The Celtics have a decision to make on Kyrie soon

[cgf]

I actually dont think its that difficult of a decision. If Kyrie can have a healthy year, say 70+ games in the regular season (I expect a lot of rest from Boston) and be there in the playoffs, I dont hesitate offering him the max. If he has another injury riddled season and isnt there for the playoffs, I offer him a good but not max contract. With that Im sure he goes to NY, but its not like BOS gave up a lot to get him and dont have the assets to try and fill the void. Rozier could be a good patch for the time being and who knows, if that SAC pick can be say #2 or #3 overall. Use it for a trade, or take another wing and use one of the wings to package for a PG.

With Boston’s luck they’ll let Kyrie walk, draft Cole Anthony with the kings pick, and he’ll be as good as Kyrie in a year or two.

If Cole reclassifies that could definitely be a possibility. Or say something like this happens. Kyrie goes to NY, Sac stinks it up this year and the SAC pick ends up as the #2 pick in the draft. A team then falls in love with Little and Boston drafts RJ Barrett 2nd overall. Boston then can make the choice of waiting for Haywards contract to finish up and go forward with a young 3 headed wing monster with Tatum/Barrett/Brown. Or they can trade that pick before the draft for a new PG to replace Kyrie. Or if they like RJ more than one of their wings, take RJ then trade one of their wings for a PG. Boston has a ton of options right now.

The celtics really can just **** off to the west anytime now...

[The_Hater]

Make no mistake about it, if Danny Ainge thinks for even a second that Kyrie is leaving, he will trade him during the season. Ainge understands better than anyone that the least valuable asset is the one that walks away for nothing.

Yeah but if Ainge thinks the team can win a title, they won't trade Kyrie in February.

The Warriors would have to have a season ending injury to Curry or Durant for him to think a title is doable during the season.

Regardless, Ainge is still playing the long game here. He’s trying to build a sustainable core not one that competes for the title one season and falls back the next.

[wco81]

Make no mistake about it, if Danny Ainge thinks for even a second that Kyrie is leaving, he will trade him during the season. Ainge understands better than anyone that the least valuable asset is the one that walks away for nothing.

Yeah but if Ainge thinks the team can win a title, they won't trade Kyrie in February.

The Warriors would have to have a season ending injury to Curry or Durant for him to think a title is doable during the season.

Regardless, Ainge is still playing the long game here. He’s trying to build a sustainable core not one that competes for the title one season and falls back the next.

No I think the Celtics would want to get to the Finals this year, regardless of whether they could win the title.

I think they're confident they can win it all if they get to the Finals.

[clyde21]

With Boston’s luck they’ll let Kyrie walk, draft Cole Anthony with the kings pick, and he’ll be as good as Kyrie in a year or two.

If Cole reclassifies that could definitely be a possibility. Or say something like this happens. Kyrie goes to NY, Sac stinks it up this year and the SAC pick ends up as the #2 pick in the draft. A team then falls in love with Little and Boston drafts RJ Barrett 2nd overall. Boston then can make the choice of waiting for Haywards contract to finish up and go forward with a young 3 headed wing monster with Tatum/Barrett/Brown. Or they can trade that pick before the draft for a new PG to replace Kyrie. Or if they like RJ more than one of their wings, take RJ then trade one of their wings for a PG. Boston has a ton of options right now.

The celtics really can just **** off to the west anytime now...

They might have TWO top 10 picks in 2019.

[iggymcfrack]

Kyrie’s not worth the max and he’s not a good fit on a team that already has multiple scoring options and is built on a switch everything defense. Celtics would really be smart to get something for him while they can.

[The_Hater]

Yeah but if Ainge thinks the team can win a title, they won't trade Kyrie in February.

The Warriors would have to have a season ending injury to Curry or Durant for him to think a title is doable during the season.

Regardless, Ainge is still playing the long game here. He’s trying to build a sustainable core not one that competes for the title one season and falls back the next.

No I think the Celtics would want to get to the Finals this year, regardless of whether they could win the title.

I think they're confident they can win it all if they get to the Finals.

They’d be wrong. But ok.

Edit: you’re a warriors fan so you already know they’re wrong.

They could still reach the finals with their roster and whoever they get back for Kyrie anyways.

[Duke4life831]

Kyrie’s not worth the max and he’s not a good fit on a team that already has multiple scoring options and is built on a switch everything defense. Celtics would really be smart to get something for him while they can.

