Celtics General Offseason Thread, 2019 – Welcome to the Party, #2

[CelticFaninLBC]

It's an agent driven league and only one team gets their guy. The Lakers. Wont be surprised he signs with Klutch months before he becomes a FA.

LeBron has a player's option in 2021, so he probably opts out, comes back for $1 million, and Giannis signs with LAL. I'm done with the NBA at that point.

[MagicBagley18]

He’s in line for the largest contract extension in nba history next summer is the earliest they can offer it to him, he’s going nowhere. Enough of the white whales and ainges quest for them

[sully00]

no 1st of all lakers are the favorite next season.

The favorite for what? They have 6 players under contract for next season. 3 good players and 3 guys I haven't really heard of. 26 mil in cap space sounds like a lot of money and they may be add to that if NOLA wants to cooperate but I doubt they are willing to go beyond 7/6.

They have no draft pick. How are they going to fill out a starting 5 never mind a roster. If they decide to go chase another star with the cap space then they have to fill out the roster with the Cap exception and Minimum salary guys. The Lakers have done this ass backwards and it actually has a chance to blow up big time.

Lebron can be competitive with stiffs we have seen it before but they are handpicked stiffs that fill specific roles and fit his playing style. It took 48 wins to make the playoffs in West the Lakers may want to start there.

Not even sure they can use cap exceptions if they use cap space to sign a player can they?

There is an exception available for teams under the cap after the run out of cap space but it is small.

[TheOGJabroni]

RE: the youth movement - if the Celtics really are headed that route, then I don't want Rozier on the team. His presence will hinder Tatum and Brown's development. I distinctly recall a number of instances where Terry froze out the youngsters even when they were wide open just so he could get a bad shot up. He just isn't about making his teammates better - something a good PG should be doing.

I would re-sign Rozier to a reasonable deal as the starter with every intention of moving him later in the year. I'm with you; I don't think he's good enough to have the style of play that he does but I also think he's too valuable to let walk away for nothing. If we can move him for a veteran guard and future draft pick, I would do it as soon as it was available to them.

[zoyathedestroya]

With Boston not being a top destination for superstars, here are our current paths to a title -- Ham-and-Eggers Special Overachieving to the Nth Power and Getting Super Super Lucky Outside of the Lottery (Kawhi or Giannis at 15 type deal).

[SichtingLives]

if you guys start making multiple hundred page threads about this im out. a man can take only so much bull****

[sully00]

The favorite for what? They have 6 players under contract for next season. 3 good players and 3 guys I haven't really heard of. 26 mil in cap space sounds like a lot of money and they may be add to that if NOLA wants to cooperate but I doubt they are willing to go beyond 7/6.

They have no draft pick. How are they going to fill out a starting 5 never mind a roster. If they decide to go chase another star with the cap space then they have to fill out the roster with the Cap exception and Minimum salary guys. The Lakers have done this ass backwards and it actually has a chance to blow up big time.

Lebron can be competitive with stiffs we have seen it before but they are handpicked stiffs that fill specific roles and fit his playing style. It took 48 wins to make the playoffs in West the Lakers may want to start there.

Not even sure they can use cap exceptions if they use cap space to sign a player can they?

To win it all....even if they they won’t get another max they’ll fill the roster out with shooters and veteran role players and have LeBron James and AD. You guys can bury Lebron all you want. I won’t. I hate the guy and want him to fail but if he’s in the playoffs with another superstar and an even playing field (meaning no KD warriors) I’ll pick him every time against the field until something happens otherwise.

Lakers with a realistic shot to win it all and Lebron will fill out the roster just fine.

But how? I know everyone thinks this is how it works but it doesn't. Riley had a plan in place when he made his move that had several very important role players and some younger players in place so that the Heat had a roster. The Cavs were stacked with lottery picks much the way the Lakers were when they re-signed James. Your not going to find 6 veterans to play for the minimum after a year with a big cap space jump. The Lakers aren't a team that just got bounced in the Finals they are team that self destructed and traded everything but James and Kuzma for Davis.

Logically they should use the money on several players but that is going to lessen the impact of who you get. Does 3 or 4 Marcus Morris level talents get the Lakers into the top 4 teams in the West?

I think they will make a run at making the post season which is a big deal in the West and I can even buy your punchers chance in the post season but the idea that they are the favorites is a stretch until they have a legal roster.

[CeltsfaninDC]

things would have to collapse fairly significantly for him to want to leave MIL.

[Smog]

RE: the youth movement - if the Celtics really are headed that route, then I don't want Rozier on the team. His presence will hinder Tatum and Brown's development. I distinctly recall a number of instances where Terry froze out the youngsters even when they were wide open just so he could get a bad shot up. He just isn't about making his teammates better - something a good PG should be doing.

I would re-sign Rozier to a reasonable deal as the starter with every intention of moving him later in the year. I'm with you; I don't think he's good enough to have the style of play that he does but I also think he's too valuable to let walk away for nothing. If we can move him for a veteran guard and future draft pick, I would do it as soon as it was available to them.

