Moderators: BigSlam, yosemiteben, fatlever, JDR720, Diop
316Hornets wrote:James Gatz wrote:Vegas has us as the 5th worst team at 26.5 over/under wins.Spoiler:
On a 72 game season, 26.5 wins is a joke. We had 23 last season on a 65 game season. Shows how much the Joe public knows.
Rich4114 wrote:Where would Vegas have put this before the LaMelo pick and Hayward signing? Apparently those two players make a zero win difference to Vegas.
Balllin wrote:Zion Williamson is 6-5, with a 6-10 wingspan. I see him as a slightly better Kenneth Faried.
Fischella wrote:Is this the roster then?
Graham-Ball-Riller
Rozier-Monk-Darling(TW)
Hayward-Martin-Martin
Washington-Bridges-McDaniels-Spalding(TW)
Zeller-Biyombo-Carey-Richards
I'd have the Hornets 11th in the East just missing the play-in tnmt with 25W out of 72 games, what would usually be 28W
I think Indiana, Atlanta, Orlando and Washington take part on the play-in tnmt, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto and Miami get in the POs as the top6
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.
Fischella wrote:Is this the roster then?
Fischella wrote:Is this the roster then?
Graham-Ball-Riller
Rozier-Monk-Darling(TW)
Hayward-Martin-Martin
Washington-Bridges-McDaniels-Spalding(TW)
Zeller-Biyombo-Carey-Richards
I'd have the Hornets 11th in the East just missing the play-in tnmt with 25W out of 72 games, what would usually be 28W
I think Indiana, Atlanta, Orlando and Washington take part on the play-in tnmt, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto and Miami get in the POs as the top6
Balllin wrote:Zion Williamson is 6-5, with a 6-10 wingspan. I see him as a slightly better Kenneth Faried.
therebirth wrote:I don’t think the coach value a center a whole lot. All he kept saying all summer was the team needed a shooting and ball handling and that rebounding was going to be done by committee. I think they got exactly what they wanted
BigSlam wrote:therebirth wrote:I don’t think the coach value a center a whole lot. All he kept saying all summer was the team needed a shooting and ball handling and that rebounding was going to be done by committee. I think they got exactly what they wanted
JB emphasised rim protection as a high priority for the upcoming season.
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