Can the Celts Challenge LeBron If Hayward Goes Elsewhere?

[PhoSita]

Simple question:

If Gordon Hayward signs elsewhere, what can the Celtics do this summer to be in a position to challenge LeBron next year?


To me, if the answer is "probably nothing unless the Cavs suffer major injuries," I don't see the point in running this back.

Isaiah and Horford are the faces of this team, and will be for another few years at least.

But otherwise, let's give Jaylen and Tatum lots of time.  They're the future of the team.  Let's see what Zizic can do. 

In short, let's agree that next year is a bridge / development year and not pretend otherwise.


Also, I'd let Olynyk walk.  Would rather give his minutes to other players, especially given what he's likely to receive in free agency.

[hodgy03038]

We may challenge them for the most wins in the Eastern Conference along with the Wiz but no - we probably can only beat them one game of 5 again. I am ok with playing our new young guys to get them experience though.

[Who]

If they get Millsap = maybe yeah.

[Roy H.]

I don't think so.

If we'd gotten George, perhaps. If we'd gotten Boogie last season, perhaps.

At this point, there aren't many elite players available for a bag of balls.

[liam]

If the Celtics are healthy they can challenge The CAVS...

[max215]

Seems highly unlikely, unless someone is unexpectedly available.

[Vox_Populi]

Marcus Smart turning into 2009 Dwyane Wade is the only way.

[Vermont Green]

I think it is more likely that Toronto, Washington, or another team catches us than we catch CLE.

[PhoSita]

If the Celtics are healthy they can challenge The CAVS...

I don't agree.

[the TRUTH]

If I had to put money on it, I'd still pick the Cavs to win the East in 2018. Boston by no means would be the favorite, but a lot can happen between now and next May.

While the Cavs pulled it together by the time the playoffs rolled around in 2017, there's plenty of dysfunction both on and off the court there, and that may only get worse over the coming calendar year. In the wake of losing in the Finals, combined with the internal pressure of LeBron's pending free agency and the (potential) hire of a GM with zero front office experience, the Cavs could easily implode (relatively speaking) this coming season. I'm not saying they'll drop off the face of the earth, but being a 2 or 3 seed and not having enough chemistry to pull it together for another monster Eastern Conference playoff run is certainly possible.

If that happens, a team like Boston, Toronto or Washington could make things interesting. Two huge keys to me are whether or not Jaylen Brown makes the leap this coming year and how good Tatum can be by the time the playoffs roll around. If Brown has truly taken his game to another level, Tatum is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate and plays like it in the playoffs, IT is healthy and continues playing at the same level, the rest of our core stays healthy and either improves or at least stays the same, and we've added some rebounding and interior defense (whether from a rookie or a minor offseason or midseason acquisition), I do think the Cavs could be beatable.

Obviously, a lot of "if's" would have to break in our favor, but the good news is that the future would still be bright with the amount of young talent and draft assets we have.

[PhoSita]

Let's be clear on one thing:

@BillSimmons

Prediction: if the Celts don't get Gordon Hayward, they will regroup quickly and try to land Carmelo.

Carmelo Anthony isn't going to help the Celts get past LeBron.  I don't think you could have an adequate defense with Thomas, Melo, and Horford sharing the floor.

[BitterJim]

Depends on what you mean by "challenge".  If you mean chalenging them for the 1 seed and facing them in the eastern conference finals then, yes, I think we can. If you mean "have a realistic chance of beating them in the eastern conference finals", then short of one of our young guys becoming an all star or better I don't see that happening

[jpotter33]

If we do land Hayward, I think we'll be right there with Cleveland next year, because I think we'll also make a move for a starting caliber 4 to help us, such as Carmelo, Favors, Faried, etc.

Without Hayward, barring a major jump from Brown or Smart I don't think we do much better than we did this year. Perhaps internal improvements and a healthy IT get us to a 6 game series against Cleveland, but that's about it.

I'd much rather blow it all up and put a ton of eggs into the 2018 draft rather than running this same, basic inherently flawed team back again. I'm not down for another year of p--- poor rebounding, lackluster defensive effort, and a severe lack of a secondary scorer behind IT.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

If the Celtics are healthy they can challenge The CAVS...

lololololol

[PhoSita]

If we do land Hayward, I think we'll be right there with Cleveland next year, because I think we'll also make a move for a starting caliber 4 to help us, such as Carmelo, Favors, Faried, etc.

Without Hayward, barring a major jump from Brown or Smart I don't think we do much better than we did this year. Perhaps internal improvements and a healthy IT get us to a 6 game series against Cleveland, but that's about it.

I'd much rather blow it all up and put a ton of eggs into the 2018 draft rather than running this same, basic inherently flawed team back again. I'm not down for another year of p--- poor rebounding, lackluster defensive effort, and a severe lack of a secondary scorer behind IT.

I still feel that IT is the face of the team for the foreseeable future, come hell or high water.  That's part of what the Fultz trade was about.


I'm OK with that.  IT is a fun player to watch.  Horford is really likable and a great mentor for the young players.


Apart from those two, I don't see the point in paying to keep guys like AB, Crowder, Olynyk, Amir, etc.