Terry as a starter two years ago did a lot of things well. He didn’t turn the ball over, pushed the pace, and both Tatum and Brown were clearly featured when he was running things. If anything his chucker style maybe takes a little pressure off the Jays - when they have to shoulder the whole scoring load they seem to press a little, especially Jaylen.

[Darth Celtic]

Something to keep in mind, the 2021 free agents class will include the following guys, at the ages below. Might need to get Hayward to agree to an extension to be in the max market, but I'm assuming the LAL, LAC, BKN and NYK will blow their cap space this year.. Perhaps Giannis would want to team with Tatum & Brown?

Giannis, 26 y.o.
Damian Lillard
Paul George, 31
CJ McCollum, 30
Rudy Gobert, 29
Bradley Beal, 28

Why would any of those players choose Boston over NY LA Miami or anywhere else. Ill give you this. Maybe Beal would. But Giannis would either stay or go to a big market. Dame I think would stay. George would be a Laker or Thunder.

The Celtics need to start planning on selling Tatum on the future incase if he becomes a superstar. Otherwise he's going to be leaving once his contract is up too.

If Tatum is a superstar/All star, he'll resign here for his next contract at max for his age. Almost never see players walk off rookie contracts when allstar/superstar. KP threatened it and got traded for it cuz well, Knicks...

[chrisab123]

Something to keep in mind, the 2021 free agents class will include the following guys, at the ages below. Might need to get Hayward to agree to an extension to be in the max market, but I'm assuming the LAL, LAC, BKN and NYK will blow their cap space this year.. Perhaps Giannis would want to team with Tatum & Brown?

Giannis, 26 y.o.
Damian Lillard
Paul George, 31
CJ McCollum, 30
Rudy Gobert, 29
Bradley Beal, 28

Why would any of those players choose Boston over NY LA Miami or anywhere else. Ill give you this. Maybe Beal would. But Giannis would either stay or go to a big market. Dame I think would stay. George would be a Laker or Thunder.

The Celtics need to start planning on selling Tatum on the future incase if he becomes a superstar. Otherwise he's going to be leaving once his contract is up too.

If Tatum is a superstar/All star, he'll resign here for his next contract at max for his age. Almost never see players walk off rookie contracts when allstar/superstar. KP threatened it and got traded for it cuz well, Knicks...

It also depends on who his agent is at the time. Ainge better start getting in good with Rich Paul to carry favor for when LeBron retires and the team is ready to compete again

[MagicBagley18]

Not even sure they can use cap exceptions if they use cap space to sign a player can they?

To win it all....even if they they won’t get another max they’ll fill the roster out with shooters and veteran role players and have LeBron James and AD. You guys can bury Lebron all you want. I won’t. I hate the guy and want him to fail but if he’s in the playoffs with another superstar and an even playing field (meaning no KD warriors) I’ll pick him every time against the field until something happens otherwise.

Lakers with a realistic shot to win it all and Lebron will fill out the roster just fine.

But how? I know everyone thinks this is how it works but it doesn't. Riley had a plan in place when he made his move that had several very important role players and some younger players in place so that the Heat had a roster. The Cavs were stacked with lottery picks much the way the Lakers were when they re-signed James. Your not going to find 6 veterans to play for the minimum after a year with a big cap space jump. The Lakers aren't a team that just got bounced in the Finals they are team that self destructed and traded everything but James and Kuzma for Davis.

Logically they should use the money on several players but that is going to lessen the impact of who you get. Does 3 or 4 Marcus Morris level talents get the Lakers into the top 4 teams in the West?

I think they will make a run at making the post season which is a big deal in the West and I can even buy your punchers chance in the post season but the idea that they are the favorites is a stretch until they have a legal roster.

They don’t need 6 veterans they’ll be able to find a few quality role players or vets to take less. Lebron at 35 by himself isn’t desirable but Lebron at 35 with a 26 year old AD in a wide open west is. You’ll see. Too many free agents for them all to get paid. They’ll take a 1 year deal go on a playoff run build up value and sign elsewhere.

Lebron always gets the ring chasers and now u add in LA. Watch. They have 2 top 5 guys even if they don’t go full force to try and dominate the regular season in the post season they’ll flourish. Too talent always wins out

[zoyathedestroya]

Lakers only need 8 players in the playoffs. If they're smart, they'll use the remaining cap space on two or three high-level role players instead of a max-type guy. Apart from ring-chasing vets who might settle for the minimum, there's always the buyout market. You can luck out with a serviceable veteran that's being benched on a rebuilding team.

One injury to Lebron or AD might book their ticket to lotteryville though. Look at what just happened to the Warriors. You still need depth behind those superstars.

[MagicBagley18]

Lakers only need 8 players in the playoffs. If they're smart, they'll use the remaining cap space on two or three high-level role players instead of a max-type guy. Apart from ring-chasing vets who might settle for the minimum, there's always the buyout market. You can luck out with a serviceable veteran that's being benched on a rebuilding team.

One injury to Lebron or AD might book their ticket to lotteryville though. Look at what just happened to the Warriors. You still need depth behind those superstars.

