What if Brooklyn signs Durant this Summer.

[LooseCannon]

Why do folks care so much?

Because:

[MBunge]

I post a thread months ago that asks if we'd be better off trading the #16 pick for someone like Nik stauskas and months later my fanboys take it out of context

1.  I think you already proved you don't know what "take it out of context" means.

2.  No one cares if you post such a thread or make such a suggestion.  What bothers people is when you aggressively argue in favor of the potential of someone like Stauskus WHILE YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY DEFECATE ON THE POTENTIAL OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE ON THE CURRENT CELTICS ROSTER.  Likewise, no one much cares if you love Hinkie and think he's a genius.  It does bother people when someone who claims to be a Celtics fan is constantly posting on a Celtics message board with more optimism and enthusiasm for the dumpster fire that is the 76ers than the actual team you claim to love.  How do you think the folks at Liberty Ballers would respond if I went over there and was as negative about the Sixers there as you are positive here?  I'd probably be banned within a week.

Mike

[LarBrd33]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above. You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there. That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

Yeah I don't expect them to sign a superstar.  They don't need to sign a superstar.  All they need to do is fill out the roster with some decent talent and they'll reach a level of mediocrity that will make the picks significantly less valuable.   They are on pace to finish bottom 5 this year which is terrific.  They were hit by some injuries and their lack of depth was exposed.  As long as Lopez stays healthy, they really only need to add a decent point guard and get some bench depth to putter along to a 35-40 win record.   They'll have the cap space.  They don't even need 2nd tier stars to push those picks into late lotto.   They just need to add some basic talent. 

My main point was that I don't see those future picks as locks for the top 5.  Brooklyn will pay money to put together a mildly competitive team.  I still probably wouldn't trade the picks without protection, but I'm not counting on them to be much of a factor.

[mr. dee]

If you can't beat  the nets, join them.

[LarBrd33]

Why do folks care so much?

Because:

TP for this.  I spend way too much of my time on this forum adding original content and sharing my opinions that occasionally upset people, because they counter the blatant homeristic bias of a team-centric digital forum.  This whole hobby is a giant waste of time.  It's incredibly nerdy.  It's incredibly pointless.  I'm mostly here out of habit, really.  I've been coming here for over a decade.  I originally started coming here, because it was a great venue for finding original content and opinions about my favorite sports team.  Somewhere along the line, I started to realize I was contributing far more than I was consuming.  I do think a couple of the folks who participate here are pretty cool, but as a couple other sources have popped up in recent years, it's becoming apparent that for me this probably is no longer the best venue for finding original content and opinions about the Celtics. 

Thank you for the deepmeme, LooseCannon... and the digital existential crisis it's seeded within me.   

[Moranis]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

[slamtheking]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

huh?

with Boston on the upswing in terms of acquiring better players, why would they do a tear-down just because they get a top prospect with the Brooklyn pick this draft?  makes no sense whatsoever. 

[Moranis]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

huh?

with Boston on the upswing in terms of acquiring better players, why would they do a tear-down just because they get a top prospect with the Brooklyn pick this draft?  makes no sense whatsoever.

because whoever Boston gets from BKN, whether it is best case Ben Simmons, or worst case someone like Dragan Bender is going to be years away from being able to lead a team to title contention.  If you are going to build around that player, it makes a lot more sense to enter a period of rebuilding so that you can maximize the odds of landing a 2nd and 3rd player to form a potential championship core, rather than just surround that player with role players and mid-1st round picks and run the risk of ending up like the Cavs circa-mid 2000's, except with someone who likely will never be as close to good as Lebron James. 

OKC is so good now because after selecting Durant, they got Westbrook and Harden in consecutive drafts.  But OKC got those players, by going into full on rebuilding immediately after landing #2 and knowing that Durant (or some off chance Oden) was coming to town.  They traded away veterans (Ray Allen, Rashad Lewis, etc.) and went full on rebuilding for over 2 years until they got the core and knew the core was ready to compete.  That is what you do when you elect to build around a potential franchise player in the draft, you get bad enough to also land complimentary pieces that can form a championship core.  Seattle/OKC would have been a lot better with Ray Allen and Rashad Lewis, but was never going to be a true contender with those guys and by the time Durant would become the MVP level player, Allen and Lewis would be nothing more than role players and Durant wouldn't have had a guy like Westbrook to play off and help carry the load.

