What would Fultz and IT look like together?

[wdleehi]

I think Fultz and IT should not start together until Fultz develops defensively.


I think both will be 30 minutes a game player, but I think AB could very well be the starter until that point where Fultz can defend in the NBA. 



I think unless something changes, Smart is going to be on the short end in terms of minutes. 

[ETNCeltics]

I think Fultz and IT should not start together until Fultz develops defensively.

I think both will be 30 minutes a game player, but I think AB could very well be the starter until that point where Fultz can defend in the NBA. 

I think unless something changes, Smart is going to be on the short end in terms of minutes.

Seriously doubt  AB is in Boston next year. It's not reasonable to expect Ainge to keep that many guards. If AB's still here it'll probably  be because they couldn't move him for anything worthwhile.

For all his fine qualities, he's simply not good enough to warrant a big payday and our cap space can't tolerate a highly paid role player.

[CF0022]

From listening to Ainge the jist i got is he knows he holds the cards and is just keeping his options open.  The celtics are a very well run organization from ownership to coaching to everything.  They'll keep working at it too. 

I agree though that Fultz isn't going to be on Bradley's level as a rookie.  I don't mind paying bradley either. They can afford to keep him imo.  We have next years pick and 2 bigs coming over from overseas on cheap contracts.  Fultz will also be on a  cheap contract.

We also will have free agency and all of that to find players but if one of our guys is of better value to us Ainge will pay bradley imo.  Bradley isn't even a free agent to my knowledge.  I'll check when his contract is up. But it's basically jerebko, amir and green who are out.  Mickey and jackson as well possibly.

We may even hang onto jerebko as a last option.

It's not luck that's the thing. It is in ways but it also isn't.  The celtics as an organization from the top down to the players  built this and will continue to through hard work and just being really supportive of each other. The celtics are very fortunate to be in that position to be able to do those things.

[wdleehi]

I think Fultz and IT should not start together until Fultz develops defensively.

I think both will be 30 minutes a game player, but I think AB could very well be the starter until that point where Fultz can defend in the NBA. 

I think unless something changes, Smart is going to be on the short end in terms of minutes.

Seriously doubt  AB is in Boston next year. It's not reasonable to expect Ainge to keep that many guards. If AB's still here it'll probably  be because they couldn't move him for anything worthwhile.

For all his fine qualities, he's simply not good enough to warrant a big payday and our cap space can't tolerate a highly paid role player.

I keep thinking Smart will be the player who is out because of no longer needing his PG skills and AB's shooting will be more valuable.


Or it could end up being which one can bring back the better return in a trade.

[CF0022]

Bradley would be a great mentor to fultz at the pro level. Smart too and IT.  All of them really.  Bradley really understands that position though.  Fultz is more accustomed to playing in IT's role.  We have guys who could teach Fultz a thing or two about defense.

Also unless some team offers bradley a max deal to lure him away I don't think bradley is necessarily about the money. He's on an affordable fair contract and will probably continue to get about that if not a little more.  That's fair for him. his next contract will probably be a little more than what he is getting now. 

If his value to us is greater than a free agent or cap space or a trade, or playing time to develop other guys, ainge will continue to pay bradley no doubt.  We aren't necessarily at that point yet.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I agree. I don't think AB necessarily gets traded for that reason.  AB is really starting to reach his potential and is a good defender and rebounder.  Fultz might take a bit and be more a sparkplug his first couple years to give us that extra gear when we need it. He'll probably replace Gerald Green his first couple years.  It's going to be weird how it will all work that way.  But get Fultz this year. Ayton next year.

Get rid of Amir, Jerebko, Green etc.  Still a lot of guards.  Crowder isn't going to be around forever.  Bradley will prbably move on at some point as well, but keeps getting better.

AB is only 26 years old.  So is Crowder.  Smart is 23.  Brown is 20.

I really really hope that Fultz, the #1 pick in the NBA draft, plays more than the Gerald Green role for this team in his first couple of years. If his role is planned to be that limited, then Danny needs to trade him asap.

ante zizic is only 20! we will have alot of youngsters. which will help us contend longer

[JBcat]

I think Fultz & IT are a great combo.

And Fultz is more than "slightly bigger" than IT... he's 6'5" with a 6'10" wingspan.  That's one of the reasons I think his game will translate so well to the NBA.

I didn't realize he was that big.

Say we miss out on a max free agent (which very well could happen), and we don't have to make cap clearing trades.  Would you consider just keeping all our guards for next year?

Fultz is all of 18 roughly 1 to 2 years younger than Brown.  I like the idea of giving him the Green role initially, and I wonder if he can even play some SF, it not now maybe later on when he fills out more.

Smart and Rozier are 22 and around the age where many players make the leap.  I'm less optimistic Smart can, but Rozier has the physical tools where it's possible.  Smart is also so important to our bench. 

