Official Celtics 2020-21 Regular Season Thread

[Darth Celtic]

I think Wanamaker is better than Teague, but not by much. Teague plays with an attitude, like Schroeder. Instigator.

I think it's a bit like comparing Apples to Oranges. Teague has always excelled in getting in the lane , beating defenders off the dribble and can create his shot a bit.

Meanwhile Wannamaker is more of a combo who really can't beat his defender off the dribble well. But has shown decent catch and shoot ability off the ball.

However I thought the drafting of PP would have made either non essential. Kemba should start at PG, Smart 2nd at PG, then PP at PG. Boston invested a first on PP. what good does it to make him the possible 4th option. I hate it.

play PP early. If he plays well enough increase his role.

The Teague signing is really unnecessary it feels. I really hope he's buried on the depth chart quickly. Pritchard, if he's good, should be a good player almost immediately; he's older than Tatum, started 140 college games, he really should be good to go from Game 1 even in an abbreviated training camp season like this one.

with training camp being so quick after draft and the season right after, no summer league, I expect both rookies to be brought along slower. What does that mean? Probably more Grant and Semi early as "wings"

[KumaJG]

Throw the rookies/ young players in the fire. We need know what we have. Can't waste Tatums prime.

[hugepatsfan]

I think there's a definite sense of disapoontment with this offseason. For good reason. But if you take a step back, we are as good/better than the team we made last year's playoff run with. It may be only marginally better, but still...

Our starting 5 of Kemba/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Theis proved effective last playoffs. Thompson is a big upgrade over Kanter just by virtue of being a good enough defender to play. Teague should be able to replicate what Wanamaker brought to the table (better in some areas, tradeoff in others). Semi is back so that baseline production is back, even if no one is excited by it. Grant and Rob Williams got meaningful run and both are back. The only thing we've lost from last year's playoff run is the hobbled version of Hayward we got for a couple of games at the end.

We have a whole unit of 1st round picks to try out: Pritchard / Langford / Nesmith / G Williams / R Williams. I'd like to see if any of them can really emerge as full time, consistent rotation pieces. All of them have the talent/draft status where that's a reasonable hope/expectation. I'm not saying that they need to

I hope we generate a TPE for Hayward, but before we go rushing to use it, I'd like to go at least through the deadline and see what happens with that group of talented youngsters first. We can assess our team needs and best way to us the TPE from there.

If some/all of them flop/fail to continue development then we can use the TPE to try and fill in the gaps. If no one emerges on the wing then we can target that positon. If there's a lock of a good PF option you can target that. If Teague ends up being washed and Pritchard sucks you can go for a backup PG. Just roll with the punches.

But, if some/all of those guys really emerge, then we might need to pursue any depth player(s) at all. Instead, you stash it for next year and pursue big names. For instance, Jrue Holiday would have hypothetically fit into the Hayward TPE if we had it this year. Lt's pretend there's a player like that available next year. We can use the TPE to offer up total salary relif and then package some combination of those young players and picks.

Or look at what OKC did this year. They've collected tons of assets by taking on salary. If our young players emerge to where we have a good bench, then we can try to use the TPE to generate future assets that way.

I think the TPE should be relatively inexpensive to make happen and it opens up a ton of possibilities, even if it doesn't bear any fruit right away.

[drs123310]

I'd like to see us sign one more shooter to get Smart's reserve minutes at the 2, and waive Green. Not much left but someone like Glenn Robinson, who shot 39% from 3 last season.

Kemba/Teague/Pritchard/Edwards
Smart/Robinson
Brown/Nesmith/Langford/Semi
Tatum/Grant
Thompson/Theis/Williams

with Fall/Waters on 2-way

[Darth Celtic]

I mean, some people say the Tatum extension is the best news of the offseason. Nope, Tacko back with the team BOOOOOM

[Parliament10]

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[Parliament10]

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I wonder if they'll add 3 Non-Guaranteeds, for Training Camp?

