If we determine that we are inches away from a title, what is the next move?

[jade88]

If we get past the Cavs and come up short to the Warriors, what type of moves would we makes? I know it's a long way off, but we very well might be the top team in the East all the way through. If that is the case, do we have the contracts to make a big trade without hurting our vet core? It makes no sense not to go all in if the Finals are in reach.

[CelticsElite]

You also don't want to mortgage the future just to get swept by the warriors. Its hard for me to see danny trade any of brown/Tatum/bk18/lal18 as they're important pieces for the post-warrior post-lebron league.  I can see him try to trade everything else though.

I don't see trades as a big thing though as they are complicated with the tight salary we got now. I see the team reloading via the draft and free agency, focusing on ring chasing veterans like Dedmon who will play for the min or close. But the rookies will have important roles as where we are expected to pick, they are ready to play. Mike Porter alone would get us over that "inch" hump. Add ayton and maybe diallo or Grayson Allen and we're talking business.
I see us paying the tax to keep Marcus smart. If not maybe the team aims for free agent like shumpert or Gary harris

[LilRip]

Depends what "piece" we need but I can see Ainge trading away a blue chip like Tatum if it meant getting that last piece. Getting to the Finals is never a given. And if you have the talent to get there, absolutely you try to capitalize on it. As talented as KD and the Thunder were, he only made 1 finals appearance pre-GSW.

[hwangjini_1]

buy a ladder. 

[TheSundanceKid]

You do not overpay because that could jeopardize the present and the future.

In terms of moves you would see what the situation is with Davis and what it would take to get him. It's still doubtful to me that he becomes available though. We could use Smart in a s&t along with Crowder and 1 top level pick/player to chase him.
Alternatively we could look at Porzingis again if that ship has not sailed. If things have blown up in Cleveland perhaps Love becomes an option although he is probably too expensive. The luxury tax is still very punitive and we may be thinking about a longer window than just 2-3 years

[Greyman]

Even with GSW so dominant and LeBron with competitive seasons left, you can't make waiting things out your only plan. I think DA has done what he can to keep both options working. He has managed to avoid some plays for all stars that wouldn't have taken the team to where it needed to be but would have cost too much of the future.

If the addition of Hayward works out as hoped, the maturation of Brown continues and some positive contributions from Tatum and the other rookies, the team could be just a player away. That means a lot of things going right and of course requires IT, Horford and Smart to keep playing as well as they have at least.

The conundrum is the only players that would make that difference are probably Davis or LeBron. Durrant if he was available. None of these things seem likely. Right now I feel like the celtics will be frustratingly close but to really contend is just out of reach.

[Celtics4ever]

Play out the picks while competing and hoping someone will falter and we can capitalize.  I am sure Ainge is also hoping someone panics and he can capitalize on it by making a sweet deal.   Teams are asking too much now but maybe as the picks dwindle it might be easier to deal.

[jambr380]

I agree that we do seem to be in a strange position with Cleveland possibly teetering and the rest of the EC being at least a tier below us. It is very possible we could make a few finals appearances with this core of veterans/young players, but it is hard to see us winning more than one game against the Warriors, never mind a series (see Cavs last year).

It seems to me we are more like the Nets of the early 2000s than legitimate championship contenders. In saying that, if your team makes it to the finals, anything can happen from there.

As for the op's question, I do think at least one, maybe two of our prime pieces (BKN, LAL/Sac, Brown, Tatum) plus lesser rotation players would be on the table for a major upgrade. It is difficult to get to the finals and you can't take those opportunities for granted.

[saltlover]

It depends what that final piece is. It also depends how important both IT AND Smart are to our status of being inches away.  They're both free agents.  It's doubtful we'll be able to keep both, and if we are, virtually certain we wouldn't be able to add any significant payroll beyond them next year (keeping both would likely mean we have the highest payroll by several million, so adding more payroll to that total isn't going to happen).

So if we're inches away, but only one of IT and Smart are the reason, and the player to be acquired isn't an expiring contract who's playing coy about his future free agency plans, I could see Ainge willing to push in his chips.  If both IT and Smart were key, then the player has to add that much more value over the one of that duo you are letting walk (and also meet the above requirement of not be an expiring with eyes on another destination).

The other reason for patience is the Golden State hegemony might not last beyond this year.  Klay will likely leave after next season due to budget constraints, and it's not impossible they trade him in advance to get something for him.  If we're inches away, and Klay is traded, that could be enough in itself.

[Surferdad]

I came this thread thinking the conversation would be about a possible move at the trade deadline this upcoming season, if it appears a title is within reach, for example if GSW suffer a major injury.

[Granath]

If we get past the Cavs and come up short to the Warriors, what type of moves would we makes? I know it's a long way off, but we very well might be the top team in the East all the way through. If that is the case, do we have the contracts to make a big trade without hurting our vet core? It makes no sense not to go all in if the Finals are in reach.

You make no moves at all.

Our "inches" should come from natural player growth. Brown is 20 years old and in his 2nd year. Tatum is a 19 year old rookie. Then there's the top picks of next year. And finally there's all the new rookies and Europlayers from this year.

If we're already that close to a title, then the easiest and most logical solution is to rely on natural player growth - the majority of which tends to happen in the first 3 years for most players - to fill that gap. For instance, we'll be playing this year with Morris starting at the 4. Does anyone have serious doubts that Tatum won't shove his way into the starting lineup in the next year or two, most likely as a 3/4? What happens to the overall team when Morris becomes a bench guy because Tatum is putting up 20 every night?