Maybe in a year or 2 when Fultz can legally drink you can figure out then which guard you want to trade.  Stevens already goes with 3 guard lineups many times so maybe it could work in the short term.

[tankcity!]

Cant see AB being happy about this

Lol yup. That's my guess as well. Think Ainge will try hardest to deal him. Ideal would be trading Thomas for a younger scorer.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I think Fultz & IT are a great combo.

And Fultz is more than "slightly bigger" than IT... he's 6'5" with a 6'10" wingspan.  That's one of the reasons I think his game will translate so well to the NBA.

I didn't realize he was that big.

Say we miss out on a max free agent (which very well could happen), and we don't have to make cap clearing trades.  Would you consider just keeping all our guards for next year?

Fultz is all of 18 roughly 1 to 2 years younger than Brown.  I like the idea of giving him the Green role initially, and I wonder if he can even play some SF, it not now maybe later on when he fills out more.

Smart and Rozier are 22 and around the age where many players make the leap.  I'm less optimistic Smart can, but Rozier has the physical tools where it's possible.  Smart is also so important to our bench. 

Maybe in a year or 2 when Fultz can legally drink you can figure out then which guard you want to trade.  Stevens already goes with 3 guard lineups many times so maybe it could work in the short term.

While not ideal, I would consider keeping all of our guards.  Marcus can guard some bigger players, and we'd be guaranteed to have a good to great backcourt on the floor at all times.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I think Fultz & IT are a great combo.

And Fultz is more than "slightly bigger" than IT... he's 6'5" with a 6'10" wingspan.  That's one of the reasons I think his game will translate so well to the NBA.

I didn't realize he was that big.

Say we miss out on a max free agent (which very well could happen), and we don't have to make cap clearing trades.  Would you consider just keeping all our guards for next year?

Fultz is all of 18 roughly 1 to 2 years younger than Brown.  I like the idea of giving him the Green role initially, and I wonder if he can even play some SF, it not now maybe later on when he fills out more.

Smart and Rozier are 22 and around the age where many players make the leap.  I'm less optimistic Smart can, but Rozier has the physical tools where it's possible.  Smart is also so important to our bench. 

Maybe in a year or 2 when Fultz can legally drink you can figure out then which guard you want to trade.  Stevens already goes with 3 guard lineups many times so maybe it could work in the short term.

While not ideal, I would consider keeping all of our guards.  Marcus can guard some bigger players, and we'd be guaranteed to have a good to great backcourt on the floor at all times.

for now i agree. IT is going nowhere right now. keep our guards and lets get a SF in FA.  if crowder, jerebko and KO have to go so be it.

[slamtheking]

I'm not expecting Fultz to come in and light it up as a rookie and that's a benefit to his development I think.

I actually see him as the IT replacement rather than a replacement for AB or Smart.  The guy should be able to score (not to the degree IT can but still looks capable of scoring 20+ a game early in his career) and thanks to his size, he won't be the defensive liability that IT is.  Also, seems to be a better passer than IT due to not having issues with passing/seeing over taller PGs.

in 2 years, a backcourt rotation of Fultz/AB starting with Smart/Rozier off the bench would provide a pretty solid backcourt with 3 guys able to run an offense and 3 guys that can shoot/score and at least 3 guys that can defend (and likely 4 depending on Fultz' development).  Also not being buried under a max deal for IT would certainly improve our cap situation for signing FAs to fill any holes we may still have going forward.

[max215]

They could be the most dynamic, unstoppable offensive backcourt in basketball in time. They're also going to make Lillard-McCollum look like the All-Defensive First Team.

[CF0022]

I like Gerald Green and think he is a good guy to have as a sparkplug but he's not going to become this great player. He's basically just being paid to be a good teammate and rah, rah guy at this point in his career.

Bradley is a very good player.  You don't just get rid of a player like that. He's also a core part of this team as far as his talent and everything else as far as a leader too.

This team lacks that extra gear at times because Gerald isn't that good a player. He's ok . Fultz is that good and can do more things.  Bradley gets hurt sometimes too.

It's reminds me of the pats with welker, edelman, etc, etc.. It can work somehow. I don't think Bradley is necessarily welker in this instance.  It's more like bradley is  Edelman and we just got cooks.  Still have all those other wr's too.

IT is Brady in this instance.  Marcus is Gronk. Rozier  is Amendola or Chris Hogan.

Marcus might even be Lagarette Blount.  Horford can be Gronk.  Crowder can be Bennett or Allen.  KO can be one of those guys too.  Plus jaylen.

[The One]

I think it would be wonderful.

Markelle is a versatile defender.

And he just turned 19...maybe another inch of growth?

[kozlodoev]

I think it would be wonderful.

Markelle is a versatile defender.

And he just turned 19...maybe another inch of growth?

By that you mean that he can guard everyone equally poorly?

The guy has major issues with sustained defensive effort and concentration. Let's just hope he'll grow out of it.