Boston had the #1 defense with Kyrie playing 60 games last year. People keep talking like once Kyrie went down the offense opened up and the ball was moving around a lot more which allowed Tatum's game to open up. Now that Kyrie is coming back we will see ISO Kyrie and not the ball movement offense that we saw in the playoffs.

Kyrie (RS)
Time of Pos: 6.1 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per touch: 4.4

Rozier (playoffs)
Time of Pos: 6.9 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per Touch: 4.3

Now Kyrie did do more ISO scoring than Rozier (16% vs 12%), but overall ISO frequency for the team went up from 8% in the regular season to 11% in the playoffs. The big difference in the playoffs was how much more aggressive Tatum was with his touches compared to what he was in the regular season.

Rozier led Boston in FGA in the playoffs, he did that while shooting 40/34/82 percentages. Between Rozier/Smart/Morris, those 3 averaged 35 shots a game on 37/33/75 shooting. So there is a lot more offense and shots to be had for Boston next season.

[3toheadmelo]

[Curmudgeon]

Kyrie is the one with the decision to make, not the Celtics. The Celtics will be fine with him or without him, as they showed last year.

[Sark]

Wait, what has Jaylen Brown done to be worth a max contract?

[Homerclease]

Wait, what has Jaylen Brown done to be worth a max contract?

Be 21 years old and the second best wing prospect in the game right now behind his teammate?

[Sark]

Wait, what has Jaylen Brown done to be worth a max contract?

Be 21 years old and the second best wing prospect in the game right now behind his teammate?

Well he still has 2 more years left on his rookie deal, so Boston doesn't have to do anything with him until after the 19/20 season. And I'm not sure he's a better prospect than Jamal Murray, let alone Ben Simmons as two wing players aside from Jayson Tatum. I'd say he's the same level as Murray, who I'm not sure is worth a max either.

[Homerclease]

Wait, what has Jaylen Brown done to be worth a max contract?

Be 21 years old and the second best wing prospect in the game right now behind his teammate?

Well he still has 2 more years left on his rookie deal, so Boston doesn't have to do anything with him until after the 19/20 season. And I'm not sure he's a better prospect than Jamal Murray, let alone Ben Simmons as two wing players aside from Jayson Tatum. I'd say he's the same level as Murray, who I'm not sure is worth a max either.

If Murray were 6’7 and played defense I’d agree with you. If you want to call Simmons a wing then sure, I’d give you that although if he can’t develop even a semblance of a jump shot then Brown is going to surpass him too

[iggymcfrack]

Kyrie’s not worth the max and he’s not a good fit on a team that already has multiple scoring options and is built on a switch everything defense. Celtics would really be smart to get something for him while they can.

Boston had the #1 defense with Kyrie playing 60 games last year. People keep talking like once Kyrie went down the offense opened up and the ball was moving around a lot more which allowed Tatum's game to open up. Now that Kyrie is coming back we will see ISO Kyrie and not the ball movement offense that we saw in the playoffs.

Kyrie (RS)
Time of Pos: 6.1 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per touch: 4.4

Rozier (playoffs)
Time of Pos: 6.9 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per Touch: 4.3

Now Kyrie did do more ISO scoring than Rozier (16% vs 12%), but overall ISO frequency for the team went up from 8% in the regular season to 11% in the playoffs. The big difference in the playoffs was how much more aggressive Tatum was with his touches compared to what he was in the regular season.

Rozier led Boston in FGA in the playoffs, he did that while shooting 40/34/82 percentages. Between Rozier/Smart/Morris, those 3 averaged 35 shots a game on 37/33/75 shooting. So there is a lot more offense and shots to be had for Boston next season.

The problem for Boston is that in the playoffs, teams like Toronto and Golden State will be attacking Kyrie every single play. So his weaknesses get magnified and you’re counting on him to make up for it with late game scoring even though he’s going to already be dog tired from all the extra effort on D, and he pretty much never makes it through a season healthy anyway.

Meanwhile if you could replace him with someone who’s a little less skilled but a better defender, you’ll still have plenty of scoring with Hayward and Tatum, but you won’t have that weak link in the defense to attack any more. There’s guys that make way less than Kyrie’s current salary who would have more value in Boston’s particular situation so it doesn’t make sense to give him $170MM unless you’re just looking to lock him up and then trade him somewhere else. It has nothing to do with the offense flowing better without him holding the ball, and everything to do with his strengths being redundant while his weaknesses are a glaring problem for Boston.

[Spens1]

If the Celtics could get away with it they should try for a short term max however i suspect he's either going to want a proper max (max years, max money) or he'll just walk. either one is bad for the Celtics to be honest.