If Boston elects to build around the player selected by the Brooklyn pick, then it makes absolute sense to go into full bore rebuilding and trade away anyone you don't think can be a starter level player on a title team with that player.  That means likely keeping Smart and perhaps KO and Crowder, but getting rid of basically everyone else in the rotation right now (guys like Rozier, Hunter, Young, and Mickey will then get burn and you can see what you have). 

I think it is only about 50/50 that Boston will elect to build around the Brooklyn pick, but if Boston does than going into rebuilding is the path that makes the most sense.   

[Granath]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

huh?

with Boston on the upswing in terms of acquiring better players, why would they do a tear-down just because they get a top prospect with the Brooklyn pick this draft?  makes no sense whatsoever.

because whoever Boston gets from BKN, whether it is best case Ben Simmons, or worst case someone like Dragan Bender is going to be years away from being able to lead a team to title contention.  If you are going to build around that player, it makes a lot more sense to enter a period of rebuilding so that you can maximize the odds of landing a 2nd and 3rd player to form a potential championship core, rather than just surround that player with role players and mid-1st round picks and run the risk of ending up like the Cavs circa-mid 2000's, except with someone who likely will never be as close to good as Lebron James. 

OKC is so good now because after selecting Durant, they got Westbrook and Harden in consecutive drafts.  But OKC got those players, by going into full on rebuilding immediately after landing #2 and knowing that Durant (or some off chance Oden) was coming to town.  They traded away veterans (Ray Allen, Rashad Lewis, etc.) and went full on rebuilding for over 2 years until they got the core and knew the core was ready to compete.  That is what you do when you elect to build around a potential franchise player in the draft, you get bad enough to also land complimentary pieces that can form a championship core.  Seattle/OKC would have been a lot better with Ray Allen and Rashad Lewis, but was never going to be a true contender with those guys and by the time Durant would become the MVP level player, Allen and Lewis would be nothing more than role players and Durant wouldn't have had a guy like Westbrook to play off and help carry the load.

If Boston elects to build around the player selected by the Brooklyn pick, then it makes absolute sense to go into full bore rebuilding and trade away anyone you don't think can be a starter level player on a title team with that player.  That means likely keeping Smart and perhaps KO and Crowder, but getting rid of basically everyone else in the rotation right now (guys like Rozier, Hunter, Young, and Mickey will then get burn and you can see what you have). 

I think it is only about 50/50 that Boston will elect to build around the Brooklyn pick, but if Boston does than going into rebuilding is the path that makes the most sense.   

I disagree.

Using Seattle/OKC as an example simply doesn't work. Rashard Lewis played the same position as KD does so they had to move him. Ray Allen was already in his 30s. That team finished 31-51 to get KD and won 35 games the year before that. They already were in a full rebuilding mode when they acquired KD because the cupboard was already pretty bare.

The current Celtics squad is young enough that most everyone will still be in their prime when a player like Simmons comes into his own. Even 3 years from now the oldest contributor would be IT at age 30. This team is composed of generally great character guys who work hard. Finally, they will almost certainly be over .500 and stand a very good chance of making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The situations are entirely different.

In fact, I see the opposite being far more likely. If they get lucky enough to get a high draft choice, they'll bring him into a well-formed team where that player does not have the pressure of having to be "The One" from the start. That player will come into a winning culture and a comfortable, professional environment. They'll expand his role and slowly - slowly is the key word - move pieces to acquire guys who may better compliment the future of the team. The whole idea is to keep improving and not have to take an unnecessary step back.

[colincb]

In 2007 Seattle was owned by a OKC group which was expected to force its way out of. Rashad Lewis was going into free agency and wanted out because it was obvious that the Sonics were going to rebuild. Allen at 32 had to be traded and with Allen and Lewis, the Sonics still had the 5th worst record in the NBA because the rest of their roster was devoid of talent. Even with Durant at prime, the Sonics were going to be mediocre if they had kept both stars and KD turned out to be KD.

The Cs are likely to have 45-50 wins this season with the 5th youngest roster in the NBA (and should have 4 more wins so far based on the predictive model BB-reference uses). It may be mediocre, but it is a very young and improving team and only has one player over 28 (and he’s gone within weeks to months).

How is the Sonics situation similar to ours?

