hugepatsfan wrote:keevsnick1 wrote:hugepatsfan wrote:
I disagree that there is "no reason" for them to leave. Look at how we've played this year. This roster, even with them on it, is not CHAMPIONSHIP caliber. Unless moves are made for it to become so, it becomes the most likely scenario that they leave.
Players force their way off of playoff teams every year to go to CHAMPIONSHIP teams. There's zero reason to think Tatum and/or Brown are going to re-sign here unless we offer them a supporting cast that gives them a legitimate shot to compete for titles. We currently do not offer that based on performance this year.
Your last sentence that the situation has to be "awful" for them to leave is just completely in conflict with everything that has happened in the NBA for the last decade. Players don't just leave awful situations. They frequently leave situations that aren't their best bet for a championship.
We were in the ECF last year with basically the same team considering Hayward missed those playoffs. Tatum/Brown have 3/4 years left after this year, and I think you'd expect them each to continue to get at least a little better. The only bad contract we have is Kemba, and he's tradeable probably after next year as an expiring and is still a positive impact guy. We have young guys who could pop and all our picks.
Sure, if we continue to he a .500 team going forward they might leave. But I think that's fairly unlikely. Hell I think if you just bring the same team back next year theres a good chance they are a lot better between improvement from young players, no covid, and a slight bounce back from walker.
ECF is nice but it's not the goal. Their goal will be to sign with someone in position to win championships. Think of LAL with Lebron and AD. BRK with KD/Harden/Kyrie. That's the type of team we need to have to feel good about re-signing Tatum and Brown, IMO. Because if we aren't offering them that type of roster if they re-sign, then in the modern NBA there's a good chance they force their way somewhere else either through trade or FA where they are joining forces to form that type of roster. That's just how the game is now.
Ya my point is we're really close. The fatalism on this board is crazy. The coach is really good, the front office is respected, they we've already got them each paired with one other star level guy thier own age, and the team has been to the ECF twice in thier time. Also, not for nothing, we will be able to offer more money.
I mean arguably we've done more than say MIL did to keep Giannis. So let's just keep some perspective here. This isnt the NOP with Davis. Or Harden on HOU where clearly the team has no future. Yes, they could walk. But realistically we'd have to see the next two years be equally as bad as this one and even if all that changes is health i'd find it hard to believe.
I dont really worry that much about them forcing thier way out btw. Generally that comes from guys on teams with NO chance. Thers a certain pattern here. Boston would have to suck at least two straight years. Then the front office changes coaches and that fails. Then Ainge packages like 3 picks for another star and that fails. Ect ect. Right now I think we are several steps from seriously worrying about Brown or tatum leaving.