Are we an "Elite" team now ?

[86MaxwellSmart]

Only been the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs the past few years...Are we finally back-?

[C3LTSF4N]

I think it depends on Smart, Tatum and Jaylens play.   We shall see. 

[Jvalin]

Elite team in the East for sure. I'm hopeful that we are gonna beat the Cavs. Don't believe we can beat the Warriors though.

The NBA lost some serious money last season due to the fact that the Finals ended in 5 games (plus the Warriors and the Cavs swept nearly all their series). In fact, up until the playoffs started, the cap was projected to hit $101-102 million (instead of $99 mil which was the final figure).

https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/877733698120110080

Whichever team makes it to the Finals, I bet they are gonna win at least 2 games against the Warriors.

[Onslaught]

Too soon for me to make that call. I agree that it depends on how good some of out young guys turn out to be. I still think we're one move away from being "elite."

[SparzWizard]

If you have Kyrie Irving/Gordon Hayward/Al Horford on your team, this is an elite team.

The Celtics will be in the NBA Finals this season, and for multiple years to come once LeBron leaves Cleveland.

[GreenEnvy]

I think we are unquestionably in the top 4, so that would clearly put us in the elite category.

The question is where in the top 4 we are, and that can't be answered now. I think it depends on our role players (definitely the best of the top 4, imo) and how soon Brad can get everyone to buy in and mesh together.

[mctyson]

Only been the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs the past few years...Are we finally back-?

Yes.  Adding Hayward was a huge step, and if Jaylen is as good as I think he is...Yes.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

If you have Kyrie Irving/Gordon Hayward/Al Horford on your team, this is an elite team.

The Celtics will be in the NBA Finals this season, and for multiple years to come once LeBron leaves Cleveland.

my body is ready!

[slamtheking]

Top 2 in the East at least. 

behind GSW in the West.  SAS most likely as well.  depending on how Houston and OKC gel with their changes, it could be a 4-team tier behind GSW and SAS this season

[Chris22]

Yes.

[nickagneta]

I think we are a step below elite but very close. I think our rebounding is still going to suck and hurt us and we are depending on a ton of youth. If Brown and Tatum can come in and look like above average starters or better and we get some help from an unexpected source like Smart's shooting improving immensely, Rozier taking a big jump forward, or another rookie looking like a rotation player, then maybe.

But I still thonk we are a year away from being elite. If the LA pick is top 5 and we add a solid MLE veteran next year, I think we can be elite then.

[__ramonezy__]

Gonna say something that I'm sure most persons won't agree with, but we've been an elite team for the past two years. An elite team is not solely a product of the players, but something greater where the whole is greater than the sum of their parts. Front office vision, good player development and utilization, good coaching, good fan base, etc.

Take Spurs for instance, they are an elite team... but they really only have a single all star. They have created that structure where even mediocre players flourish. We have that as well turning mediocre players into much more. It was our eliteness that attracted Horford initially and now Hayward and Kyrie.

[jdz101]

If we add one more piece in the next few years - a defensive centre that can grab rebounds - look out.

[droopdog7]

Only been the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs the past few years...Are we finally back-?

Finally?  We've been out of contention for like four years.  What DA is doing with this team is downright remarkable.

As to the question, we have an outside chance of making it to the championship and a punchers chance of winning it all.  That's good enough for me right now.  In the long term, we can get closer if either jaylen or Tatum makes a leap. 

[tenn_smoothie]

If we add one more piece in the next few years - a defensive centre that can grab rebounds - look out.

Exactly

Not sure how Danny could have played with the greatest front line of all time and then not understand the importance of rebounding and interior defense. Yes, I know the game has changed, but the importance of rebounding has not. We are currently a weak rebounding team and have weak interior defense. It cost us games last year and we will never win a title until Danny gets his head out of his ass and fixes that part of the team.