Jackie Mac on Zach Lowe Podcast

[RJ87]

- Al Horford isn't as much of a lock to resign if Kyrie goes as people around here think.

Horford leaving is a major concern of mine.


Recentering the team around the young guys is a lot scarier if Horford isn't around to provide stability.

I mentioned in a thread a few weeks ago that Al may consider other options at his age and was shut down. But the dude's a competitor, he wants a ring. He may take a step back and realize it may not happen here.

Where would he go though?  I suppose a lot of teams will have cap space.

Which teams will have a starting spot for Horford, the cap space (at least $20 million a year, probably more), and a realistic chance at a title?


I suppose the Clips could sign KD or Kawhi and then add Horford.


Shai - Shamet - Kawhi - Harrell - Horford

That would be an awesome group, with Lou off the bench.

The Lakers possibly, although that may be a higher profile than he wants. But he'd be a good fit with Lebron. The Mavericks could be interesting. They have Doncic, they're getting Porzingis back and I believe they can open up a max slot - assuming Al commands the max.

Clippers with Al and Kawhi would be scary good.

[gpap]

Boston sports media is awful... NY is even worse.

Will be interesting to see what Kyrie decides.

Not just media, fans mentioned as well. Every miss he makes and people want him traded and gone. Not an easy group of fans to play for in any times of adversity. That is for sure.

At the end of the day, he will choose where he is happiest and that is starting to sound like it won’t be in Boston. Media and fans to blame if he leaves for not giving him the welcome he desired. I would choose the place that makes me happiest as well in choosing a job if I had to relocate or decide on staying.

Kyrie brought all of that on himself.  He is a d*@k to the media, he talks down to his teammates, and when the light got brightest he has wilted (so far).

Of course, he can still change all that, but a lot of this is his fault.

Yeah, Kyrie complaining about the media and fans is bull s.  The silent majority (or not so silent at the Garden) LOVE Kyrie and cheer for him through the roof (including myself.)

As for the media, he needs to deal with them in a much more tactful way. Just do what Belichick does. Be fairly polite, give quick answers to questions and say you're moving on to the next opponent.

It's really not that difficult. Not sure if this is factual or if Jackie M. is editorializing a bit, but either way the media/fan complaints are nothing more than a poor excuse.

If he thinks it's going to be easier in New York or wherever else he might go, then he'll be in for a rude awakening.

[PhoSita]

- Al Horford isn't as much of a lock to resign if Kyrie goes as people around here think.

Horford leaving is a major concern of mine.


Recentering the team around the young guys is a lot scarier if Horford isn't around to provide stability.

I mentioned in a thread a few weeks ago that Al may consider other options at his age and was shut down. But the dude's a competitor, he wants a ring. He may take a step back and realize it may not happen here.

Where would he go though?  I suppose a lot of teams will have cap space.

Which teams will have a starting spot for Horford, the cap space (at least $20 million a year, probably more), and a realistic chance at a title?


I suppose the Clips could sign KD or Kawhi and then add Horford.


Shai - Shamet - Kawhi - Harrell - Horford

That would be an awesome group, with Lou off the bench.

The Lakers possibly, although that may be a higher profile than he wants. But he'd be a good fit with Lebron.

Ugh I would hate that so much. 


It's so hard for me to imagine Al wanting to play on the Lakers given how much of a joke their organization is.

I would truly hate to see Al on the Lakers.  He's one of my favorite players in the league and easily my favorite current Celtic.

[Silky]

If No Kyrie, No Davis and if Horford wants out in that situation I have no problem with that.

Most likely any team that he would really want (a competing team)wouldn't have the capspace, so then it would be a sign and trade...and that leaves the celtics with something.  Which is always better than nothing.

[nickagneta]

The Kyrie stuff is nothing new and for those that hate Kyrie, it's good ammo and for those that like Kyrie, its good justification for some of his desire to now waffle about coming back. Again, nothing new.

But, they mentioned it was concerning that Tatum plateaued this year. Was that concern Jackie's or is that something she heard from people associated with the Celtics?

I also see that more and more of the media are looking at Jaylen as possibly being the more valuable player between he and Jayson.

Jaylen struggled early but regrouped and grew his game for the 3rd straight year showing he can play a role, as well as being a top offensive option(he did this last year when he stepped up after Hayward and Kyrie went down). Jaylen has also shown that he is a playoff warrior. That is hard to find in 21 and 22 year olds.

Meanwhile, Tatum some steps backwards this year, looks about the same or worse than last year, and has shown he may not have quite the ceiling many were saying he had last year. He has been disappointing for a bunch of these playoff games. And, worst of all, his defense fell to the point that Kyrie has looked like the better defender for most of the year, certainly in these playoffs.

[RJ87]

The Kyrie stuff is nothing new and for those that hate Kyrie, it's good ammo and for those that like Kyrie, its good justification for some of his desire to now waffle about coming back. Again, nothing new.

But, they mentioned it was concerning that Tatum plateaued this year. Was that concern Jackie's or is that something she heard from people associated with the Celtics?

I also see that more and more of the media are looking at Jaylen as possibly being the more valuable player between he and Jayson.