[ConstableGeneva]

My guesses for their jersey numbers:
• Tristan Thompson - 13, his number with the Cavs, last worn by Marcus Morris
• Jeff Teague - 9, his previous numbers are taken/retired (0, 00, 44)
• Aaron Nesmith - 20, his previous number is retired (24)
• Payton Pritchard - 11, his previous number is retired (3)

[Maple Green]

I have wish that before end of the offseason we got another move to Denver

Boston out: Semi and Waters
Boston in: Bolbol

Denver Out: Bolbol
Denver In: Semi and Waters

I want to see Bolbol with Tacko playing together in garbage time.

What do you think guys?

[Triple7]

For the record I'm one of those who definitely believes in putting your young players right ins thae fire let them make some mistakes but By the end of the year they will have so much more confidence and experience to play big in big games. Boston has to late lottery pigs in Romeo Langford and neesmith, one of them should be automatically put into the starting lineup and left them learn to gel with the starters. Since Romeo Langford is hurt and Aaron nee Smith is considered a pure shooter I believe he should get the Spot. Unfortunately Brad Stevens has an opposit philosophical approach. He likes the ease in his rookies very slowly, unless of course you are picked in the top 3. But even then if it was in forward Gordon Hayward getting hurt I wonder how much he really would have played Jason Tatum and jelen Brown.

I agree. I want Nesmith to start from the get go, or at least get a decent, consistent minutes from the start. If we expect him to develop to a player we can rely on, then he should get minutes from the start. That would give him confidence. It’s stupid if you just play them during garbage time. That won’t help his game. Unless he turms out like a flop, like carsen. He could be the dead set shooter that we terribly need. A duncan robinson type, with a better ceiling. Plus i hated when Smart bricks all those wide open 3’s. Let’s see what how Stevens handles this.

[Fencer reregistered]

I'm trying to think of a way to bring IT4 back that makes sense for both him and us, but I'm failing. E.g., I'd gladly jettison Edwards or Green to bring him in on a 2-year vet minimum deal, knowing we have the Early Bird Exception after that. (If the Early Bird isn't enough to keep him with, then he'll have been a great pickup for two years.) But why would he agree to that? Conversely, if we bring him in on a one year vet minimum deal, then if he does well he's likely gone a season later.

[Triple7]

I'm trying to think of a way to bring IT4 back that makes sense for both him and us, but I'm failing. E.g., I'd gladly jettison Edwards or Green to bring him in on a 2-year vet minimum deal, knowing we have the Early Bird Exception after that. (If the Early Bird isn't enough to keep him with, then he'll have been a great pickup for two years.) But why would he agree to that? Conversely, if we bring him in on a one year vet minimum deal, then if he does well he's likely gone a season later.

Pass on IT. We have enough undersized point guards already.

[BK_2020]

Throw the rookies/ young players in the fire. We need know what we have. Can't waste Tatums prime.

We can’t waste Tatums prime but basketball players hit their prime in their late twenties not when they are 19.

[zoyathedestroya]

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Brad didn't/couldn't talk about Hayward's departure.

[zoyathedestroya]

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11 was last worn by Enes Kanter. 26 was last worn by Jabari Bird.

[Parliament10]

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11 was last worn by Enes Kanter. 26 was last worn by Jabari Bird.

That #11 Jersey is going around, huh?

[jfs1000d]

The thing with Hayward and Indy.

This is a matter of decision-making and framing to use corporate speak. If you frame the issue that Hayward for nothing or you get two useful parts, then it is dumb not to get anything for Hayward.

But if you frame it in the context of the entire roster, it makes little sense to do the Indy deal.

This is how bad decisions are made. Many people are so focused on the one asset -- Hayward -- that you are trying to salvage any residual value from it. In that sense, in a ZERO sum avenue, it makes sense. But when you evalaute salary (25M) verse production and then the ability to cascade to other moves, Turner goes negative.

Can i play a game with you people?

You have two choices. Heads or tails

If you don't play I give you $100

or

If you do play, and it comes heads you get $500.
If you do play, and it comes tails, you owe me $20.

What do you choose?

[JMAC3]

Not really sure where to put this in the thread, but just wanted to say a couple things about the way the Celtics have handled their roster over the years that I respect.

