Half-Full wrote:Smart2Nesmith43 wrote:Half-Full wrote:At the beginning of this thread there were quite a few posts that considered Derrick White to be expendable. I wonder if some minds have been changed as the playoffs have progressed. He ain't going anywhere IMO. As far as ball handlers, I don't see that as a priority. Marcus and Derrick do a good job, and Payton is certainly capable of filling that role if needed. I see our biggest need as a back up center. Given our financial constraints, it will be interesting to see how the Celtics address this. I could see the Celtics putting together a trade package that included Theis, as Ime doesn't seem to love him. The question is who might he like better, and what would we have to give up? We don't have a lot of trade chips. I do think Pritchard has more value than some think, and feel he deserves more playing time than he has been getting. Perhaps a package of Pritchard and Theis? Maybe a pick? Of course, all depends on who is coming back. I would not like to see Payton go, as he is one of my favorites, but I do think there are teams out there that value what he brings, and who might be prepared to do a deal that includes him. For that reason, it wouldn't surprise me if Payton gets traded.
I don't see where the problem is at center. Robert Williams, Al Horford and Daniel Theis are more than enough to cover the position. I actually think Udoka likes Theis quite a bit. He's pretty much the only third string guy on any team that's getting semi consistent minutes in the playoffs. To be fair he is much, much better than your regular third string center but still, Udoka had plenty of opportunities to downsize and give more minutes to guys like Pritchard or White who are very good players and has often chosen to stay big and play Theis over them. That says something to the trust level he has in our favorite German player (sorry Schröder). In terms of ball handlers Smart, White and Pritchard are more than enough considering how much Tatum and Brown will have the ball in their hands anyway. So to me the main issue is wing depth. Whether it's through internal development (Nesmith ? Hauser ?) or through a ring chaser in free agency or less likely through the draft (a rookie isn't going to come in and play on a team this good) or a trade, the Celtics are going to need one or two two way wings to lighten up the load on Tatum and Brown in the regular season. Guys that might not be world beaters but can hold their own enough that they don't get picked on and the team doesn't fall apart everytime Tatum goes to the bench.
I do agree on your assessment of Pritchard. He is a proven high level shooter in shooting oriented league, making relative peanuts and with years of control. Guys like Fournier and Robinson might have more size but it's very debatable that they are actually better defenders and they get like 17 millions a year on the open market. That's a ton of excess value he's providing and I think the Celtics are very happy to have such a cheap contributor considering how expensive the rest of the roster is.
The problem at center:
1. Al Horford's age. He is a very good player, but going forward his age will inevitably affect his play, and not in a good way. Hopefully not next year... The year after? If he is still with the team then it will be in a diminished role.
2. RWill III - a valuable player who seems a bit fragile. Maybe his health will not be an issue, but...
3. Daniel Theis - I like him, and think he is fine in his current role. I would have some concerns, though, if either Horford or RWill were out for an extended period. Not that he is incapable of rising to the occasion.
It just seems sensible that we should find someone who could ably step in at center, and who might take the reins from Al when his playing time in Boston comes to an end. That's not going to be Theis. Who then? We better start looking.
I mean the Celtics are in the finals despite the fact that TImelord has been hurt or ineffective for the vast majority of that playoff run. Theis has demonstrated that he's fine as a minutes eater in the regular season. The Celtics even went to the ECF with him as a starter. While he doesn't drive that success he has shown that he won't kill the team when he is out there even in big games. Unless both Horford and Robert Williams are out the Celtics can cobble together 48 minutes of competent center play. You can't work on the assumption that your two best options at a position are going to miss a playoff series, no NBA team has the depth to withstand that. I mean what would the ball handling situation of the Celtics look like if both Smart and White were out at the same time ? Don't get me started on the wings if both Brown and Tatum can't go.
In a salary cap league where you have limited assets, it's awful management to spend the little flexibility the Celtics have left to upgrade the 3rd center spot when the incumbent has proven that he is (more than) up to the task. Especially since you have zero proven NBA depth on the wings behind you two super stars.
