OT: What's Next Celtics Fans...?

[uconnbill]

I'm a Knicks fan so I've grown to expect head-scratching decisions and bumbled moves. After this playoff, I fully expect the Knicks to offer a max contract to Kyrie so he can "recruit" other stars. When they find out that nobody wants to play with him, they'll offer the 2nd max contract to Deandre Jordan (who is the only other guy who will take a max offer from Dolan and only signs because he's been enchanted with an upscale NYC Rick Pitino working gal). They'll get the 3rd pick in the lottery this year, then trade Knox and their next 10 1st rd picks to move up to #2 to draft Reddish. Reddish will realize his potential of becoming a softer version and more oft-injured version of Grant Hill. The Knicks will then trade their next 10 years of 1st round picks for role players to watch Kyrie launch awful shot after awful shot. Kyrie will be just good enough for the Knicks to finish 5th-to-worst in the NBA...but because the picks are all traded, the picks will all become a top-3 pick every year. Somehow, Ainge acquires them all and the Celts enter yet another decades long championship run.

My point: you Celts fans should quit your belly aching. It can be MUCH worse (and is much worse in the world's most famous arena). I haven't watched a competitive NBA game in over a decade. And to make it MUCH worse (again, things can ALWAYS be worse with the Knicks), I've had to stomach listening to the Knicks promote an overrated Syracuse Fruit as being some sort of superstar when he never was.

Blame it on your ownership which sucks and they haven't done one thing right in a long time.
They can have Kyrie as he is not a number one but a number two. Leading is so tough and not ever great player is made for it.

 

[Walker11]

Kyrie was even more of a cancer, the Kings got decent for the first time in ages, the Grizz pick, if it conveys looks to be mediocre in a draft no one likes outside of the top 3, Tatum regressed and shows a much lower floor than anyone expected, etc. It's amazing how nothing has went right for a franchise that has done all the right things tactically.

Hayward is literally still going through rehab for his injury. He is going to be good again. The Grizz pick may not convey and they look to have the worst roster in the league next year.

I would ditch Kyrie and stay the course. Horford will probably opt out to get one last multi year deal but Brad is good enough to keep this team frisky. Give the young guys the keys and hope the Grizz pick is top next year and/or wait for the next move. Show some patience. Finding good wings is the hardest job in the game and they have 2. Build around that, develop the timelord and pounce on the next opportunity for a scoring guard. Maybe one of their mid tier picks this year hits.

 

[Hugo]

Smart is overrated because he's so tough, which is really his biggest plus. But he falls in love with his offense too much and it's not very good at all. Rosier I would love to see stay love his game, attitude and it's too bad they screwed him so he'll be leaving. Too many similar parts who see too much shared time. Tatum, Brown, Morris and Hayward all nice players but can't give them the same amount of time it's time to rely on a couple to break out. To be honest I'd start out with Jaylen Brown and then see who's interested in tatum and hayward if you can get some other pieces. Tatum, really nice player but something missing there for me but hey you guys watch it more than I so tell me what's wrong with my C's!

Like your take on Tatum, Brown, Hayward and Morris. The first 3 are basically 3's and Morris a 4 who can play the 3. Too many similar parts as you pointed out. I'd keep Morris as he can play the 4 freeing Horford as a back up for the 5. Then one of the other three definitely needs to go. Tatum has the most trade value, but he is also the more talented, but he lacks consistency and seems to lapse into apathy way too often. Tough choice here, but if Morris stays and I hope he does one of Tatum, Brown or Hayward needs to go.

Overall they desperately need both a consistent shooter and a rim protector/defender. Danny Boy has his work cut out this off season.

 

[Dooley]

Blame it on your ownership which sucks and they haven't done one thing right in a long time.
They can have Kyrie as he is not a number one but a number two. Leading is so tough and not ever great player is made for it.

I absolutely positively blame James Dolan. 1000000000%. He's a genius and as long as he is owner, the Knicks will be a punchline to every NBA joke.

