How much do the celtics need a star?

[walker834]

Quite a bit I think.  Will be interested to see the team this year.  Thing is, we have 3 players that I think have star potential (Smart, Brown, and Rozier) plus those two Nets picks. Not saying any of those 3 is a sure bet, but I think the potential is clearly there.   I don't want to gut the roster in a trade but we need firepower to get over Cleveland.  Lets not forget teams with a lot of talent and at least two "star" level players have crashed against Cleveland and been struck down (ATL and Toronto).

But I really like the attitude and composition of this team, plus Stevens coaching.

This is what i don't want though is to end up a team like the Clippers or Hawks that just add talent with no grasp of the bigger picture or how a team is constructed. Even OKC was not able to get over the hump with Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka and a seemingly decent supporting cast. 

Every team that has won a championship there has been some sort of inguenuity outside of the status quo.

I can see Westbrook even fitting into that but I hope we keep a grasp on the bigger picture in ways.

The Hawks aren't a terrible franchise but I just look at the moves they make and they are very bland.

[Bobshot]

Except for Horford, and maybe IT, I'd trade most of the rest of their team and the picks for Westbrook and Griffin or Cousins. That would give them a core they could build around. The rest of the team would be what's left after the trades. Right now, I doubt they can get much beyond 50 wins.

As for player options, I think with that kind of a winning core, probably a 60 win team, the players would want to remain with the Celtics. The key is to get the two stars.

[Celtics18]

Well, we already have two stars in Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford.  It would be nice if the next star is developed from within.

If the OP meant that we need a "superstar," there are only three or four of those in the league.  We tried really hard on on of them in free agency and lost out at the last minute, two of them are not going anywhere, and rumor has it that we are in trade talks for the last guy on the fringes of the "superstar" list.

[walker834]

What I'm saying is there has to be some bigger picture here.  I don't think Ainge just makes trades to make them. The idea is to w in a championship and we aren't looking too shabby here where we have to throw ourselves at other teams overly.

I would be all for Griffin if we can get him for crowder and picks and then make a run at westbrook and signing both to extensions.  But making moves in and of itself do not get us a championship.

I wouldn't gut our team for either.  Giving up Crowder and a pick  is completely fine to me.  If westbrook then becomes that missing piece then I might give up a bigger piece but I would still hold my cards in ways.

I'm trying to keep our core in tact while adding to that. We have pieces where we can substitute certan things but some players are much more valuable to us than others. 

I'd much rather Ainge build something here than just gutting our entire team for a star whichever way that may be.

It may be culpable where we can put us in better position this offseason than next as far as making trades if we can sign players to extensions.  How realistic that is is anyones guess.  As far as Boogie, deals have to be there to be made.  Right now Ainge may be trying to pair Griffin with Westbrook but we don't know how realistic that is at this point in time. It makes sense he would in that regard but we will see.

Pairing Westbrook with Griffin, if we can get them with stipulations is obviously better than going after Hayward next year and hoping he comes here.  They are more talented and  they would be our own players depending on what we give up. 

These are just rumors right now though.  Sherrod has us waiting for Hayward next year and it just seems like any star when that's not how it works. 

[walker834]

I'm really fine with our team as it stands for the most part though.  Minus having too many picks and not enough roster spots for so many interchangeable roleplayers our roster is fine. There are other ways to build if we don't get these guys.

I would not sacrifice our core in any deal unless it means it is puttng us in position to win a championship. Crowder and a pick I do not consider that to be our core overly.  Obviously as you go up our roster players have differing values.

If we are getting both Westbrook and Griffin then I would move some guys possibly.

[Pvictor11]

I think we could use a star, but I also think it's possible to compete without having that alphadog on your team. San Antonio won in 2014 without having that amazing superstar. Leonard wasn't in that level yet. Tim Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker were not in superstars status anymore. They won by team effort and great coaching. And I believe we can build something like that with time.

Once a superstar always a superstar..... you need to understand that.a

I disagree with this statement. I'm talking about superstar level playing wise, not media or marketing. In 2014 Duncan, ginobili and Parker did not play in superstar level basketball.

If what you are saying is true, then bring back KG and Pierce and let's try another run at a championship, since they are still superstars