Hayward is enough, we don't need George.

[Moranis]

Do some googling on the salary cap.

What does this have to do with the post?

Your idea is entirely incompatible with the CBA. Other than that... not much.

Couldn't we sign Hayward and then sign-and-trade for another FA player?

Yes, but then you lose some of the players he wanted to keep (and you can't sign Hayward and keep KO which he also had). 

[droopdog7]

Hayward is enough for what?  To get a little better but not nearly good enough?  Ainge is going for it.  And I am cool with it.

Do you really think PG is going to put us over the hump with Lebron still in the conference?

Are you looking for a guarantee?  I think it puts us in the conversation to beat Cle and GS.  Will it happen?  Who knows but it would be fun to try.

[celticinorlando]

There is a real concern that Boston gets no Hayward, Griffin or George. If this is the case, I don't see Boston doing anything much but resigning KO.

If this is the case, then continue to build through the draft, resign AB and IT and keep building for down the road. Boston would still be the second best in the east for a few more years but they would win with their own

Replace Amir Zeller, Young with Yabu and Zizic

[Pucaccia]

Hayward is enough for what?  To get a little better but not nearly good enough?  Ainge is going for it.  And I am cool with it.

Do you really think PG is going to put us over the hump with Lebron still in the conference?

Are you looking for a guarantee?  I think it puts us in the conversation to beat Cle and GS.  Will it happen?  Who knows but it would be fun to try.

Not looking for guarantee.  I would love to have PG, but I wouldn't load the boat for him. I would try to get 60 cents on the dollar. Unless, he agrees to an extension as a stipulation to the trade.

[flybono]

I've blasted Ainge in the past for lack of trades. In this scenario both GH and PG play the same position the 3..

The 18 picks by trade are gold with Porter and Bamba.
Organization has waited this long what's another 82 games for a chance at both..

Sign Hayward, find a #2 and a #4 by trade.

18 free agent class is loaded with vets maybe Davis is available as well....

[footey]

Hayward is enough for what?  To get a little better but not nearly good enough?  Ainge is going for it.  And I am cool with it.

No he's not.

He'll go after Hayward, and if not him, Griffin, and if not him, a 2nd tier FA + re-signing a few guys (or working on extensions for others, like some of our guards).

George + Hayward is not happening, and it seems like George is fully set on joining the Lakers.

premature. none of us have any clue, nor, I suspect, does Danny. 

Indy is not likely to do any deal until we settle our Hayward issue. If he signs, we immediately jump into negotiations with Indy.  If Hayward does not sign, I doubt we would pursue George with much value to offer, since it is unlikely that his stay here would be compelling enough. 

[Bobshot]

I'd settle for Hayward and a Bill Russell type who can control the boards and plug the middle.

Any of you watch the Simmons interview of Russell on NBA TV yesterday? If you did, you got an idea of Russell's role on those 11 championship teams. There was a lot of video of that era, in the 50s and 60s.

It's clear how they did it. Russ got the rebound, spun in the air and passed it to Cousy (or later, KC Jones). Cousy started the fast break down the court with 3 other guys well spread on the floor. The idea was to beat the defense down the floor and get easy baskets. Layups often, but shots in the key or perimeter, as warranted. In those days, they had great scorers like Cousy, Sharman, Heinsohn; then later Sam Jones, Havlicek.... The combination of Russell on the boards and the fast break transition game proved to be unbeatable.

Simmons comment was it was quite similar to the game the Celtics play right now. They are at their best in the fast break game whenever you see them.

So what's missing? Well, they need another scorer. IT isn't enough. Maybe Hayward would be the other. They also need a Russell like player who can dominate the boards and get the ball to the PG for the fast break. That would not be Horford. But it could be Jordan. He is a similar type of player as Russell,  though not as dominant as Russell was. Russ couldn't shoot foul shots either, by the way.

I realize Stevens is a bit young to remember that era, but I think he's hit a wall with the team he currently has. Ainge is more likely to recall that era. The team he played with was not dissimilar from the Russell teams. Another big scorer and an inside big who can get the ball may be a better approach to Hayward and George, though I'm not opposed to that.

You have a rebounder, a PG and three other guys who spread the floor and beat the defense down the court. Two or three passes for the best shot, whether it's a layup, mid range or a 3. That's how they play right now at their best. But they lack the rebounder and the 2nd shooter with IT.

[Vermont Green]

I don't think Hayward is enough, I don't even really want to sign him.  We would have two players, Horford and Hayward, taking up about 60% of our cap (about $57-58M combined).  In contrast, GSW are paying Thompson and Green about $32M combined.  Who is getting the better value there?

If we sign Hayward, we are essentially cap-locked with two players who are not good enough.  For one season (and assuming his hip is OK), we will still be very competitive because we have Thomas on such a good contract.  But after one year, we will not be able to sign him unless we go big into luxury tax.

I don't believe that team with Horford and Hayward both on Max contracts, surrounded by a bunch of guys on rookie contracts or minimum contracts (plus Crowder), is going to be very good.  2017-18 may not be bad but what about after that?  IT? gone.  Bradley? gone.  George (if we get him) gone and in the case of George, everything we trade is gone too.

My plan is sign Griffin and trade Horford, then try to get a hometown discount on Thomas in 2018 and go from there based on how the rookies perform.  To me, Hayward represents squandering future cap space for a player I am just not that excited about (at that price).

[mctyson]

Hayward puts us at a step below Cleveland and 3rd to fifth best in the NBA.  Adding George, in addition to Hayward, puts us a tiny bit ahead of Cleveland and gives us a puncher's chance against the Warriors.  Plus, we would still have young talent to grow in the future.  How we pay everyone come 2018 and beyond, I have no idea.

I would rather take position (A) in your post here with the option of retaining Crowder and re-signing Bradley, then dumping both of them for a "puncher's chance."

[Celtics4ever]

and a Bill Russell type who can control the boards and plug the middle.

those types do not grow on trees.

[Dino Pitino]

Bump, because we need this thread for rationalization therapy right now. Who needs those grapes, they were sour anyway!

[__ramonezy__]

Hayward is a sufficient step in the right direction... because of our picks the way teams negotiate with us is different...

At the trade deadline everyone was on Ainge for not making a move and lauding the Raptors for their aggressive style... couple months later we were in the ECF and the Raptors team is in disarray.

In order to truly contend the x factors are Brown and Tatum. Im looking towards a decent 2nd year jump.

[Tr1boy]

I feel Hayward is enough, we don't need Paul George.

We get Hayward and we get to keep Bradley, Crowder, KO. We can go for a lower tier scorer like Gallinari, Milsap, etc.

Too bad he is not signing with the Celts

No honestly , I dont think he will now.

[celticinorlando]

I feel Hayward is enough, we don't need Paul George.

We get Hayward and we get to keep Bradley, Crowder, KO. We can go for a lower tier scorer like Gallinari, Milsap, etc.

Too bad he is not signing with the Celts

No honestly , I dont think he will now.

I agree with you. I actually think he goes to Miami. I think Boston finishes a third for him

[CelticsElite]

Hayward, Tatum and ojeleye with random vets. Ill take it