 

[willie99]

Kyrie belongs with the Knicks, he's not a Celtic

 

[KingAG]

Dolan

Dolan hasnt made a basketball decision in 6 years......That narrative is tired. The Knicks front office has been nothing short of professional and savvy(see the mitchell robinson pick).

 

[HuskyHawk]

Like your take on Tatum, Brown, Hayward and Morris. The first 3 are basically 3's and Morris a 4 who can play the 3. Too many similar parts as you pointed out. I'd keep Morris as he can play the 4 freeing Horford as a back up for the 5. Then one of the other three definitely needs to go. Tatum has the most trade value, but he is also the more talented, but he lacks consistency and seems to lapse into apathy way too often. Tough choice here, but if Morris stays and I hope he does one of Tatum, Brown or Hayward needs to go.

Overall they desperately need both a consistent shooter and a rim protector/defender. Danny Boy has his work cut out this off season.

Sort of. Brown starts at the shooting guard spot. He can guard them. 6’7” isn’t that unusual for a 2 in the NBA. Tatum and Hayward clearly overlap. Hayward is athletic enough to play as a big SG depending on matchups. They basically play 1-3-3-4-4 sometimes. That’s the way Steven’s system works. And as you said Morris can play as a 3.

I sure hope they don’t pay Horford $30m to be a backup. He plays the five most of the time really. Rarely see him and Baines together.

Boston needs an inside scoring presence. Too many kick outs to Al, Jayson and Hayward for 3s. Those guys need to attack the basket. Against the Bucks they smothered the perimeter and the Celtics couldn’t get anything going inside anyway.

Irving was supposed to be that lights out shooter, and at times he was. There is work to do, but I think Danny will find a way.

 

[FartMan69]

Dolan hasnt made a basketball decision in 6 years.That narrative is tired. The Knicks front office has been nothing short of professional and savvy(see the mitchell robinson pick).

Lol

 

[navery12]

Apparently I'm the only one, but give me Kyrie on the Knicks all day

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Rozier needs to realize that the point guard position has a lot of great talent and he's not guaranteed to start at pg for any team that wants him. He can have a nice future with the Celtics if he realizes this.

Bye Bye Kyrie. He is so talented but just a weirdo, a poor leader, has a playing style that negatively influences the rest of the team and is not fun to root for.

Keep the picks and build around tatum and jalen brown. Tatum needs to stop taking so many contested 2's and get to the hoop. Once he started listening to Kobe and imitating Kyrie he regressed. Attack the basket or play less minutes.

Who knows what will happen with Horford and Hayward but I imagine Horford will opt in and be back next season.

Lastly, coach Stevens is a very good coach and has a very good basketball mind....but this season he should've put his foot down a little more. I'm amazed he stayed so calm. Most coaches would have publicly lost their mind a few times dealing with this particular team, which usually isn't good, but a little of that could've possibly shown his team a sense of urgency, which is something they played without.

I agree with Kyrie being a talented weirdo.

Talented weirdo is fine in baseball but not so much in the NBA.

I seriously question his commitment to the game. He clearly doesn’t work on his body and might be the laziest player ever.

Does he have osteoporosis? He’s 26 and misses times with injuries my dad complains of after mowing the lawn. I think he’s actually Uncle Drew and Kyrie is the make up.

There was a stretch where the Celtics won 8 or 9 straight of the games he missed with driver’s ankle and knitting knuckles and were like 3-7 with him in that same timeframe.

Have people forgot that the “not good enough” backcourt of Rozier and Smart was in game 7 of the ECF?

You put a leader like Kemba on that squad (sorry Terry) and they are total contender.

 

[Walker11]

Dolan hasnt made a basketball decision in 6 years.That narrative is tired. The Knicks front office has been nothing short of professional and savvy(see the mitchell robinson pick).

