What is our starting 5 next year?

[Phil125]

I know this is early but, with the growth of Brown and Tatum I'm trying to figure it out.  I not sure how we can have one of them coming off the bench.  Can we have Tatum as our starting PF or does that not even matter anymore in the current NBA?

PG Kyrie
SG Brown
SF Hayward
PF Tatum
C Horford

Morris, Rozier, Baynes, Semi, and maybe Smart off the bench.  Also we will probably be a prime aging vet destination for somebody looking for a ring. 

[droopdog7]

That looks about right to me.  The only real question is Tatum at the four.  In today's modern NBA, it makes sense as well.

[Surferdad]

I would actually be inclined to start Morris over Tatum at PF.  Tatum can be a super-sub and feast on NBA backups.

Are you going to sign Smart to a $15M contract and bring him off the bench?

[Jiri Welsch]

Correct me if I’m wrong… But isn’t Baynes on a one year contract?

I also think having Tatum continue as a starter is much more important for our team’s long-term productivity than ceding the PF spot to Morris.

[aefgogreen]

I would actually be inclined to start Morris over Tatum at PF.  Tatum can be a super-sub and feast on NBA backups.

Are you going to sign Smart to a $15M contract and bring him off the bench?

I think they re sign Smart.  The team always seems to be better when he is on the floor.  My guess/hope is that he isn't going to demand that much on the market.  Although 15M is certainly in the ball park.

[Moranis]

This isn't really a question.  Assuming health (and that they are all on the roster) it is clearly Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, and Horford.  Nothing else makes sense at all.

[Phil125]

I would actually be inclined to start Morris over Tatum at PF.  Tatum can be a super-sub and feast on NBA backups.

Are you going to sign Smart to a $15M contract and bring him off the bench?

With all the great things Ainge has done in the last year.  He is not dumb enough to give Smart 15 Million.  Nobody is paying him a penny over 10 mil if his shooting continues like this.

[Boris Badenov]

If Tatum fills out, I think we can start him at the 4. He’ll be a nightmare at both ends if he develops like he has been. I think 20ppg and 8rpg with good-to-elite defense is a reasonable outcome for him which at age 20 is pretty scary.

I mean if you look at what he’s doing...big rebounds in traffic, terrific D when it counts...clutch offense in crunch time. He’s an All-NBA talent in the making, I don’t see how you move a guy like that to the bench.

[Phil125]

This isn't really a question.  Assuming health (and that they are all on the roster) it is clearly Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, and Horford.  Nothing else makes sense at all.

Just think Tatum could get abused by some of the larger PF's in the league.  I can see Brad switching him and Morris as needed.

[saltlover]

I would actually be inclined to start Morris over Tatum at PF.  Tatum can be a super-sub and feast on NBA backups.

Are you going to sign Smart to a $15M contract and bring him off the bench?

I would definitely start Tatum.  I’d much rather he continue to go up against the best than feast on backups.  He’s got a much longer future in Boston than Morris does.

While I don’t think Smart comes back at $15 million next year (I’d say the most the Celtics can afford is $13 million in year 1 of a new deal), if he’s still playing 30 minutes a night and major minutes down the stretch, I don’t care whether he’s starting or not.

[RodyTur10]

This isn't really a question.  Assuming health (and that they are all on the roster) it is clearly Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, and Horford.  Nothing else makes sense at all.

QFT.