Watch out for the Celtics

[Coolbreeze44]

Given the above, I

I still think we should be the more desirable team to sign with or be drafted by. We don't have nearly as much clutter on the roster. We have a legit superstar big in Towns and I think they have some good players but nobody really as a legitimate all-star. Wiggins and Lavine both have all-star potential as well and we just added one of the best coaches in the game even if he has a few flaws. If Thibs can make Butler an all-star just think of what he can do for a guy like Wiggins who has even better tools than Butler had. I think Boston's war chest is a little overrated. They've had a war chest for a few years now and have always ended up just taking a bunch of players most of which don't pan out because they can't make a deal. I think their only hope this year is if Colangelo does something he doesn't normally do which is pick up that 3 pick for Okafor to get Dunn.

I love our situation too, but of all other teams, Boston has created a situation where they could challenge us at the time we are title contenders

Actually, their war chest has yet to be used. They are in the playoffs now and all their best players are on cheap contracts, and they have three top (or near top) picks in three years coming up and they have the best cap situation in the entire league. They will be wheeling and dealing with 8 picks this year and they have a bunch of extra picks in future years too. They can stash a whole bunch of international prospects or trade for more future picks. Boston will be a major player in free agency.

They've had 7 1st round picks in the last 4 years and 10 overall picks in those 4 drafts and what do they have to show for it? Sullinger, Smart and TBD's in Hunter and Rozier from last year. That's not a good track record and that's a lot of picks hence me saying they've had a war chest for a few years already and haven't done much with it.

What they have to show for it is a really nice team. And they may have had 7 1st round picks over the last 4 years, but they didn't have 3 first rounders from the Nets. It would be an amazing failure if they can't turn at least one of those picks into a star. With their free agent possibilities and trade options I think they are a scary franchise.

[kekgeek]

Boston's not even top-five in terms of young cores that I'm worried about if I'm the rest of the league.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Utah Jazz
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Milwaukee Bucks

I'll take all five of those situations over what the Boston Celtics have in terms of players and assets. Brad Stevens makes marginal players much better than they are, and that's a credit to him, but to win a championship they'll need legitimate star level players. They currently do not have one and it's not a guaranteed that they ever get one. Pump the brakes on the Celtics bandwagon.

The chances of Boston acquiring some star level players over the next 3 years are extremely high. Whether it be by draft, trade, or FA, the odds appear stacked in their favor. I just hope they don't get too many. I'd take their situation over Utah, Philly, LA, and Milwaukee without hesitation.

Agreed. Boston will strike big in free agency in the next two years. The Nets mortgage their future and Boston gets their next 2 first rounders in addition to this year. They are likely to add two more top 3 picks and next year's draft is said to be a good one.

Cam, how can you even think the Lakers are in a better situation? Its mind boggling. The Lakers are terrible while the Celtics are good and the Celtics have a ton of valuable assets while the Lakers are missing a first rounder.

Boston's not even top-five in terms of young cores that I'm worried about if I'm the rest of the league.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Utah Jazz
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Milwaukee Bucks

I'll take all five of those situations over what the Boston Celtics have in terms of players and assets. Brad Stevens makes marginal players much better than they are, and that's a credit to him, but to win a championship they'll need legitimate star level players. They currently do not have one and it's not a guaranteed that they ever get one. Pump the brakes on the Celtics bandwagon.

The chances of Boston acquiring some star level players over the next 3 years are extremely high. Whether it be by draft, trade, or FA, the odds appear stacked in their favor. I just hope they don't get too many. I'd take their situation over Utah, Philly, LA, and Milwaukee without hesitation.

The odds are never in your favor to get a star. There's just not a lot of them to go around, and most of them like to team up with other stars, which makes getting one pretty difficult.

They struck out on acquiring Kevin Love despite having all these great assets. They couldn't acquire Carmelo Anthony a year ago despite their efforts. They've been trying to trade for DeMarcus Cousins for years and still no dice. It's not as easy as you make it seem. And if you really believe getting star players is going to be that easy for Boston, then you should take their situation over Minnesota's while your at it.

Minnesota's best pieces: Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng, No. 5 overall pick

Utah's best pieces: Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, Trey Lyles, No. 12 overall pick

Philadelphia's best pieces: No. 1 overall pick, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington, Dario Saric

Los Angeles' best pieces: No. 2 overall pick, Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson

Milwaukee's best pieces: Giannis Antetekoumpo, Jabari Parker, Khris Middleton, Greg Monroe, John Henson, No. 10 overall pick

All of those groups are better than the one below.

Boston's best pieces: Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, No. 3 overall pick

Future assets are nice, but they aren't sure things. Free agency isn't a sure thing. Trades for stars are never sure things; Boston knows this well as of recent history.

I like Minnesota's situation the best especially the presence of KAT and a core that seems to fit together. Other than Minnesota, Boston has the most potential to build a powerhouse team in the 2019-26 range.

Boston is already a playoff team and they will be adding three very high picks to that mix (Brooklyn picks) and also gets Memphis's future pick, they will get some top free agents and they have one of the best young coaches in the league.

