Hot Take Predictions for Next Season

[jpotter33]

Cousins is traded to Boston, Durant re-signs in OKC, the Spurs sign Mike Conley and the Warriors lose to the Spurs in the playoffs.

I'd really love to see that happen, but at this point I just really can't see anything happening this year.

[Phantom255x]

Celtics Draft:
1. Celtics Draft Jaylen Brown at #3
2. Celtics Draft Valentine or Sabonis at #16 (whoever is available)
3. Celtics Draft Thon Maker at #23
4. Celtics Draft A.J Hammons at #31
5. Celtics Draft Ben Bentil at #35
6. (Rest of the Second Round goes by)

Celtics Free Agency:
1. Re-Sign Evan Turner at 4 Years/40M (Team Option 4th Year)
2. Let go of Sullinger and Zeller
3. Pick up the options of Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko
4. Sign Jared Dudley at 3 Years/20M (Team Option 3rd Year)
5. Sign Joakim Noah on an Amir-like deal at 2 Years/25M (non guaranteed 2nd year)

2016-2017 Roster
PG: Isaiah/Smart/Rozier
SG: Bradley/Turner/Hunter
SF: Crowder/Dudley/Brown
PF: Amir/Olynyk/Jerebko
C: Noah/Mickey

Throw in a few draft picks who may be on the bench next season as well.

For those complaining about not wanting to "waste cap space" and keeping cap flexibility, note that the cap will rise another 15-20M next offseason, and also Amir, Noah, and Jerebko could be let go next season and that saves about another 20M, and the only significant signings this offseason are Noah, Dudley, and Turner.

So trust me, we keep cap flexibility after all this and still have tons of $$$ to potentially go after two-max stars in 2017 or 2018 Free Agency

[Phantom255x]

Around the NBA
1. Durant signs a 1+1 with OKC 

2. Cavaliers trade Love to Minnesota for Wiggins 

3. Lakers sign DeRozan at max and Ezeli for 3/50M 

4. Sixers pick Simmons, manage 20 wins, get 2nd pick in next year's draft 

5. Nets finish last in the NBA, Celtics have the #1 pick in next year's draft 

6. Celtics finish with a 51-31 record; 2nd seed in the East; Lose to Cleveland in the ECF 

7. Many teams overpay and are capped out during next season's FA period, except Boston 

8. Cousins will get traded at the deadline, but not to Boston (so who is the mystery team?) 

9. Rondo signs back with Boston (Wait What!!??!?) 

10. Spurs shock the world, win the NBA Finals over Cleveland despite an aging squad 

[jpotter33]

Celtics Draft:
1. Celtics Draft Jaylen Brown at #3
2. Celtics Draft Valentine or Sabonis at #16 (whoever is available)
3. Celtics Draft Thon Maker at #23
4. Celtics Draft A.J Hammons at #31
5. Celtics Draft Ben Bentil at #35
6. (Rest of the Second Round goes by)

Celtics Free Agency:
1. Re-Sign Evan Turner at 4 Years/40M (Team Option 4th Year)
2. Let go of Sullinger and Zeller
3. Pick up the options of Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko
4. Sign Jared Dudley at 3 Years/20M (Team Option 3rd Year)
5. Sign Joakim Noah on an Amir-like deal at 2 Years/25M (non guaranteed 2nd year)

2016-2017 Roster
PG: Isaiah/Smart/Rozier
SG: Bradley/Turner/Hunter
SF: Crowder/Dudley/Brown
PF: Amir/Olynyk/Jerebko
C: Noah/Mickey

Throw in a few draft picks who may be on the bench next season as well.

For those complaining about not wanting to "waste cap space" and keeping cap flexibility, note that the cap will rise another 15-20M next offseason, and also Amir, Noah, and Jerebko could be let go next season and that saves about another 20M, and the only significant signings this offseason are Noah, Dudley, and Turner.

So trust me, we keep cap flexibility after all this and still have tons of $$$ to potentially go after two-max stars in 2017 or 2018 Free Agency

That wouldn't be a bad back-up plan if we strike on the major free agents and trades, though I'd certainly try to package 16, 23, and some second rounders to try and move up from 16 to maybe grab someone like Poeltl or even one of the consensue top-8 guys that might fall on draft night.