Exactly. Injuries can derail it otherwise they’ll be fine and will come out the west.

[djFan71]

To me, Smart earned the right to remain a starter. His value was so obvious last year throughout the turmoil. And that he did it AFTER he signed the new deal IMO shouldn't be understated. I went to the NBA Draft in 2016 when we drafted him. I knew we were getting a leader and a gamer. With what just happened I just don't see how you tell him to go back to the bench again unless you are getting a player at Kyrie's talent level. His passing is fine enough for primary handling duties but you can expect the Usage to go up a ton for Tatum and Brown anyway so big deal if Smart doesn't look like your traditional lead guard.

So if you have him, the Jay's, Al (if he comes back) where does that leave Hayward. If you put him in the starting lineup, that was the same starting lineup that got its collective ass handed to it to start this last season. Say what you want about Kyrie but he's not responsible for everything. So what's the solution? You have to put our 30M golden boy back on the bench to be a 6th man.

Considering he will still have to prove he's back to himself, from a talent standpoint, it makes sense. But it's getting almost comicial to think we'll have spent $120M on a 6th man. But that's what he'll be. Start Baynes. Let Hayward run the bench crew. No Rozier. Find a new backup PG to play with him, Semi, TimeLord and our draft picks.

I think this is the best we can hope for.

Agree completley on Gordon as 6th man, hopefully Manu style.

I wonder where Smart's head is at with the Kyrie thing. He was Kyrie's most ardent supporter, and playing with Kyrie allowed Smart's game to flourish. Without Kyrie, does Smart try to take on too much offensive responsibility and play beyond his limitations? He has in previous seasons when there were no other options. But, with this team next year, I don't think that's needed.

I'm especially wondering what happens if we bring back Terry and start him. I think Smart handles it fine regardless, but I'm leaning more and more to not keeping both past the deadline. It doesn't make sense to have $24M+ tied up in 2 combo/point guards that you don't have enough minutes to play without going super small since the core of your team is 3 wings needing 30+ minutes each.

[zoyathedestroya]

Lakers only need 8 players in the playoffs. If they're smart, they'll use the remaining cap space on two or three high-level role players instead of a max-type guy. Apart from ring-chasing vets who might settle for the minimum, there's always the buyout market. You can luck out with a serviceable veteran that's being benched on a rebuilding team.

One injury to Lebron or AD might book their ticket to lotteryville though. Look at what just happened to the Warriors. You still need depth behind those superstars.

Exactly. Injuries can derail it otherwise they’ll be fine and will come out the west.

It can go either way. There's little flexibility and I don't really believe "smart" and "LA front office" come in the same sentence. We can't proclaim them champs right now without seeing the rest of the roster. We can do the premature crowning in September or preseason.

[Darth Celtic]

Lakers only need 8 players in the playoffs. If they're smart, they'll use the remaining cap space on two or three high-level role players instead of a max-type guy. Apart from ring-chasing vets who might settle for the minimum, there's always the buyout market. You can luck out with a serviceable veteran that's being benched on a rebuilding team.

One injury to Lebron or AD might book their ticket to lotteryville though. Look at what just happened to the Warriors. You still need depth behind those superstars.

6M for JJ Redick on 2 year deal.
7m for D rose on 2 year deal
6m for Seth Curry on 2 year deal
5 m for Robin Lopez on 1 year deal
vet min for J. Crawford
vet min for C. Anthony
vet min for wilson chandler

I mean, it can be done.

Rose/Crawford
Reddick/Curry
James/Chandler
Anthony/Kuzma
AD/Lopez
Rest of the roster

Team has a 2 year window.

[BillTheGOAT]

Lakers always gets the best or one of the best bigs in most eras.

Wilt
KAJ
Shaq
Gasol
Howard
Davis

[zoyathedestroya]

Lakers only need 8 players in the playoffs. If they're smart, they'll use the remaining cap space on two or three high-level role players instead of a max-type guy. Apart from ring-chasing vets who might settle for the minimum, there's always the buyout market. You can luck out with a serviceable veteran that's being benched on a rebuilding team.

One injury to Lebron or AD might book their ticket to lotteryville though. Look at what just happened to the Warriors. You still need depth behind those superstars.

6M for JJ Redick on 2 year deal.
7m for D rose on 2 year deal
6m for Seth Curry on 2 year deal
5 m for Robin Lopez on 1 year deal
vet min for J. Crawford
vet min for C. Anthony
vet min for wilson chandler

I mean, it can be done.

Rose/Crawford
Reddick/Curry
James/Chandler
Anthony/Kuzma
AD/Lopez
Rest of the roster

Team has a 2 year window.

Defense is a big question mark. A lineup with Rose, Redick, aging sometimes disengaged Lebron, and Melo defending a team like the Blazers or Rockets?

[jmr07019]

He should absolutely be the next target. Didn't realize Lillard is also a FA that year. Tatum is a RFA that summer meaning we could theoretically sign both Lillard and Giannis then go over the cap to sign Tatum to a new deal.