Jaylen struggled early but regrouped and grew his game for the 3rd straight year showing he can play a role, as well as being a top offensive option(he did this last year when he stepped up after Hayward and Kyrie went down). Jaylen has also shown that he is a playoff warrior. That is hard to find in 21 and 22 year olds.

Meanwhile, Tatum some steps backwards this year, looks about the same or worse than last year, and has shown he may not have quite the ceiling many were saying he had last year. He has been disappointing for a bunch of these playoff games. And, worst of all, his defense fell to the point that Kyrie has looked like the better defender for most of the year, certainly in these playoffs.

It was Jackie and Zach's opinion.

[Phantom255x]

I have to admit, but all of these points seem very reasonable and true.

This is doing to be a WILD summer in the NBA, and that is true for us as well.

[Kuberski33]

But, they mentioned it was concerning that Tatum plateaued this year. Was that concern Jackie's or is that something she heard from people associated with the Celtics?

I also see that more and more of the media are looking at Jaylen as possibly being the more valuable player between he and Jayson.


Meanwhile, Tatum some steps backwards this year, looks about the same or worse than last year, and has shown he may not have quite the ceiling many were saying he had last year. He has been disappointing for a bunch of these playoff games. And, worst of all, his defense fell to the point that Kyrie has looked like the better defender for most of the year, certainly in these playoffs.

Based on what I've seen watching Tatum this season, I can only conclude that he's not athletic enough (by NBA standards) and he's soft.  At the same time, you don't want to give up on a young guy with skills too soon. But maybe they do consider moving him - forget about Davis - just moving him period.

[celticinorlando]

After this season Danny has to be aggressive and reshape this roster.

I think if Kyrie leaves then AD is not an option and Al probably walks.

That would be worst case for Boston. Would leave you with Brown, Tatum, Hayward and Smart....and a bunch of young draft picks. Boston would be very average.

Danny is going to go all in for Kyrie to resign and to trade for Davis. At this point everyone should be available.

[tenn_smoothie]

Boston sports media is awful... NY is even worse.

Will be interesting to see what Kyrie decides.

Not just media, fans mentioned as well. Every miss he makes and people want him traded and gone. Not an easy group of fans to play for in any times of adversity. That is for sure.

At the end of the day, he will choose where he is happiest and that is starting to sound like it won’t be in Boston. Media and fans to blame if he leaves for not giving him the welcome he desired. I would choose the place that makes me happiest as well in choosing a job if I had to relocate or decide on staying.

It's not about the shots he misses - it's about him leaving the rest of the team out of the offense so much of the time. Him choosing where he is happiest is a joke, he is the moodiest player in the league, he will never be content and Celtic fans got tired of his act a long time ago. I'd say his teammates feel the same.

[flybono]

Please let Kyrie walk.

He was injured for the playoffs last year and laid an egg this year. He is not worth max money.

Is he worth it while adding Davis?

[celticinorlando]

Boston sports media is awful... NY is even worse.

Will be interesting to see what Kyrie decides.

Not just media, fans mentioned as well. Every miss he makes and people want him traded and gone. Not an easy group of fans to play for in any times of adversity. That is for sure.

At the end of the day, he will choose where he is happiest and that is starting to sound like it won’t be in Boston. Media and fans to blame if he leaves for not giving him the welcome he desired. I would choose the place that makes me happiest as well in choosing a job if I had to relocate or decide on staying.

It's not about the shots he misses - it's about him leaving the rest of the team out of the offense so much of the time. Him choosing where he is happiest is a joke, he is the moodiest player in the league, he will never be content and Celtic fans got tired of his act and up and down emotions a long time ago. I'd say his teammates feel the same way.

Kyrie is an iso player. Stevens system requires ball movement. They do not have that this year. Big reason why the offense is garbage.

[RJ87]

Boston sports media is awful... NY is even worse.

Will be interesting to see what Kyrie decides.

Not just media, fans mentioned as well. Every miss he makes and people want him traded and gone. Not an easy group of fans to play for in any times of adversity. That is for sure.

At the end of the day, he will choose where he is happiest and that is starting to sound like it won’t be in Boston. Media and fans to blame if he leaves for not giving him the welcome he desired. I would choose the place that makes me happiest as well in choosing a job if I had to relocate or decide on staying.

It's not about the shots he misses - it's about him leaving the rest of the team out of the offense so much of the time. Him choosing where he is happiest is a joke, he is the moodiest player in the league, he will never be content and Celtic fans got tired of his act a long time ago. I'd say his teammates feel the same.

Jackie disagreed. I'd say she have a little more insight there.

[tenn_smoothie]

Please let Kyrie walk.

He was injured for the playoffs last year and laid an egg this year. He is not worth max money.

Is he worth it while adding Davis?

He is not worth it if we added Larry Bird and Bill Russell - he is a big part of the problem.

[crimcartel]

Boston sports media is awful... NY is even worse.

Will be interesting to see what Kyrie decides.

Exactly.. going to NY would be a huge issue for kyrie if he has issue with boston media/fans.. and come to think of it.. same applies to KD..

Fit is important.