Sustained success vs Championship in next 1-3 years

[Oxford Celt]

What is more important to Celtics fans: building a team that will be competitive for next 10 years, or putting together a team that will be good enough to win a championship in the next 1-3 years, but will likely only last 4-5 years together?

It seems like the Celtics are now very well positioned to choose either route. My preference would be for the former. Striking the right balance between being competitive now (as this team currently is, and would be even more so if Hayward signs) and having a core of youngsters that could likely go on to form a championship team themselves (as Rozier, Fultz, Smart, Brown, BK18 could do) would surely be a very attractive proposition.

Going after George and trading away the youth and future picks may seem like an attractive proposition in terms of going after a championship in the next few seasons. But if Ainge elects to stick instead of twist, we may have a dynasty on our hands.

[NHCelticsFan]

For me it's the long term.

Our situation has become so unique with those Brooklyn picks.  We drafted Brown last year, who should develop into a very solid two way player.

#1 pick this year and the consensus seems to be that Fultz is a can't miss prospect.

Who knows what will happen next year, but if we hold on to that Brooklyn pick we could have a chance at drafting a legit big man as that draft has a lot of bigs in it.

The current NBA landscape is the Cavs and Warriors, with everyone else fighting for scraps until one of those two teams goes down, so I am more inclined to look at our future.

We could be forming a solid big three of our own through these Nets picks.  Fultz as a dominant scoring guard, Brown as a two way wing, and maybe a strong Big in next years draft.

This upcoming offseason is once again huge for us.  If we can add a player like Hayward using cap space, allowing us to hold on to our best young assets than we could stand a chance of smoothly bridging the gap between the short term and the long term.

Ultimately I prefer the long term and I do not want to trade pieces like Jaylen, this years number one, and next years Nets pick for short term upgrades when the Cavs and Warriors are so dominant.

[PhoSita]

The very best chance at a championship, especially in an era dominated by a couple superteams, is to build a roster that can be in the mix to make the Finals for 5-10 years.


I don't see this is an either/or, however.

Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford should have another 3-4 years left at a high level, at least.

Jaylen Brown has his whole career ahead of him.

Markelle Fultz could be a perennial All-Star talent for a decade or more.  At the very least, the Celts will have him under control for up to 9 years in all likelihood.


The Celts are well equipped to make runs to at least the ECF for the near term, and with the #1 pick in this draft plus Brown, Smart, etc and the 2018 Nets pick, they have a foundation that can extend that window well into the 2020s.

It's the best of both worlds.

[Roy H.]

If there was a set of trades that made us favorites for the title the next 1 to 3 years, I'd 100% prefer that, future or no future.

But, those trades don't exist as far as I can tell. There are two teams that are historically great right now, and we're not going to be able to match up with them in the short term.

Now, if there's a way to add Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and PG13, I'll adjust my opinion.

[Somebody]

I'd just take it slow, if we can't sign Hayward we're better off trading for Melo for cheap (honestly Phil just wants him off the roster so they have the cap space to survive Noah's and Lee's contracts) so he'd be available for like Crowder and a first (this trade would happen in the summer so we would simply absorb his contract). Danny wanted him before so I'm pretty sure he doesn't think he's a cancer like Cousins. I trust his judgment.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I'd just take it slow, if we can't sign Hayward we're better off trading for Melo for cheap (honestly Phil just wants him off the roster so they have the cap space to survive Noah's and Lee's contracts) so he'd be available for like Crowder and a first (this trade would happen in the summer so we would simply absorb his contract). Danny wanted him before so I'm pretty sure he doesn't think he's a cancer like Cousins. I trust his judgment.

what first rounder?
Anthony is 33 and on the decline. Phil was stupid and should have traded him this past summer.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I have concerns of just how well Horford and IT will age. Most posts seem to all agree that players play at high levels until age 35...and then they decline. Not everyone is Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan because those guys are HOFers.

Smart is also a guy I'm concerned about. I've been waiting 3 years for him to improve his first-step and overall quickness. He had the highest bf% out of any pg drafted in the lotto since 2000, yet still put up very nice athletic measurements/times. If anything Smart has gotten more overweight and IMO he is messing up a golden opportunity to drastically improve his quickness.

