When Ainge and Wyc promised fireworks

[timpiker]

I know fireworks when I see them and Hayward and Irving are fireworks baby !!!!!!

[SparzWizard]

This is the fireworks. Irving and Hayward.

Morris and Baynes are just the extras.

[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?

Why'd you ignore Kyries 40+ point game? Lol

Dude. Ok, LBJ was the MVP, but let's not ignore Kyries dominance

He's outplayed Curry in the finals 3 straight years
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.

[jambr380]

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.

That line-up looks pretty tough, but I am not sure how you match salary for George after signing Hayward. And that is in an alternate universe where Indy actually waits to trade George until after Hayward is signed (it becomes almost impossible if George is traded first).

Crowder and Tatum would be your base package, I suppose (plus filler and picks). We would have already needed to dump Rozier to make the Hayward signing.

But that isn't even the most difficult part. You really only get that line-up for this one upcoming season as IT, George, Bradley, and Smart are all expiring. On top of a maxed out Hayward and maxed out Horford, you probably have your choice of only one of those players moving forward.

I like that teams potential for a one season shot at a championship, but it doesn't have nearly the long term potential that we have with our current group (assuming the Kyrie trade goes through).

[Phantom255x]

These are DEFINITELY Fireworks.

Yeah we lost a lot of great soldiers (respect IT4, Bradley, Crowder and the 8 others who left LOL).

But we also added Irving, Hayward, and Tatum.

Also added more toughness and size in Morris, Baynes, etc.

Figure we will add another depth piece via vet. min signing (like Bogut or Robinson?)

That being said, while we definitely are getting closer and are a championship-caliber team, I'd say we are 1 star away from legitimately talking Banner 18. BUT that's progress as before the Draft and FA I was confident in saying we were a good 2 stars away.

We can hope Tatum and Brown BOTH become legitimate all-stars in a few years, as well as the Warriors being unable to sustain their current core once luxury tax hell kicks in. Oh, and of course, Lebron leaving CLE after 2018.

[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.

kyrie is better than IT significantly


 IT wasn't a 2 way player himself

He's only significantly better if the bar is "Who does cuter things with the basketball?" 

You're right, IT wasn't... that's why an upgrade was necessary for a championship.  We finally spent some significant assets, although the return was not a franchise-caliber player.  He's just young, really talented, and fits the personality/small guard mold that Ainge is obsessed with.

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?

There are a lot of "clutch champions" that aren't franchise players.  Granath answered the MVP comment above.

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. 

Hayward was a great signing.  Much happier with that acquisition. 

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).

I didn't mean Butler/George.  But after so many passes on two way players, I thought we'd wait to cash on major assets for an Anthony Davis potential player.  Unless we're surrounding our new trickster PG (that's unfortunately not the best shooter in the world) with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, we're probably going to break-even.

[crimson_stallion]

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

I don't recall ever being able to say this is my entire life as a Celtics fan, but right now we have three All-Stars and two <21 year old prospects with possible star potential...all at the same time!!

If Danny wants to call that fireworks, then I give him my tick of approval. 

Don't get me wrong, there are other deals along the way that could have potentially been made which I would have preferred to what we currently have - but at this point, looking at what we DO have, it's hard for me to really complain about what Ainge has done.  He's taken some big risks and made some seriously ballsy moves (that certainly would not have been easy) in order to put this team in a situation to excel moving forward, and credit to him for that.

It's been sad to see some of the guys go on the way here (especially AB and Thomas) - but that's why Danny is a GM and I'm not.  He's proven he truly has the professionalism to put his emotions aside and do what has to be done to move the franchise forward, even under the most difficult emotional circumstances (and I an certain that these moves would have all been very emotionally difficult for Ainge to make). 

It was emotionally challenging for us all when KG and Pierce were traded to Brooklyn for some garbage players and draft picks - most of us (and even most of the leagues GM's) wouldn't have had the balls to make that move.  Ainge did, and right now we are still reaping the benefits in the most amazing way.  It's those three Brooklyn picks that enabled us to acquire Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving - and that's not even the end of it yet.  By trading down and acquiring that Lakers pick Ainge ensured that we have yet another young prospect still to come - even if the Lakers pick doesn't convey, we still get the pick from either Philly or Sacramento in 2019, and after losing Cousins and RudyGay the Kings could be REAL stinkers by then.

While this trade hurts emotionally right now, I suspect that everybody (both the fans and IT himself) will get over it in time, and when we do we will most likely recognise it as being yet another huge win by Danny Ainge.

[green_bballers13]

I think its funny that people think Anthony Davis himself will be the savior, yet the PG who won a championship with clutch 3's, 27ppg, and over 2 steals in the Finals isn't a franchise player.

