Contend, yeah maybe. Win a title, no way.  Melo has proven not to be a winner and Lopez would be a stop-gap but he's not championship center.

No, I don't think so.

I think it would be too easy to defend. The paint clogged with Robin Lopez. A slow front court with Robin Lopez (below average athlete), Horford (average to below average athlete PF) and Melo at SF (below average speed). I think that lack of speed and mobility combined with the reduction in floor spacing with R.Lopez & the iso-tendencies of Melo will hurt movement on offense. Ball and player movement.

And it will make it harder for Isaiah to find driving lanes (due to reduced spacing and less movement) and decrease his effectiveness. Will allow the defense more time between the ball and the rim instead of scrambling on team defense after Isaiah's drives to get out to all those shooters and quicker more mobile forwards.

Against top teams, I think their defenses can bother that offense.

I also think the Celtics defense would be an issue with the starters. Melo is a bottom 5 defensive SF nowadays. Isaiah is the worst defensive PG in the league. That is two of the worst perimeter defenders in the league logging major minutes for you. Robin Lopez is a solid defender but an uneven one. One with clear strengths (size around the basket) and clear weaknesses (lack of footspeed, perimeter defense). Al Horford has had some issues defensively on the perimeter. Has done better defensively at C. The bench would come in with Crowder and Smart and give the team a major lift. There is enough defensive talent there to still be a good defensive team but not an elite. Say in the 8-12 range ranking wise.


Overall .... I think it is more different than better. Not enough improvement I reckon to justify the moves.

No doubt in my mind those trades make us worse.

I don't want Melo on this team ever.   There is a lot of "Me"  in his game and his name.