Also, though we'd have an absolute superb defense, I think this starting lineup is even worse offensively than last year's starting lineup.

[Phantom255x]

Celtics Draft:
1. Celtics Draft Jaylen Brown at #3
2. Celtics Draft Valentine or Sabonis at #16 (whoever is available)
3. Celtics Draft Thon Maker at #23
4. Celtics Draft A.J Hammons at #31
5. Celtics Draft Ben Bentil at #35
6. (Rest of the Second Round goes by)

Celtics Free Agency:
1. Re-Sign Evan Turner at 4 Years/40M (Team Option 4th Year)
2. Let go of Sullinger and Zeller
3. Pick up the options of Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko
4. Sign Jared Dudley at 3 Years/20M (Team Option 3rd Year)
5. Sign Joakim Noah on an Amir-like deal at 2 Years/25M (non guaranteed 2nd year)

2016-2017 Roster
PG: Isaiah/Smart/Rozier
SG: Bradley/Turner/Hunter
SF: Crowder/Dudley/Brown
PF: Amir/Olynyk/Jerebko
C: Noah/Mickey

Throw in a few draft picks who may be on the bench next season as well.

For those complaining about not wanting to "waste cap space" and keeping cap flexibility, note that the cap will rise another 15-20M next offseason, and also Amir, Noah, and Jerebko could be let go next season and that saves about another 20M, and the only significant signings this offseason are Noah, Dudley, and Turner.

So trust me, we keep cap flexibility after all this and still have tons of $$$ to potentially go after two-max stars in 2017 or 2018 Free Agency

That wouldn't be a bad back-up plan if we strike on the major free agents and trades, though I'd certainly try to package 16, 23, and some second rounders to try and move up from 16 to maybe grab someone like Poeltl or even one of the consensue top-8 guys that might fall on draft night.

Also, though we'd have an absolute superb defense, I think this starting lineup is even worse offensively than last year's starting lineup.

I see your point. I see Dudley as a scorer off the bench (can be our 3 point sharpshooter like Korver was against us last year).

I think Ainge will take either Dunn or Brown at #3 but both of them still have question marks primarily with their shooting so we'll see.

Sullinger and Zeller will probably get 12-15M/Year elsewhere.

And yeah I'm not predicting any major trades of FA signings, though I'd like Whiteside but I don't think he's a popular player around here and also it's hard for him to pass up either Miami or LAL.

[Csfan1984]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

[Ilikesports17]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

would be shocked to see Melo waive his NTC to go to Sacremento
everything else would be reasonable.

[Phantom255x]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

would be shocked to see Melo waive his NTC to go to Sacremento
everything else would be reasonable.

Do the Heat have that much cap space to re-sign Whiteside AND sign Horford?

Also doubt Melo goes to SAC (no-trade clause) and why would Barnes go to Brooklyn?

[Csfan1984]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

would be shocked to see Melo waive his NTC to go to Sacremento
everything else would be reasonable.

Do the Heat have that much cap space to re-sign Whiteside AND sign Horford?

Also doubt Melo goes to SAC (no-trade clause) and why would Barnes go to Brooklyn?

They would have the space if Bosh medically retires.

For Melo LA is a quick charter flight away. Sacramento is a ok place to live, good weather too. Can see his wife getting behind on being there. He pairs up with Cousins as well.

Nets are a team desperate enough to pay Barnes upper level $ for three years and not blink an eye. Anything to not suffer giving C's three top three picks in consecutive drafts.

[Fafnir]

They would have the space if Bosh medically retires.

This isn't true actually. NBA Medical retirement rules are complicated there is a waiting period:

The waiting period depends on the number games in which the player played in the season:1

If the player played 10 or more games in a season, the team can apply on the one-year anniversary of the player's last game.
If the player played fewer than 10 in a season, the team can apply 60 days after his last game, or the one-year anniversary of his last game in the previous season, whichever is later.