[Moranis]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

huh?

with Boston on the upswing in terms of acquiring better players, why would they do a tear-down just because they get a top prospect with the Brooklyn pick this draft?  makes no sense whatsoever.

because whoever Boston gets from BKN, whether it is best case Ben Simmons, or worst case someone like Dragan Bender is going to be years away from being able to lead a team to title contention.  If you are going to build around that player, it makes a lot more sense to enter a period of rebuilding so that you can maximize the odds of landing a 2nd and 3rd player to form a potential championship core, rather than just surround that player with role players and mid-1st round picks and run the risk of ending up like the Cavs circa-mid 2000's, except with someone who likely will never be as close to good as Lebron James. 

OKC is so good now because after selecting Durant, they got Westbrook and Harden in consecutive drafts.  But OKC got those players, by going into full on rebuilding immediately after landing #2 and knowing that Durant (or some off chance Oden) was coming to town.  They traded away veterans (Ray Allen, Rashad Lewis, etc.) and went full on rebuilding for over 2 years until they got the core and knew the core was ready to compete.  That is what you do when you elect to build around a potential franchise player in the draft, you get bad enough to also land complimentary pieces that can form a championship core.  Seattle/OKC would have been a lot better with Ray Allen and Rashad Lewis, but was never going to be a true contender with those guys and by the time Durant would become the MVP level player, Allen and Lewis would be nothing more than role players and Durant wouldn't have had a guy like Westbrook to play off and help carry the load.

If Boston elects to build around the player selected by the Brooklyn pick, then it makes absolute sense to go into full bore rebuilding and trade away anyone you don't think can be a starter level player on a title team with that player.  That means likely keeping Smart and perhaps KO and Crowder, but getting rid of basically everyone else in the rotation right now (guys like Rozier, Hunter, Young, and Mickey will then get burn and you can see what you have). 

I think it is only about 50/50 that Boston will elect to build around the Brooklyn pick, but if Boston does than going into rebuilding is the path that makes the most sense.   

I disagree.

Using Seattle/OKC as an example simply doesn't work. Rashard Lewis played the same position as KD does so they had to move him. Ray Allen was already in his 30s. That team finished 31-51 to get KD and won 35 games the year before that. They already were in a full rebuilding mode when they acquired KD because the cupboard was already pretty bare.

The current Celtics squad is young enough that most everyone will still be in their prime when a player like Simmons comes into his own. Even 3 years from now the oldest contributor would be IT at age 30. This team is composed of generally great character guys who work hard. Finally, they will almost certainly be over .500 and stand a very good chance of making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The situations are entirely different.

In fact, I see the opposite being far more likely. If they get lucky enough to get a high draft choice, they'll bring him into a well-formed team where that player does not have the pressure of having to be "The One" from the start. That player will come into a winning culture and a comfortable, professional environment. They'll expand his role and slowly - slowly is the key word - move pieces to acquire guys who may better compliment the future of the team. The whole idea is to keep improving and not have to take an unnecessary step back.

Allen played in only 55 games and Lewis played in only 60 during the 06-07 season and even with that they had the 3rd and 4th most minutes on that team.  the only person from the 06-07 season that was still with the team by the start of 09-10 was Nick Collison.  In three seasons, the team had almost 100% roster turnover.  They acquired players in salary dumps (like Kurt Thomas who they later moved in another salary dump trade), they traded away basically every veteran, they added no one in free agency, and went full on tank.  They did this to acquire pieces to pair with their potential franchise player.  It worked, they won 20 games Durant's rookie year, which was enough to land Westbrook.  They won 23 games Westbrook's rookie year, which was enough to land Harden.  They then started to use the assets acquired in the tank, to acquire veterans and build around Durant.  They have basically been a 50 or more win team ever since. 

Boston will be like that because there are almost no players on this team that could be a key component on a contending team led by whomever Boston selects with the Brooklyn pick.  Smart, KO, and Jae all could be or maybe not, but no one else will be.  There is no reason to plod along at 40 wins and not find real pieces to pair with the BKN player.  If Boston elects to build around that player, it will enter rebuilding.  If Boston doesn't want to enter rebuilding than that player will get traded and those assets will presumably elevate Boston into contending status. 

