriors in no time." Rozier and Mickey are rookies. Simmons would be 19 years old. They're definitely going to take a few years development time at least. Think of how long it took Bradley to become a serviceable SG.

[walker834]

I just feel like the way our team is constructed we have that base here who can really slow down a team like the warriors.  What we need is that extra athleticism and scoring punch and star power. I feel like Simmons and a guy like Brown could play with their heads cut off and we'd give the warriors a run for their money.  Sure they might not be that cagey vet yet but I think the warriors are overrated in that regard themselves, and talentwise in comparison to what we would be.

The warriors basically have 3 really talented young players in Curry, Draymond and Klay thompson then the rest of the team is fairly talented vets. Draymond was a rookie last year and the rest of them havent been in the league that long.

If we have Simmons and who ever else we draft plus all the players we have we'd kill them. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

We need an upgrade at the PF and C positions. At least one should be a scorer and one should be good at defense/rebounding. If they are two way players, that's obviously the best, but then you're describing a star and those are hard to come by.

If someone like that is available where we pick, that would be great. But I think Ainge will go BPA with the possible exception of the PG spot.

Unless we make a humongous deal for veterans with our asset haul, I don't think "we will be beating the Warriors in no time." Rozier and Mickey are rookies. Simmons would be 19 years old. They're definitely going to take a few years development time at least. Think of how long it took Bradley to become a serviceable SG.

To be fair Bradley would've become a serviceable SG much sooner if they hadn't wasted his rookie+ campaign trying to make him a serviceable PG that never materialized.

[walker834]

I was saying this in another thread but the Warriors are not the most savvy team in the world.  They are a high octane team with 3 really good young players who play with their heads cut off, and nice roleplayers and vets. If you can slow them down, stay with them defensively, and outphysical them they will lose. They are undersized. They don't have anyone with any length whatsoever really besides Bogut.

With our quick and physical guards and KO's length, Sully's muscle and guys like Simmons roaming around and a bit more scoring punch I really don't think GS is that unbeatable at all.

[walker834]

The warriors are going to slow down. They can't play like that forever. Curry is already hurt.  They aren't the smartest tacks in the shed. They are not a very savvy team. They could become that but in todays day and age they are going to start losing players.  Players are going to slow down and lose their identity and not really become more savvy etc.  It's not like the old days where players got smarter. Maybe Curry will but he's already hurt.

I hope the celtics take the more patient approach.  I think they could have a lot more longevity if they do.  I'd rather our rookies be more complimentary pieces who come up big with their athleticism at first.  Just enough extra talent to put us over the top where it doesnt go to their heads too soon.  Stevens is a good coach.  I'd hope he'd bring them along slowly.

I know I sound like an old fan who likes to pan these new players but it's true.  These players are not as tough or smart.  Lebron is pretty good but even he has his issues.  He's no larry bird.  Neither is steph curry.

[moiso]

I just feel like the way our team is constructed we have that base here who can really slow down a team like the warriors.  What we need is that extra athleticism and scoring punch and star power. I feel like Simmons and a guy like Brown could play with their heads cut off and we'd give the warriors a run for their money.  Sure they might not be that cagey vet yet but I think the warriors are overrated in that regard themselves, and talentwise in comparison to what we would be.

The warriors basically have 3 really talented young players in Curry, Draymond and Klay thompson then the rest of the team is fairly talented vets. Draymond was a rookie last year and the rest of them havent been in the league that long.

If we have Simmons and who ever else we draft plus all the players we have we'd kill them.

What year was Draymond a rookie??  I pretty much disagree with most of your last few posts.  Curry may be the most skilled offensive player of all time.  All of those guys can shoot and that will never go away.  I think they are a very smart and savvy team.  And why can't they like that for several years?  A lot teams in the 80's played super fast for years on end.

[obnoxiousmime]

The Warriors are well set up with all their key players young and under contract. Barnes might be a tough re-sign and Iguodala probably will slow down in a few years, but they aren't impossible pieces to replace.

Besides, it's not just about matching up with the Warriors. In the Eastern Conference you need to beat the Cavs and they will be solid as long as LeBron is still playing well, maybe even a little past that when you consider Irving and Love are still young. They present a lot of problems for the Celtics with their size, depth, and scoring.

I don't understand why you think they will become "less savvy" or "less smart." It stands to reason that at their age, Green, Curry, and Thompson will only improve with more experience. Curry and Green have already shown improvements in their game this year as opposed to last.