If they could somehow manage their way to a big man out of this, i think that's the ideal scenario (to pair with Horford up top) and then start Rozier.

[Baller1234a]

Kyrie’s not worth the max and he’s not a good fit on a team that already has multiple scoring options and is built on a switch everything defense. Celtics would really be smart to get something for him while they can.

Boston had the #1 defense with Kyrie playing 60 games last year. People keep talking like once Kyrie went down the offense opened up and the ball was moving around a lot more which allowed Tatum's game to open up. Now that Kyrie is coming back we will see ISO Kyrie and not the ball movement offense that we saw in the playoffs.

Kyrie (RS)
Time of Pos: 6.1 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per touch: 4.4

Rozier (playoffs)
Time of Pos: 6.9 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per Touch: 4.3

Now Kyrie did do more ISO scoring than Rozier (16% vs 12%), but overall ISO frequency for the team went up from 8% in the regular season to 11% in the playoffs. The big difference in the playoffs was how much more aggressive Tatum was with his touches compared to what he was in the regular season.

Rozier led Boston in FGA in the playoffs, he did that while shooting 40/34/82 percentages. Between Rozier/Smart/Morris, those 3 averaged 35 shots a game on 37/33/75 shooting. So there is a lot more offense and shots to be had for Boston next season.

The problem for Boston is that in the playoffs, teams like Toronto and Golden State will be attacking Kyrie every single play. So his weaknesses get magnified and you’re counting on him to make up for it with late game scoring even though he’s going to already be dog tired from all the extra effort on D, and he pretty much never makes it through a season healthy anyway.

Meanwhile if you could replace him with someone who’s a little less skilled but a better defender, you’ll still have plenty of scoring with Hayward and Tatum, but you won’t have that weak link in the defense to attack any more. There’s guys that make way less than Kyrie’s current salary who would have more value in Boston’s particular situation so it doesn’t make sense to give him $170MM unless you’re just looking to lock him up and then trade him somewhere else. It has nothing to do with the offense flowing better without him holding the ball, and everything to do with his strengths being redundant while his weaknesses are a glaring problem for Boston.

Toronto’s going to attack him with who? Kyle Lowry? He’s never been a great scorer especially in the Playoffs. Plus Kyrie has dominated him in the CLE - TOR series. Warriors are going to attack him? We’ve seen the Kyrie Curry matchup before.

[Duke4life831]

Kyrie’s not worth the max and he’s not a good fit on a team that already has multiple scoring options and is built on a switch everything defense. Celtics would really be smart to get something for him while they can.

Boston had the #1 defense with Kyrie playing 60 games last year. People keep talking like once Kyrie went down the offense opened up and the ball was moving around a lot more which allowed Tatum's game to open up. Now that Kyrie is coming back we will see ISO Kyrie and not the ball movement offense that we saw in the playoffs.

Kyrie (RS)
Time of Pos: 6.1 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per touch: 4.4

Rozier (playoffs)
Time of Pos: 6.9 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per Touch: 4.3

Now Kyrie did do more ISO scoring than Rozier (16% vs 12%), but overall ISO frequency for the team went up from 8% in the regular season to 11% in the playoffs. The big difference in the playoffs was how much more aggressive Tatum was with his touches compared to what he was in the regular season.

Rozier led Boston in FGA in the playoffs, he did that while shooting 40/34/82 percentages. Between Rozier/Smart/Morris, those 3 averaged 35 shots a game on 37/33/75 shooting. So there is a lot more offense and shots to be had for Boston next season.

The problem for Boston is that in the playoffs, teams like Toronto and Golden State (if they get there) will be attacking Kyrie every single play. So his weaknesses get magnified and you’re counting on him to make up for it with late game scoring even though he’s going to already be dog tired from all the extra effort on D, and he pretty much never makes it through a season healthy anyway.

Meanwhile if you could replace him with someone who’s a little less skilled but a better defender, you’ll still have plenty of scoring with Hayward and Tatum, but you won’t have that weak link in the defense to attack any more. There’s guys that make way less than Kyrie’s current salary who would have more value in Boston’s particular situation so it doesn’t make sense to give him $170MM unless you’re just looking to lock him up and then trade him somewhere else. It has nothing to do with the offense flowing better without him holding the ball, and everything to do with his strengths being redundant while his weaknesses are a glaring problem for Boston.

Boston already had the #1 defense with Kyrie as their PG, their defensive scheme can handle him. He has never been dog tired on offense in the playoffs before. Now being surrounded with great defenders and a superior defensive scheme, now his defense is going to be a deal breaker in the playoffs? I just don't see it. I don't think his weaknesses are a glaring problem. If anything Boston is the place that hides his weaknesses the most because they have the best team defense and multiple facilitators on offense.