[Granath]

Allen played in only 55 games and Lewis played in only 60 during the 06-07 season and even with that they had the 3rd and 4th most minutes on that team.  the only person from the 06-07 season that was still with the team by the start of 09-10 was Nick Collison.  In three seasons, the team had almost 100% roster turnover.  They acquired players in salary dumps (like Kurt Thomas who they later moved in another salary dump trade), they traded away basically every veteran, they added no one in free agency, and went full on tank.  They did this to acquire pieces to pair with their potential franchise player.  It worked, they won 20 games Durant's rookie year, which was enough to land Westbrook.  They won 23 games Westbrook's rookie year, which was enough to land Harden.  They then started to use the assets acquired in the tank, to acquire veterans and build around Durant.  They have basically been a 50 or more win team ever since. 

Boston will be like that because there are almost no players on this team that could be a key component on a contending team led by whomever Boston selects with the Brooklyn pick.  Smart, KO, and Jae all could be or maybe not, but no one else will be.  There is no reason to plod along at 40 wins and not find real pieces to pair with the BKN player.  If Boston elects to build around that player, it will enter rebuilding.  If Boston doesn't want to enter rebuilding than that player will get traded and those assets will presumably elevate Boston into contending status.

Moranis, you didn't address any of the differences between the teams. I've already documented why Seattle/OKC let Lewis and Allen go and therefore it made sense to start over (never mind the sale of the team). That's what you do when your stars are aging and you're winning 30 games a year. You're telling me what OKC did. I already know that. I'm telling you why they did it and why that situation is markedly different from the current Celtics situation.

This Celtics squad will likely be a playoff team. The players are younger and cheaper. Smart, KO, Crowder, IT and Bradley all could have significant roles in a championship team. Hunter, Rozier, Mickey and Young are all too young to know if they could and you wouldn't trade them unless you're making a move for an established player. That only leaves Turner, Sully and Amir as guys who have a significant role today who might be gone and all 3 are role players for this squad. So where's the rebuild coming from?

There's not just one template to build a winning team. There's a foundation already in place on this current squad. There's $30+m in cap space, an exceptionally flexible roster and two likely top 10 picks in 2017 and 2018 to add pieces to build around. Why dump it all, hope for lottery luck (and by the way, that strategy costs us the BKYN pick next year since that's a swap) and then try to rebuild around the same kind of flexible, good, young players that are already on this team? Seriously, the "tank next year if we get Simmons" line of thought makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. You're acting like this team has reached it's full potential and can only go downhill. I'm looking at the 5th youngest roster in the NBA, one that keeps wining more games each year, one that is making the playoffs for the 2nd straight year, one with picks to spare and massive available cap space....and I just don't get the whole "wipe the slate clean" theory.

[Eddie20]

Interesting article on ESPN about the potential of Brooklyn signing Kevin Durant:  http://espn.go.com/blog/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/23429/examining-a-seemingly-implausible-scenario-durant-to-nets

Probably unlikely, but speaks to one of the reasons I don't value those future Brooklyn picks all that much. They play in Brooklyn and will have cap space... you can't rule out the possibility of them building a competent team regardless of having no draft picks.

This season is panning out wonderfully, though.  Gotta love the potential to add a top 5 pick from them this Summer.

I generally agree with your point that Brooklyn can get back into the ranks of contention quicker than most think, because they have an owner who will spend and is an attractive destination.

If there is anything to critique in this tread it's the bolded statement above.  You say that Durant signing there is 'unlikely' then continue with how you don't value the future Brooklyn picks.  If Durant signing there is unlikely, that means it is unlikely that any superstar would sign there.  That means Brooklyn will have to overpay for 2nd or even 3rd tier FAs, who would be great fits on contenders but will exposed as the primary option on a depleted Brooklyn team.  And that means Brooklyn will struggle to contend in the immediate future, when we have their picks, which is GREAT for us.

It's fine being pessimistic but there needs to be some realism.  A lot of teams, including Boston, will have ample cap space.  That will make it hard for Brooklyn to reload.

a couple of 2nd or 3rd tier FA's and Brooklyn basically goes to a mid-30's or better win team if they are healthy, which puts that pick outside of the top 10.  And I wouldn't be totally surprised if Boston goes into full on rebuilding this summer to build around the BKN pick they get from the draft, so BKN very easily could end up with a better record than BOS next season.

Laughable

[spikelovetheCelts]

Why do folks care so much?