Yes, the same front office that gave 75 million to Tim Hardaway

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Apparently I'm the only one, but give me Kyrie on the Knicks all day

If he’s on your team you’ll quickly learn that “all day” means every other game.

 

[Walker11]

If he’s on your team you’ll quickly learn that “all day” means every other game.

You can't doubt Kyrie's commitment to the game and expect people to listen to your opinion on him. And I agree on this.

 

[navery12]

If he’s on your team you’ll quickly learn that “all day” means every other game.

Which is 41 games more of a superstar than they had this year

 

[kemba]

Yes, the same front office that gave 75 million to Tim Hardaway

Yes and no. Perry, the GM, and by all accounts the one making the basketball decisions now was not part of that front office.

Steve Mills made that call, he's Perry's boss, but seems to be letting Perry do his thing.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Re-sign Kyrie
Trade whatever it takes for Anthony Davis

 

[Walker11]

Yes and no. Perry, the GM, and by all accounts the one making the basketball decisions now was not part of that front office.

Steve Mills made that call, he's Perry's boss, but seems to be letting Perry do his thing.

I think Perry signed on a week before but I get it. I just disagreed with the other guys sentiment

 

[Hugo]

Sort of. Brown starts at the shooting guard spot. He can guard them. 6’7” isn’t that unusual for a 2 in the NBA. Tatum and Hayward clearly overlap. Hayward is athletic enough to play as a big SG depending on matchups. They basically play 1-3-3-4-4 sometimes. That’s the way Steven’s system works. And as you said Morris can play as a 3.

Brown starts at the 2, but that's only because the Celts don't have a true shooting guard. He doesn't have a great handle and has trouble defending the quicker guards. I believe he's much better suited at the 3, but first they need to obtain an effective shooter at the 2 who can create their own shot. Then Brown can switch between the 2 and 3 depending on matchups.

 

[kemba]

I think Perry signed on a week before but I get it. I just disagreed with the other guys sentiment

Nope it was after. Mills was making decisions in the 2 weeks or so between Phil and Perry and in that time he managed to do the Hardaway contract and not only overpay Ron Baker of all people, but throw on a player option on top of it.

So he's right that since Perry has taken over they've done a good job stopping the circus, accumulating assets, and creating cap space. But at the same time, there are still people at the top who could mess everything up if they decide to interfere. And while Perry has done a good job of giving them the opportunity to get better through the draft and free agency, that's the easy part. Turning the picks and cap space into talent is the hard part. I believe the free agency smoke, but its still not a done deal. And remains to be seen if the front office can make the right decisions if KD doesn't work out.

 

[Cardiac]

Max out Kyrie, S&T Durant for Hayward

 

[Huskyforlife]

Why would the Pels trade AD for Tatum and the Celtics young overrated pieces? The picks they have aren't likely to be top 5.

Why would AD resign with Boston considering we all know kyrie is gone? What's left for him in Boston after everyone is traded and signs somewhere else?

If I were a Celtic fan, I'd admit our run is probably over. Cause Tatum and Brown as your best players ain't winning much, and there's hardly any cap space to sign anyone of significance.

 

[KingAG]

Yes, the same front office that gave 75 million to Tim Hardaway

no, thats not the same front office.......

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Max out Kyrie, S&T Durant for Hayward

What about Baines for Antetokuonmpo and Middleton?

 

[the Q]

Why would the Pels trade AD for Tatum and the Celtics young overrated pieces? The picks they have aren't likely to be top 5.

Why would AD resign with Boston considering we all know kyrie is gone? What's left for him in Boston after everyone is traded and signs somewhere else?

If I were a Celtic fan, I'd admit our run is probably over. Cause Tatum and Brown as your best players ain't winning much, and there's hardly any cap space to sign anyone of significance.

I get your point. There’s a few considerations:

1) how much are teams gonna put on Kyrie for stunting chemistry and tatums growth

And

2) who can present a better offer? Maybe the knicks if they offer Zion and Mitchell Robinson in a package.

