When Ainge and Wyc promised fireworks

[Ogaju]

Is this what they meant? How come no one has claimed this trade to be the fireworks promised?

[tarheelsxxiii]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

[Erik]

He's flipped basically the entire roster. This wasn't just fireworks... it was the big bang.

[Fafnir]

Twitter was full of fireworks jokes when this trade was breaking. I think Jeff even made one at @celticsblog you should follow.

[CelticsElite]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

kyrie is better than IT significantly


 IT wasn't a 2 way player himself

[gift]

The fireworks have been scheduled and rescheduled multiple times due to thunderstorms that would block the lights and put out the flames.

[hwangjini_1]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

AND after signing hayword?

geez, tough crowd here. 

[jambr380]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

AND after signing hayword?

geez, tough crowd here. 

Yeah, really - I assume he means Butler or George - neither of whom I really consider better than Kyrie. The Hayward signing also would have been a lot more difficult since we would have had to send out more salary than was coming in at the time in order to sign him (hence, why we had to trade AB).

[JBcat]

Paul Pierce isn't walking through that door.  Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen aren't walking through that door.  If they do they will be grey and old.  Maybe Ray can stay behind the door though. Lol

An interesting comparison though is comparing those big 3 when they came together in their early 30s verses Horford age 31, Hayward age 27, and Irving age 25.  That probably deserves its own thread.  That big 3 of 07 still beats this one IMO, but by how much I'm not sure.

[Celtics4ever]

Assuming this trade goes through how can you not be excited about having Hayward and Irving?   I get guys are attached to IT and Crowder but take off the green tinted homer glasses.   Add in Baynes and Morris and I am really excited for the upcoming year.   I think Tatum could be good, too.

I say we got fireworks.   Ainge gave that team two years in the last two playoffs and there were definite questions about our capacity moving forward in terms of beating the CAVs.   I think we are a little closer, but have the misfortune of going up against LeBron for a few more years.   These are years that would into IT's prime and once his athletic ability goes he is going to have a brutal decline because he lacks size.  The key to the whole affair to me was the phrase  "fits our timeline".

[Fireworks_Boom!]

Very tough crowd here.

We signed two of the top 25 players (I get Hayward is a fringe top 25 player and arguably lower) and drafted what appears to be a long term keeper in Tatum. I believe Irving under CBS tutelage can reach his full potential. He is already a top 10 player. In random order:

1. Russell Westbrook
2. James Harden
3. Kevin Durant
4. Lebron James
5. Kawhi Leonard
6. Anthony Davis
7. DeMarcus Cousins
8. Kyrie Irving
9. Steph Curry
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Honorable Mention: Karl Anthony Towns, Paul George, Blake Griffin, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan, Damian Lillard
 
We convince Thomas Robinson to sign to build depth at the PF position and we are very serious contenders:

PG: Irving/Rozier
SG: Brown/Smart
SF: Hayward/Tatum
PF: Morris/Robinson
C: Horford/Baynes

Bench: Ojeleye, Theis, Larkin, Nader, Yabusele (who might be better off getting min in G League)

I think this team can grow together and seriously compete with GSW in the next 2-3 years. We might be another piece away and that piece might end up being a young guy that takes a few years to develop under current roster by way of Lakers pick (Porter Jr., Bagley, Ayton, Bamba, etc.).

Imagine this team for 5 years together:

PG: Irving
SG: Brown
SF: Hayward
PF: Tatum
C: Bamba/Ayton/Bagley

[BostonClamCrowdah]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

Yeah who wants a clutch champion who should have been the 2016 finals MVP?

[CelticD]

I can't imagine Irving was who the Celtics had in mind all this time. He's a disgruntled star, that's not something you predict 2-3 seasons prior. I believe their plan for fireworks was Hayward and PG, and the lineup they had in mind was somethin like IT-Bradley-Hayward-PG-Horford.

Which if all healthy imo is a lock for the Finals. I put in Bradley because I believe there were reports saying he had to be moved since the cap didn't go as high as projected.

[Granath]

Because a two-way player that was significantly better than IT would've been fireworks.  I do think it was the big finale, though.

Yeah who wants a clutch champion who should have been the 2016 finals MVP?

You're kidding, right?

The last time I checked, Kyrie put up nice stats at 27/3/3 in that series.

Lebron put up 30/11/9. It wasn't Kyrie who put up an incredible 41/16/7 in game 5. Or 41/8/11 in 6. Or a triple double in game 7. Kyrie may have made the final shot but it was Lebron's block with the score tied at 89 that is the memorable moment of that series.

[fairweatherfan]

We've been steadily cycling upward through different fireworks classes. We traded some sparklers for IT and made him into a Roman candle, then flipped him for a two-stage mortar shell despite a 20% chance the tube will wind up pointing at our faces.