Now that's a projection. It may not happen. But it's illogical to think that at least a couple of these young guys won't develop in the next couple of years into very good NBA players. We don't have to wait until Tatum/Brown/BKYN 18/LAL18 round into Alpha Dogs. That's too much to ask from a kid. They just have to be Beta Dogs and that's possible from a player of 21 or 22.

We could - as soon as next year - equal the Warriors on natural growth alone. What if in 2019 Brown rounds into that 18ppg scorer and good, exceptionally long defender that many project him to be? And Tatum becomes a 20 ppg scorer who also isn't an interior liability? Those aren't unreasonable projections and if those hold then we put a team on the court that can match GSW - and beat them.

That series becomes a war. We have three (or more) shot creators (Hayward, IT, Tatum, possibly Brown) at that point and 3 facilitators (Hayward, Horford, IT). We can score from 5 positions and that team (with the exception of IT) is long, shoots from everywhere and can run the floor like the wind. There's no weak link on offense and the team is long enough to cause anyone problems on defense. This sounds awfully familiar to a particular current team that is being touted as one of the best ever. 

Then you bring off the bench guys like Smart (if he's still here), Morris, Semi/Yabu/Nader/Zizic(whoever steps up), BKYN 18, LAL 18 and Rozier and we're also a very deep team with multiple guys who can fill roles. Does anyone think that's not more than enough to compete with GSW? Durant is still the best player on the floor but unlike GSW (Iggy, and he would be 35 at that point) we don't start anyone who can't put up 25 on any particular night.

Now will all this happen? There's no way of knowing. Player development isn't certain but that's the logical approach. You don't draft these kids in top spots to trade them for a short-term benefit when the long-term approach is so much more logical, cheaper and creates a 10 year Championship window.

[Redz]

By that point wouldn't IT be needing a new contract (or a replacement). 

[gouki88]

If we get past the Cavs and come up short to the Warriors, what type of moves would we makes? I know it's a long way off, but we very well might be the top team in the East all the way through. If that is the case, do we have the contracts to make a big trade without hurting our vet core? It makes no sense not to go all in if the Finals are in reach.

You make no moves at all.

Our "inches" should come from natural player growth. Brown is 20 years old and in his 2nd year. Tatum is a 19 year old rookie. Then there's the top picks of next year. And finally there's all the new rookies and Europlayers from this year.

If we're already that close to a title, then the easiest and most logical solution is to rely on natural player growth - the majority of which tends to happen in the first 3 years for most players - to fill that gap. For instance, we'll be playing this year with Morris starting at the 4. Does anyone have serious doubts that Tatum won't shove his way into the starting lineup in the next year or two, most likely as a 3/4? What happens to the overall team when Morris becomes a bench guy because Tatum is putting up 20 every night?

Now that's a projection. It may not happen. But it's illogical to think that at least a couple of these young guys won't develop in the next couple of years into very good NBA players. We don't have to wait until Tatum/Brown/BKYN 18/LAL18 round into Alpha Dogs. That's too much to ask from a kid. They just have to be Beta Dogs and that's possible from a player of 21 or 22.

We could - as soon as next year - equal the Warriors on natural growth alone. What if in 2019 Brown rounds into that 18ppg scorer and good, exceptionally long defender that many project him to be? And Tatum becomes a 20 ppg scorer who also isn't an interior liability? Those aren't unreasonable projections and if those hold then we put a team on the court that can match GSW - and beat them.

That series becomes a war. We have three (or more) shot creators (Hayward, IT, Tatum, possibly Brown) at that point and 3 facilitators (Hayward, Horford, IT). We can score from 5 positions and that team (with the exception of IT) is long, shoots from everywhere and can run the floor like the wind. There's no weak link on offense and the team is long enough to cause anyone problems on defense. This sounds awfully familiar to a particular current team that is being touted as one of the best ever. 

Then you bring off the bench guys like Smart (if he's still here), Morris, Semi/Yabu/Nader/Zizic(whoever steps up), BKYN 18, LAL 18 and Rozier and we're also a very deep team with multiple guys who can fill roles. Does anyone think that's not more than enough to compete with GSW? Durant is still the best player on the floor but unlike GSW (Iggy, and he would be 35 at that point) we don't start anyone who can't put up 25 on any particular night.

Now will all this happen? There's no way of knowing. Player development isn't certain but that's the logical approach. You don't draft these kids in top spots to trade them for a short-term benefit when the long-term approach is so much more logical, cheaper and creates a 10 year Championship window.

Said all I could but phrased it far better than I would. TP.

[No Nickname]

How does Tatum compare to Harrison Barnes?  Is that a good comp or way off?

[timpiker]

I think we're inches away NOW.  I see Danny just playing the hand he's been dealt now.  I do not expect AD or Porzingas to become available at the price Danny would be willing to pay nor do I think he should trade away half the team for either of these guys.  I think what the C's need to do is keep on keepin' on and pay the taxes.  And I think Wyc will pay the taxes.  If IT has a year similar to last year and proves his hip is fine, he'll get a new contract, as will Marcus.  I think the media and many here greatly underestimate the impact of Hayward.