Even starting back with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as rookie and sophomore players in the NBA the Celtics were able to identify they had a window to really compete over the next 4 years with young players. Instead of continuing to tank unnecessarily for yet another top 3 pick (many teams would do this), they decided to do the opposite, and start to fill their team with Veterans who could help them win now while their star young players were really inexpensive.

Even after signing Al Horford to a mega deal the season before, as soon as the Celtics drafted Tatum they went out and traded for Kyrie and signed Gordon Hayward to a max deal. Again many teams out there would continue to just hoard cap space because they have young talent, but not the Celtics they treated this as an NFL team would once they draft a QB in the top 5 picks, you are saving a massive amount of money at a key position, now is the time to spend. Once Tatum and Brown are due for paydays these Veterans contracts will be expiring and they will easily be able to afford their young stars next deals.

Even after Kyrie decided to bounce and it seemed like you were about to get nothing in return you were able to scramble and steal Kemba Walker away. Horford leaving may have been a blessing in disguise because his contract looks like a huge mistake at this point. I am sure you will end up getting something for Hayward even if it is just a trade exception, which I think are may be one most Overpowered assets in the league.

The only thing I would have done differently if I were Celtics would of been trying to be more aggressive with my draft picks, it seemed like you did not maximize all the draft assets you had over that 5 year stretch and were really only able to add complimentary pieces and developmental prospects. One would think with that many picks you would of been able to add another top 5 pick or another star player to the mix while you had your title window open.

Now that you are no longer paying Tatum and Brown peanuts it will be much much more difficult to field a winning roster around them, but hey that is the way the cookie crumbles. I look back and appreciate what the front office attempted to do and in theory it was smart to throw the kitchen sink in attempt to win a title, Hayward getting hurt probably kept you from at least a Finals appearance. Your best chance at title now is that Tatum keeps ascending and becomes a top 5 player in the league, no longer will you be able to field one of the deepest teams in the league.

As a Hornets fan, I think this is somewhat the plan with us as well. We have a lot of young talent on really cost effective deals, no real bad long term contracts potentially. Now is the time to start gearing up with some of these Veteran contracts that will be coming off the books once our young studs are getting paid (Hayward deal will expire once LaMelo is due for his first big contract). PJ will be cheap for 3 more years, Bridges 2 more years (Rozier expires), Graham will be paid next season (Zeller and Batum expire).

We are expected to have a large sum of money next offseason again to bring in an additional max free agent or a couple of bigger names. I personally like getting Hayward this year, vs spending 50-60 million all in one summer. For one it allows you to stagger the contracts so everyone isn't expiring all at once and you don't have to try and figure that all out at same time. Also prevents us from potentially getting stuck holding the bag with a billion dollars and not knowing what to do with it (Knicks every single summer).

Not sure if LaMelo turns into a star, but as a small market team I like what we could do in his rookie contract window if he does end up being really good. Hayward is the first stepping stone in the plan, but I would love to bring in one more piece next summer that can really take us to the next level all while paying Ball, Washington and Bridges peanuts.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't necessarily rule out a Daniel Theis trade now that Thompson has been signed. Right now we have 6 legit rotation piece, just like last year. Last year it was the starters of Kemba/Brown/Hayward/Tatum/Theis with Smart on the bench. Now it's the starters of Kemba/Smart/Brown/Tatum at the 1-4 spots with Theis/Thompson as the starting 5/6th man in whatever order.

Dealing Theis could get that balance back where we have our fist guy off the bench on the perimeter, where we seem to place more importance. Not sure there is a match off the top of my head, but I don't rule it out.

[Who-rod]

I wish we could drag Buddy Heild into the sign and trade for Hayward. It sounds like things have really soured for him in Sacramento, and I think he'd be the perfect offensive compliment to the Jays and Kemba (think a Klay type roll scoring without the ball). Moving him and getting something would Perhaps let the Kings retain BB.

I'm not sure what we'd have to give, but imagine it would revolve around future picks and something from Romeo/Williams/Nesmith rights.