If you want to say that their success might be fragile considering it largely relies on Curry who, as a smaller player with a history of ankle injuries is more easily banged up, I suppose I could buy that. All teams are largely dependent on their star's health though.

OK, so Curry and LeBron are not Larry Bird. Did I miss the news bulletin that we signed the next Larry Bird? They're the best in the league right now and historical comparisons aren't really relevant.

[walker834]

The warriors historically have been a run and gun team.  This is probably their best group like that by far. They have toughness too.  Green is a tough player. Curry is crafty but they really do play at one speed. They get banged up and slow down at all they aren't going to be the same team. They don't have any size inside at all minus Bogut.  They do have a tough group of vets. Iggy, Barnes, Barbosa, Jrich etc but those guys are aging as well.

The team is literally built on those 3 guys and aging vets.  Curry slows down at all they are not the same team.  I'm not saying he will. He's like a new age Jerry West. They aren't a one dimensional team either. They have some toughness and savvy and share the  ball. Green is really the catalyst there. Curry is a tough guy too considering his size. Klay is a knock down shooter and athletic himself.  They are quick and relentless on defense.

I think our core is younger and much more well rounded.  We are missing a couple stars outside of Isaiah but have a much more well rounded younger team and tougher team at our core.

I think our team with guys like Crowder, Bradley and Sully and Smart would cause them a lot of problems if we add a couple scorers and a shot blocker who can roam around with athleticism. Even KO with his length and range is a nice piece to have. 

It would be celtics lakers all over again with Russell vs West. Those lakers teams didnt do too hot against us. Bogut isnt going to be able to handle all that.  They are going to have to get a guy like Cousins to be their Chamberlain and even then.

The Lakers are hopeless. GS really is the new age Lakers from way back.

[walker834]

We want to outphysical them and match their quickness.  Draymond is really the only guy they have like that.  He is an enigma.  Kawaii Leonard is really the only guy who can match him or a guy like Jimmy Butler.  We have Crowder, Smart, Bradley, Sully and a good mix of guys.  We need that extra piece there who can give us some scoring punch.  We also need a big man who can cover a lot of ground. Curry is a tough little guy but we have Isiah there.  And Smart and Bradley who can really cause Curry some problems.

GS might be a tough team somewhat and they obviously have a lot of speed but they aren't a super physical team.  If they got COusins they would be but even still.

GS will break if you outphysical them and match their quickness.  Alter their shots etc.

[walker834]

They are also  somewhat overly reliant on Curry, Draymond and Klay although they have a nice assortment of vets.  we could have a much more well rounded team that isn't as reliant on our stars to give us production.

It's liek the whole jerry west, wilt effect in ways.  Isiah might not be as good as curry b ut if we have a better supporting cast it won't matter.  It's much easier to defend 3 guys vs 12.

I more compare this to the early celtics where they had the ability to win 11 championships and the lakers didnt get very many.  The celtics are in position to do something like that if we get the right pieces.

We need Bill Russell.  Ben Simmons. Same thing.

[Future Celtics Owner]

If you are serious about competing then we need a legit center that has the following qualities, besides scoring and rebounding:
1)Can hit ft's
2)Block shots, defend the paint, and be able to switch
3)bb IQ
4)hit jumpers

Thats really it. A Karl Towns would have put us right over but we can't get him now. We have pieces we could trade for an established center like cuz but that would cost us big time. Then we have free agency. But we could always take a chance on someone, that has yet to establish themself, and in essence pay less.

[Denis998]

If you are serious about competing then we need a legit center that has the following qualities, besides scoring and rebounding:
1)Can hit ft's
2)Block shots, defend the paint, and be able to switch
3)bb IQ
4)hit jumpers

Thats really it. A Karl Towns would have put us right over but we can't get him now. We have pieces we could trade for an established center like cuz but that would cost us big time. Then we have free agency. But we could always take a chance on someone, that has yet to establish themself, and in essence pay less.

I would argue that having a big name center doesn't currently translate into wins in this current league. I can't remember the last time a team won with that.

[Csfan1984]

If you are serious about competing then we need a legit center that has the following qualities, besides scoring and rebounding:
1)Can hit ft's
2)Block shots, defend the paint, and be able to switch
3)bb IQ
4)hit jumpers

Thats really it. A Karl Towns would have put us right over but we can't get him now. We have pieces we could trade for an established center like cuz but that would cost us big time. Then we have free agency. But we could always take a chance on someone, that has yet to establish themself, and in essence pay less.

I would argue that having a big name center doesn't currently translate into wins in this current league. I can't remember the last time a team won with that.

Duncan is pretty much a big Center by current NBA standards.