 

[Kembacity]

I know I've basically seen Kemba's name never associated with the Celtics, but a month ago I had a dream that Kyrie walked to the Knicks and the Celtics signed Kemba, and regardless of the outcome otherwise I was happy as a pig in sheeeeet

 

[InKembaITrust]

Why would the Pels trade AD for Tatum and the Celtics young overrated pieces? The picks they have aren't likely to be top 5.

Why would AD resign with Boston considering we all know kyrie is gone? What's left for him in Boston after everyone is traded and signs somewhere else?

If I were a Celtic fan, I'd admit our run is probably over. Cause Tatum and Brown as your best players ain't winning much, and there's hardly any cap space to sign anyone of significance.

If Kyrie leaves, and Horford restructures his deal (which should happen), the Celtics have PLENTY of cap space to play around with.

I wouldn't say Kyrie is officially gone at this point. I'm at 60/40 he returns/leaves.

Tatum & Brown are 21 & 22 years old. With their talent, athleticism and early playoff experience these guys will be All Stars or borderline All Stars at worst for the rest of their careers.

If Kyrie stays is an AD trade inevitable?

 

[Walker11]

Horford isn't going to restructure to throw the Celtics a bone. If he declines his option he is looking for one last multiyear deal

 

[the Q]

If Kyrie leaves, and Horford restructures his deal (which should happen), the Celtics have PLENTY of cap space to play around with.

I wouldn't say Kyrie is officially gone at this point. I'm at 60/40 he returns/leaves.

Tatum & Brown are 21 & 22 years old. With their talent, athleticism and early playoff experience these guys will be All Stars or borderline All Stars at worst for the rest of their careers.

If Kyrie stays is an AD trade inevitable?

From the espn insider article.

If Irving, horford and Baynes all opt out, the Celtics would have only 13m in cap rood before accounting for Rozier or Morris.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Why would the Pels trade AD for Tatum and the Celtics young overrated pieces? The picks they have aren't likely to be top 5.

Why would AD resign with Boston considering we all know kyrie is gone? What's left for him in Boston after everyone is traded and signs somewhere else?

If I were a Celtic fan, I'd admit our run is probably over. Cause Tatum and Brown as your best players ain't winning much, and there's hardly any cap space to sign anyone of significance.

That's insane. Tatum took a step backwards this year, but JBrown actually figured it out and is getting better. It is totally reasonable to assume Tatum and Hayward will be much better next year and IF Horford comes back then you are looking for that one more piece that allows them to contend with Giannis and whoever else keeps a superstar (Raptors or Sixers). It didn't work with Kyrie, but because it did almost work with Isaiah 2yrs ago and literally nobody last year it is more than reasonable to take a step back but keep building with a lot of what you have.
Even the notion of start over ignores the actual facts, the Celtics already have a ton of draft picks - which is what you'd try to get to start over. So no they won't trade their younger players for more draft picks. They can do the opposite which is trade the draft picks for a player they think can be the final key piece. Just like how they acquired Tatum AND A PICK for Fultz.

 

[the Q]

That's insane. Tatum took a step backwards this year, but JBrown actually figured it out and is getting better. It is totally reasonable to assume Tatum and Hayward will be much better next year and IF Horford comes back then you are looking for that one more piece that allows them to contend with Giannis and whoever else keeps a superstar (Raptors or Sixers). It didn't work with Kyrie, but because it did almost work with Isaiah 2yrs ago and literally nobody last year it is more than reasonable to take a step back but keep building with a lot of what you have.
Even the notion of start over ignores the actual facts, the Celtics already have a ton of draft picks - which is what you'd try to get to start over. So no they won't trade their younger players for more draft picks. They can do the opposite which is trade the draft picks for a player they think can be the final key piece. Just like how they acquired Tatum AND A PICK for Fultz.

They have a lot of picks in this draft and maybe 2 in one of the next 2 drafts.

They will need more if it’s a rebuild