Jaylen will be more than a "solid" 2 way player IMO. There is a lot of love for Butler on here , and he is a fine player, but IMO Jaylen could be his own version of Butler.

[Moranis]

If there was a set of trades that made us favorites for the title the next 1 to 3 years, I'd 100% prefer that, future or no future.

But, those trades don't exist as far as I can tell. There are two teams that are historically great right now, and we're not going to be able to match up with them in the short term.

Now, if there's a way to add Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and PG13, I'll adjust my opinion.

I think if Boston added Griffin in free agency and then moved Crowder, Smart, and Fultz for George, Boston would have a real shot at a title in the next 3 years and would still have Brown and next year's BKN pick for the future.

[CelticsElite]

For me it's the long term.

Our situation has become so unique with those Brooklyn picks.  We drafted Brown last year, who should develop into a very solid two way player.

#1 pick this year and the consensus seems to be that Fultz is a can't miss prospect.

Who knows what will happen next year, but if we hold on to that Brooklyn pick we could have a chance at drafting a legit big man as that draft has a lot of bigs in it.

The current NBA landscape is the Cavs and Warriors, with everyone else fighting for scraps until one of those two teams goes down, so I am more inclined to look at our future.

We could be forming a solid big three of our own through these Nets picks.  Fultz as a dominant scoring guard, Brown as a two way wing, and maybe a strong Big in next years draft.

This upcoming offseason is once again huge for us.  If we can add a player like Hayward using cap space, allowing us to hold on to our best young assets than we could stand a chance of smoothly bridging the gap between the short term and the long term.

Ultimately I prefer the long term and I do not want to trade pieces like Jaylen, this years number one, and next years Nets pick for short term upgrades when the Cavs and Warriors are so dominant.

best post seen in a while


The Brooklyn picks are their own big 3. Pretty funny how it was the result of trading the old big 2.5 lol( kg pierce and terry)

[CelticsJG]

Long term.

[RockinRyA]

If there was a set of trades that made us favorites for the title the next 1 to 3 years, I'd 100% prefer that, future or no future.

But, those trades don't exist as far as I can tell. There are two teams that are historically great right now, and we're not going to be able to match up with them in the short term.

Now, if there's a way to add Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and PG13, I'll adjust my opinion.

We trade for Durant and Lebron then 

[Roy H.]

If there was a set of trades that made us favorites for the title the next 1 to 3 years, I'd 100% prefer that, future or no future.

But, those trades don't exist as far as I can tell. There are two teams that are historically great right now, and we're not going to be able to match up with them in the short term.

Now, if there's a way to add Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and PG13, I'll adjust my opinion.

I think if Boston added Griffin in free agency and then moved Crowder, Smart, and Fultz for George, Boston would have a real shot at a title in the next 3 years and would still have Brown and next year's BKN pick for the future.

Maybe, or maybe that team struggles like the Clippers.

My guess would be that Cleveland and Golden State still crushes us.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

this is why i am not crazy about adding Pg or JB by giving up picks. i will gladly add a FA that will stay long term and is young enough to help us get our dynasty started but  i want to keep the picks and youngsters and develop a dynasty that will last 10 years. i do not want another KG type of window of 5 years like we had from 2008 to 2012.  DYNASTY! DEVELOP THE KIDS!

[C3LTSF4N]

Sustained sucess all day.  I'd rather be resilient with many opportunities at a title over a span vs all in for a small window.  What if we get injuries after cashing everything in for a 1-3 year shot and squander it?  We're set up way too well to need to take any sort of risk like that.

Besides that's how you attract more stars; sustained success.  This is why stars/vets want into San Antonio and Golden State.  They have home grown talent and good organizations with consistency.  They aren't making desperation moves for a possibility of a single title. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Sustained sucess all day.  I'd rather be resilient with many opportunities at a title over a span vs all in for a small window.  What if we get injuries after cashing everything in for a 1-3 year shot and squander it?  We're set up way too well to need to take any sort of risk like that.

Besides that's how you attract more stars; sustained success.  This is why stars/vets want into San Antonio and Golden State.  They have home grown talent and good organizations with consistency.  They aren't making desperation moves for a possibility of a single title. 

agreed. let's make sure we will be here for a long time and that everybody sees we are not going away due to fluke injuries that derailed us in 2009 and 2011. we blew it in 2010 but could have 3 peated easily IMO.