The most important skill in the playoffs is having someone that can break down a defense and get a bucket. Game 7 against CLE this past year BOS needed that guy, they only scored 79 points in game 7.

[Homerclease]

Boston had the #1 defense with Kyrie playing 60 games last year. People keep talking like once Kyrie went down the offense opened up and the ball was moving around a lot more which allowed Tatum's game to open up. Now that Kyrie is coming back we will see ISO Kyrie and not the ball movement offense that we saw in the playoffs.

Kyrie (RS)
Time of Pos: 6.1 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per touch: 4.4

Rozier (playoffs)
Time of Pos: 6.9 seconds
Sec per Touch: 4.8 seconds
Dribs per Touch: 4.3

Now Kyrie did do more ISO scoring than Rozier (16% vs 12%), but overall ISO frequency for the team went up from 8% in the regular season to 11% in the playoffs. The big difference in the playoffs was how much more aggressive Tatum was with his touches compared to what he was in the regular season.

Rozier led Boston in FGA in the playoffs, he did that while shooting 40/34/82 percentages. Between Rozier/Smart/Morris, those 3 averaged 35 shots a game on 37/33/75 shooting. So there is a lot more offense and shots to be had for Boston next season.

The problem for Boston is that in the playoffs, teams like Toronto and Golden State (if they get there) will be attacking Kyrie every single play. So his weaknesses get magnified and you’re counting on him to make up for it with late game scoring even though he’s going to already be dog tired from all the extra effort on D, and he pretty much never makes it through a season healthy anyway.

Meanwhile if you could replace him with someone who’s a little less skilled but a better defender, you’ll still have plenty of scoring with Hayward and Tatum, but you won’t have that weak link in the defense to attack any more. There’s guys that make way less than Kyrie’s current salary who would have more value in Boston’s particular situation so it doesn’t make sense to give him $170MM unless you’re just looking to lock him up and then trade him somewhere else. It has nothing to do with the offense flowing better without him holding the ball, and everything to do with his strengths being redundant while his weaknesses are a glaring problem for Boston.

Boston already had the #1 defense with Kyrie as their PG, their defensive scheme can handle him. He has never been dog tired on offense in the playoffs before. Now being surrounded with great defenders and a superior defensive scheme, now his defense is going to be a deal breaker in the playoffs? I just don't see it. I don't think his weaknesses are a glaring problem. If anything Boston is the place that hides his weaknesses the most because they have the best team defense and multiple facilitators on offense.

The most important skill in the playoffs is having someone that can break down a defense and get a bucket. Game 7 against CLE this past year BOS needed that guy, they only scored 79 points in game 7.

The last thing Boston is worried about is how Kyrie will perform in the postseason.

[Duke4life831]

The problem for Boston is that in the playoffs, teams like Toronto and Golden State (if they get there) will be attacking Kyrie every single play. So his weaknesses get magnified and you’re counting on him to make up for it with late game scoring even though he’s going to already be dog tired from all the extra effort on D, and he pretty much never makes it through a season healthy anyway.

Meanwhile if you could replace him with someone who’s a little less skilled but a better defender, you’ll still have plenty of scoring with Hayward and Tatum, but you won’t have that weak link in the defense to attack any more. There’s guys that make way less than Kyrie’s current salary who would have more value in Boston’s particular situation so it doesn’t make sense to give him $170MM unless you’re just looking to lock him up and then trade him somewhere else. It has nothing to do with the offense flowing better without him holding the ball, and everything to do with his strengths being redundant while his weaknesses are a glaring problem for Boston.

Boston already had the #1 defense with Kyrie as their PG, their defensive scheme can handle him. He has never been dog tired on offense in the playoffs before. Now being surrounded with great defenders and a superior defensive scheme, now his defense is going to be a deal breaker in the playoffs? I just don't see it. I don't think his weaknesses are a glaring problem. If anything Boston is the place that hides his weaknesses the most because they have the best team defense and multiple facilitators on offense.

The most important skill in the playoffs is having someone that can break down a defense and get a bucket. Game 7 against CLE this past year BOS needed that guy, they only scored 79 points in game 7.

The last thing Boston is worried about is how Kyrie will perform in the postseason.

Haha yup. Right now I think Boston's only worry with Kyrie is making sure he is healthy come the next postseason. Kyrie in this Boston system was playing elite of the elite level of play.

[Saint Lazarus]