Ainge has already shown the ability to attract superstars and probably has the best combination of cap space and ability to attract free agents as any team. Durant's agent has communicated with Boston. Boston is rumored to be in play for both Horford and Butler. Coach Stevens coached free agent to be next year Gordon Hayward in college

Milwaukee is worse now than Boston and they don't have the draft picks, capspace and ability to attract free agents like Boston. Same with Philly.

LA is horrible. They are among the three worst teams and have no franchise players. Sure they might draft one this year, but they will still be horrible. They traded away a future first round pick so that will hurt them in the future.

What is it you don't understand? Boston is already a playoff team and has the best treasure trove of draft picks in the league. Ainge has already shown the ability to attract superstars and probably has the best combination of cap space and ability to attract free agents as any team. Boston has a rich history of success that most of the teams you mentioned lack. Brad Stevens might be the best young coach in the league and once he gets some top tier talent there, watch out.

In the last ten years name one player they have added via free agency that has been a big time player.

I agree that the Celtics are in good shape but there is no guarantee on adding a star. Look at the wolves and the kings they have been high in the draft for years and they have added 3 all stars in about 20 high draft choices. Look at 76ers they have had multiple high chances for a star and they might finally get one this year. They are still in need for lottery luck and even if they are lucky they still need to make the right pick.

Now I like their potential but they have 1 lower tier all star and role players

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Jrue Holiday was an all-star PG in the East. How's that working out in the West? That's the level of PG IT is so he can't be your best player and you be able to win anything of significance when it matters.

[TheFuture]

Jrue Holiday was an all-star PG in the East. How's that working out in the West? That's the level of PG IT is so he can't be your best player and you be able to win anything of significance when it matters.

Well jrue holiday needs to get healthy before we determine what he does out west. Everyone knows the east is nothing like the west when it comes to competition, but they are not in the west. Its unfair to say you can't win anything with IT. IT has led teams to more wins than Rubio has. If Boston adds a defensive big and another scorer they will be a very tough team. And these additions don't have to be superstars either.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Jrue Holiday was an all-star PG in the East. How's that working out in the West? That's the level of PG IT is so he can't be your best player and you be able to win anything of significance when it matters.

Well jrue holiday needs to get healthy before we determine what he does out west. Everyone knows the east is nothing like the west when it comes to competition, but they are not in the west. Its unfair to say you can't win anything with IT. IT has led teams to more wins than Rubio has. If Boston adds a defensive big and another scorer they will be a very tough team. And these additions don't have to be superstars either.

They do have to be superstars though because that's the only way to make it past the one superstar who has dominated that conference the last 6 seasons. Yes the West is tougher, but nobody has managed to make it through Lebron for 6 straight years so the East still has it's own roadblock. Toronto is a team full of really good players, All-stars even, but no superstar. Same with Atlanta. You aren't beating Lebron with just really good players. You need a Steph or a Durant or a Leonard to do it and even that's not enough every time.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

If I'm Durant Boston is the only situation besides OKC I look at. When Shaq left Orlando for LA he left Penny who looked to be a superstar and a great supporting cast for a not the greatest LA team. Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and 3 rings later it looked like a great move. They already have Stevens at coach, some top picks coming in from the Brooklyn trade, top notch role players, and a ton of cash to spend. If I'm Durant I see going through the Cavs to the finals much easier than going through the Spurs and Warriors. Boston has major appeal to stars.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm incredibly impressed with what the Celtics have done.

They got back to the playoffs after one season of mediocrity (25 - 57). They went 40 - 42... and then to 48 - 34 in only two seasons with a roster ripped by multiple posters here. There's no guarantee that the 29-win Wolves win 48 games. After all, it's harder than we might think. Consider... the Wolves have reached 48 wins only 4 times in 27 seasons.

Granted, the Wolves have promise. We're all fascinated by Towns, Wiggins, LaVine, Rubio, et al to varying degrees. But there are still more things that have to go right than go wrong for the Wolves to reach 50 wins with those guys.

Now, look at Boston... even with ALL THOSE high draft picks getting wasted... and failing at every turn with free agents... they're still flirting with 50 wins. Now, if only one of those high draft picks pan out. Or, the treasure trove of assets is enough to entice a good free agent... yikes.

As others noted, the Celtics have a lot of assets. Good for them. To rebuild a veteran team into a 48-win team in only 3 years AND have built up more mythical assets than any other team in the league has been masterful by Ainge and Co.


[Note: That being said, obviously the Celtics and every other team are chasing what the Wolves already have... KAT.]

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

If I'm Durant Boston is the only situation besides OKC I look at. When Shaq left Orlando for LA he left Penny who looked to be a superstar and a great supporting cast for a not the greatest LA team. Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and 3 rings later it looked like a great move. They already have Stevens at coach, some top picks coming in from the Brooklyn trade, top notch role players, and a ton of cash to spend. If I'm Durant I see going through the Cavs to the finals much easier than going through the Spurs and Warriors. Boston has major appeal to stars.

I would think Washington and Boston are both solid options for Durant. Both have some existing young talent and you make a great point that getting to the Finals is much easier in the East.

It's scary to think that San Antonio had, what, the 8th best NBA regular season record in history (?) and they didn't even make the Conference finals.