I like Davis a lot, but let's not start labelling Boogie, KAT, and Davis as franchise players until they win a playoff game.

Regarding fireworks, there's no reason to think that Danny is done dealing. I wonder what Kyrie + a LAL top 5 pick could yield.....

[crimson_stallion]

I didn't mean Butler/George.  But after so many passes on two way players, I thought we'd wait to cash on major assets for an Anthony Davis potential player.  Unless we're surrounding our new trickster PG (that's unfortunately not the best shooter in the world) with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, we're probably going to break-even.

Not the best shooter?!?!

Do you realise that Kyrie has shot an average of 71% at the rim, 44% from midrange, 38% from three and 87% on free throws for his career?

He may not be Steph Curry calibre, but I'd still put him right up there with Chris Paul as one of the best shooting PG's in the league. 

With Kyrie / Hayward / Morris / Horford all out there on the court together we should have one of the best shooting lineups in the league.  When that group of guys get hot, they will be a nightmare to deal with.

[crimson_stallion]

I think its funny that people think Anthony Davis himself will be the savior, yet the PG who won a championship with clutch 3's, 27ppg, and over 2 steals in the Finals isn't a franchise player.

I like Davis a lot, but let's not start labelling Boogie, KAT, and Davis as franchise players until they win a playoff game.

Regarding fireworks, there's no reason to think that Danny is done dealing. I wonder what Kyrie + a LAL top 5 pick could yield.....

I kind agree with you to some degree on this. 

Anthony Davis is an amazing player and talent and his upside is through the roof, but if I'm to be honest his complete lack of team success thus far is a little bit concerning. 

I mean people pointed the finger at Kevin Love for never being able to lead the Wolves to the Playoffs, and even as a member of the Cavs finals squad we still constantly see Kevin Love choke in the biggest moments - so looking back, that lack of success seemed to be clear warning signs in his case. He just isn't "that guy". 

Cousins hasn't been in a playoff series so we haven't had a chance to see how he sinks / swims in one, but at least with Cousins people can always come back to blaming his personality and inability to build chemistry with teammates as a reason for his lack of team success.

But Anthony Davis has all the skills and talent on both end of the court, and he's supposed have a golden personality, and somehow he still cannot lead the Pelicans to the faintest hint of success. 

That's not to suggest I'd rather have Kyrie then AD (I wouldn't).  Nor am I trying to give Kyrie all the credit for his playoff success (obviously Lebron was the driving force behind 90% of Cleveland's success).  But at the same time you have to give credit where credit is due, and while Lebron has been the driving force through he majority of the Cavs success, it's really Kyrie who has been the Kobe / Pierce type guy during that run. 

He's been the guy with ice in his veins - the one who is never afraid to take the big shot, make or miss (and he's made a Lot of them), while Lebron constantly shrinks in those moments and hides away in the shadows from that responsibility, deferring to teammates wherever possible.  Would Lebron even have his one lone title in Cleveland if not for Kyrie's big end-game heroics?  Honestly, probably not.

And while I acknowledge that Kyrie is not perfect, and that he has some major flaws in his game, the fact remains that he is a go-to guy and he is a closer by nature - and you need one of those guys on your roster if you want to give yourself a genuine chance at winning an NBA championship.  So even if he isn't going to be a guy who single handily bring Boston another banner...he is a big piece to that puzzle.

Adding AD to the roster ON TOP of Kyrie - now that would be something

[tarheelsxxiii]

I didn't mean Butler/George.  But after so many passes on two way players, I thought we'd wait to cash on major assets for an Anthony Davis potential player.  Unless we're surrounding our new trickster PG (that's unfortunately not the best shooter in the world) with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, we're probably going to break-even.

Not the best shooter?!?!

Do you realise that Kyrie has shot an average of 71% at the rim, 44% from midrange, 38% from three and 87% on free throws for his career?

He may not be Steph Curry calibre, but I'd still put him right up there with Chris Paul as one of the best shooting PG's in the league. 

With Kyrie / Hayward / Morris / Horford all out there on the court together we should have one of the best shooting lineups in the league.  When that group of guys get hot, they will be a nightmare to deal with.

How is my comment not clear?  He's not the best shooter in the world of all time (Curry), and that alone isn't enough to be considered a franchise player in my mind. 

green: Kyrie won playoff games because he played with LeBron.  Anthony Davis, without help, had one of the best first career playoff series in the history of the NBA.  His impact on the game exceeds that of all but a handful of guys in the league.  Kyrie is well-suited to be a sidekick.  He can win a championship if he's the primary scoring option alongside 3 other all-star-caliber guys, like Curry.