Because:

TP for this.  I spend way too much of my time on this forum adding original content and sharing my opinions that occasionally upset people, because they counter the blatant homeristic bias of a team-centric digital forum.  This whole hobby is a giant waste of time.  It's incredibly nerdy.  It's incredibly pointless.  I'm mostly here out of habit, really.  I've been coming here for over a decade.  I originally started coming here, because it was a great venue for finding original content and opinions about my favorite sports team.  Somewhere along the line, I started to realize I was contributing far more than I was consuming.  I do think a couple of the folks who participate here are pretty cool, but as a couple other sources have popped up in recent years, it's becoming apparent that for me this probably is no longer the best venue for finding original content and opinions about the Celtics. 

Thank you for the deepmeme, LooseCannon... and the digital existential crisis it's seeded within me.

I enjoy ya. Keep coming back we need you 

[Moranis]

Allen played in only 55 games and Lewis played in only 60 during the 06-07 season and even with that they had the 3rd and 4th most minutes on that team.  the only person from the 06-07 season that was still with the team by the start of 09-10 was Nick Collison.  In three seasons, the team had almost 100% roster turnover.  They acquired players in salary dumps (like Kurt Thomas who they later moved in another salary dump trade), they traded away basically every veteran, they added no one in free agency, and went full on tank.  They did this to acquire pieces to pair with their potential franchise player.  It worked, they won 20 games Durant's rookie year, which was enough to land Westbrook.  They won 23 games Westbrook's rookie year, which was enough to land Harden.  They then started to use the assets acquired in the tank, to acquire veterans and build around Durant.  They have basically been a 50 or more win team ever since. 

Boston will be like that because there are almost no players on this team that could be a key component on a contending team led by whomever Boston selects with the Brooklyn pick.  Smart, KO, and Jae all could be or maybe not, but no one else will be.  There is no reason to plod along at 40 wins and not find real pieces to pair with the BKN player.  If Boston elects to build around that player, it will enter rebuilding.  If Boston doesn't want to enter rebuilding than that player will get traded and those assets will presumably elevate Boston into contending status.

Moranis, you didn't address any of the differences between the teams. I've already documented why Seattle/OKC let Lewis and Allen go and therefore it made sense to start over (never mind the sale of the team). That's what you do when your stars are aging and you're winning 30 games a year. You're telling me what OKC did. I already know that. I'm telling you why they did it and why that situation is markedly different from the current Celtics situation.

This Celtics squad will likely be a playoff team. The players are younger and cheaper. Smart, KO, Crowder, IT and Bradley all could have significant roles in a championship team. Hunter, Rozier, Mickey and Young are all too young to know if they could and you wouldn't trade them unless you're making a move for an established player. That only leaves Turner, Sully and Amir as guys who have a significant role today who might be gone and all 3 are role players for this squad. So where's the rebuild coming from?

There's not just one template to build a winning team. There's a foundation already in place on this current squad. There's $30+m in cap space, an exceptionally flexible roster and two likely top 10 picks in 2017 and 2018 to add pieces to build around. Why dump it all, hope for lottery luck (and by the way, that strategy costs us the BKYN pick next year since that's a swap) and then try to rebuild around the same kind of flexible, good, young players that are already on this team? Seriously, the "tank next year if we get Simmons" line of thought makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. You're acting like this team has reached it's full potential and can only go downhill. I'm looking at the 5th youngest roster in the NBA, one that keeps wining more games each year, one that is making the playoffs for the 2nd straight year, one with picks to spare and massive available cap space....and I just don't get the whole "wipe the slate clean" theory.

Lewis was 27 years old in the summer of 2007.  He was a free agent, but he easily could have been kept around.  Lewis was the oldest person in the rotation aside from Allen.  Let's not pretend that Seattle was a bunch of old men, it wasn't.  It was a team that won 31 games in the tough western conference with its two best players each missing at least a quarter of the season.  Adding Durant to that team easily could have pushed Seattle to the mid-40 win range in Durant's rookie season.  The similarities are far greater than you are willing to admit. 

If Boston elects to build around the Brooklyn pick, Boston will let go a significant portion of the roster and will allow all those recent draft picks time to grow (Young, Rozier, Hunter, Mickey, and even guys like Smart and KO who are in the rotation but not being fully utilized), while simultaneously "tanking" for its own draft picks.