So even if he's forced to retire his salary would stay on the books till 02/09/2017

And of course there is the matter of Bosh clearly wants to continue his career, so this could end up being a big dispute between him and the Heat with competing experts and doctors.

[Rondo9]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

would be shocked to see Melo waive his NTC to go to Sacremento
everything else would be reasonable.

Do the Heat have that much cap space to re-sign Whiteside AND sign Horford?

Also doubt Melo goes to SAC (no-trade clause) and why would Barnes go to Brooklyn?

Nets are a team desperate enough to pay Barnes upper level $ for three years and not blink an eye. Anything to not suffer giving C's three top three picks in consecutive drafts.

Bully King is no longer the gm

[jpotter33]

Think season is too tough to call off season though I can see
-Melo is traded. I'm thinking Kings though.
-Cavs remain mostly unchanged.
-Spurs do sign Conley
-C's trade three picks for future picks no other draft trades.
-DeRozan signs with Lakers.
-Heat sign Hordford and keep Whiteside. Bosh medically retires.
-KD signs 1+ deal stays with OKC.
-Barnes goes to Nets

would be shocked to see Melo waive his NTC to go to Sacremento
everything else would be reasonable.

Yeah, no way that happens.

Heat could sign Horford and keep Whiteside, but they'd have to lose Wade, which seems unlikely. Whiteside might also have to take a bit of a pay cut from his max, depending upon the numbers.

Also, even after his postseason, I can't see the Warriors letting Barnes go unless they're positive they can sign Durant. They'll probably match any Brooklyn offer.

[Csfan1984]

They would have the space if Bosh medically retires.

This isn't true actually. NBA Medical retirement rules are complicated there is a waiting period:

The waiting period depends on the number games in which the player played in the season:1

If the player played 10 or more games in a season, the team can apply on the one-year anniversary of the player's last game.
If the player played fewer than 10 in a season, the team can apply 60 days after his last game, or the one-year anniversary of his last game in the previous season, whichever is later.

So even if he's forced to retire his salary would stay on the books till 02/09/2017

And of course there is the matter of Bosh clearly wants to continue his career, so this could end up being a big dispute between him and the Heat with competing experts and doctors.

The Heat do have a way of getting things done I'm sure it will all work out in their favor. They will probably get some leway as this is a chronic and on going situation that Bosh has missed games for in two seasons now.

[slamtheking]

Hot Takes:
- Danny takes Kris Dunn with #3.  Dunn is used in a deal to acquire Jimmy Butler.  Half the blog will think we got a steal while the other half think we grossly overpaid.  Deal is likely centered around #3 + AB for Butler.  Other smaller pieces included on both sides to even it out.
- Danny swings a deal for Okafor without having to use the #3 (obviously).  Deal likely centers around Smart and a late first.  Other smaller pieces included on both sides to even it out.  I'd say Covington but I'll aim low and figure otherwise.  Half will think we overpaid and half will not.
- Danny signs Al Horford as a FA.
- Danny's only first rounder kept in this year's draft is #16 with which he takes a big man people didn't think would be there -- one of Sabonis, Ellenson or Poeltl.  (probably Sabonis). 
- Danny grabs Ben Bentil with #46 and looks like a steal in camp.  The later 2 second rounder are the only other picks kept and they're used for draft-and-stash candidates.
- Sully and Zeller are not retained.
- Turner is resigned at fair market value for 3 years.  No discounts taken by Turner.
- JJ and Amir are retained.
- Danny signs a couple of glue-guy vets for the bench.  Dudley would be a probably signing.

Opening day roster:
IT, Butler, Crowder, Horford, Okafor

Bench: Rozier, KO, Amir, JJ, Turner, Dudley,
Deep Bench: Bentil, Sabonis/#16, vet big man, vet PG.

I think that's a pretty decently balanced roster.  would like a little better shooting at SG and SF but not completely off the wall in terms of stretching reality.


- Danny signs

[Drucci]

Cousins is traded to Boston, Durant re-signs in OKC, the Spurs sign Mike Conley and the Warriors lose to the Spurs in the playoffs.

I'd really love to see that happen, but at this point I just really can't see anything happening this year.

Why not?