Only 2 paths forward this offseason

[chambers]

I think if we get Simmons or Ingram then a blow up scenario is certainly a possibility.

Not a complete blow up, but a youth movement of sorts.

If we got Simmons, he could simply replace Sullinger and provide an upgrade in scoring so Ainge could also continue the rebuild as currently planned.

[PhoSita]

The way I see it, the Celts have one clear-cut All-Star in Isaiah Thomas.  He's got at least 2-3 years left playing at that level, barring major injuries.

Aside from Thomas, the Celts have a number of nice, reasonably paid role players.  Bradley, Crowder, Amir, Olynyk, Jerebko, Smart.  Turner, Zeller, and Sullinger have been bargains but will get overpaid this summer in all likelihood.

Then there's a handful of rookie contract guys who have shown little to nothing so far.  Might be rotation players someday, might not.



I don't think it makes sense to completely "blow up" this roster.  At the same time, nobody on the roster should be off the table in a trade for a top 10-20 player (e.g. Butler, Cousins, etc).

Other than Isaiah, I think every spot in the rotation should be looked at this summer.  The current group is nice but it's not good enough, and simply settling for the same basic thing plus a top 5 prospect shouldn't be acceptable.

If nothing else, shuffling some of the current supporting pieces around will be necessary to make room for the huge influx of rookie players (plus the ones that have rotted on the bench this year) if Ainge is unable to get some value in trades for all of these draft picks.

[Big333223]

So much overreaction on the forum these days. It's pathetic.

This.

What does blowing it up mean? Trading for young players and future assetts? We already have those things! What we need to do is develop the talent we have, and use the picks intelligently (in a good trade or in picking players with star potential in the draft).

[Vermont Green]

I agree with the dissenting opinions.  To blow it up generally means to get rid of older, over-paid players.  We don't have any.  There is no need to "dump" (trade for draft picks) Thomas and Crowder because they are on good contracts.  Keeping them does not prevent us from doing anything and we have plenty of draft picks and young players.

Now if we could trade say Thomas and Crowder for Butler, maybe you do something like that but I don't consider that blowing it up.

To me, the options are keep drafting, keep trying to trade, and keep trying to attract good FAs (don't overpay unless they are really good).  These are not mutually exclusive either.  We have to hope we can trade for, sign, or draft a player that is or turns into a really great player.  Just as we have been doing the last few years.

We are mining for gold and we have to hope that at some point, we strike it rich.

[LooseCannon]

I agree with the dissenting opinions.  To blow it up generally means to get rid of older, over-paid players.  We don't have any.  There is no need to "dump" (trade for draft picks) Thomas and Crowder because they are on good contracts.  Keeping them does not prevent us from doing anything and we have plenty of draft picks and young players.

Blowing it up implies rebuilding through the draft, which suggests trading the veterans who are the biggest impediments to a tank job, who are Thomas, Crowder, and Bradley.

[PaulP34]

These 8-10 players u talk about are trade chips. Boston has so much money this off season they can attract 2 Max deals. Plus a Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. load of draft picks. I think u are underestimating Danny Ainge. Players were walking up to IT at the break asking him about Boston and how it is playing for The young coach. There's clearly interest league wide. Then IT comes out n says playing in Boston is the best thing that ever happened to him. U don't think players r thinking about the money, trade chips n tradition Boston has at its disposal ? Name me one team in the NBA that wouldn't want to be in Boston's position right now (besides Golden State) n even they envy us in some ways... Don't get it twisted, Ainge got this n u need to keep the faith...

[greece66]

I think this off season is the turning point.  This roster has reached its ceiling.  The two paths forward are:

1. Successful free agency and trades, or,
2. Blow it up

Let's look at each path.

Most Celtics fans would want Path 1 to work out.  Supplement the existing roster with a true superstar and more talent such as Durant, Horford, Cousins, Butler via trade or free agency.  IMO Ainge needs to go all out this off-season to achieve this.  If he fails the next option is blowing it up.

What does blowing it up mean?  To me it means moving on from players that may be fine rotation players but have reached their ceiling (Sullinger, Jerebko, Zeller).  These players are easily replaceable if need be. The team should not be allowed to wallow in mediocrity and have first round bow outs.  Time to restart the rebuild.  Are RJ Hunter, Young, Mickey ever going to amount to something? Let's find out by giving them 20-30 minutes a night.
Accumulate assets. Trade Bradley for a first rounder in a future draft or a young underused player.  Perhaps even trade Thomas for a future draft pick or two.  Sounds a little like the Philly plan but the roster as currently constructed does not have a legitimate chance at a championship or even a deep playoff run in a weak Eastern Conference.

Players that stay in a blow up scenario:

Smart
Rozier
Hunter
Mickey
Young
Olynyk
Crowder


Everyone else is tradeable.

Sam, we all know you are looking for a job now. Thanks but no thanks.

[Vermont Green]

I agree with the dissenting opinions.  To blow it up generally means to get rid of older, over-paid players.  We don't have any.  There is no need to "dump" (trade for draft picks) Thomas and Crowder because they are on good contracts.  Keeping them does not prevent us from doing anything and we have plenty of draft picks and young players.

Blowing it up implies rebuilding through the draft, which suggests trading the veterans who are the biggest impediments to a tank job, who are Thomas, Crowder, and Bradley.

Ah, OK I see what you mean but I think blowing it up is different than tanking outright tanking.   Teams in the old days, before tanking was in voge, used to blow it up sometimes.  I don't think the Celtics need to do either.

[kgwannabe]

I doubt they can attract a game-changing free agent as presently constituted. Rather, I'd like to see them package the Brooklyn  pick before the draft for Boogie, then go after either Butler or Durant. Now is the time to expend their accumulated capital. They have a young roster that is poised to compete, but will not attract a first tier free agent until they secure at least one additional piece. With two of those three, they would be well positioned to challenge for about five years.

With Boogie and Durant/Butler, they could easily attract those "specialty" free agents (3 point shooters, defensive stoppers,etc.) on favorable deals who are looking to win a title.

Something like Brooklyn's pick, Boston's pick, and Bradley for Boogie, then Marcus, Dallas's pick and Brooklyn's next year for Butler. Now is the time to overpay to secure the future. It leaves the first pick of the second round this year as well as Brooklyn's in 2018 and give us It/Rozier at point, Butler/Hunter at SG, Durant/Crowder, Olynyk/Mickey stretch 4, then Boogie/? at the 5. A nice squad.

[Roy H.]

Why "blow it up" when, among other reasons, we might not have our pick next year?

There seem to be diminishing returns there.