Leprechaun leap into the Lottery? $ to spend and decisions to make: Celtics '15 Offseason Thread
- Thread starter NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong
- Start date
Some will point to the Winslow/Johnson/Stein interviews as definitive proof of a trade-up but all the interviews (except the players that are off the radar and coupled with a workout or three) are pretty much just due diligence depending on what shakes out. We've been linked to Anderson for a while and I c/s that pick if it was to be made. He is a beast defensively..was probably the best defender on the best defensive team in America. He also got injured during the season which probably helped lower his stock a tad.
KillaCali32
Banned
Kang Deezy
Overall Nice Guy
This is the biggest offseason since 2008
Danny has potential to significantly upgrade this team with all the chips he has
Cannot wait to see how everything shakes out
Danny has potential to significantly upgrade this team with all the chips he has
Cannot wait to see how everything shakes out
Kang Deezy
Overall Nice Guy
rumors are swirling
Roster Reload: Celtics have solid young core returning
2014-15 record: 40-42
Pythagorean record: 42-40
Offensive Rating: 101.7 (20th)
Defensive Rating: 102.1 (14th)
Under Contract for 2015-16
Player Salary RPM WARP
Isaiah Thomas $6,912,869 0.8 7.0
Jared Sullinger $2,269,260 1.5 5.2
Tyler Zeller $2,616,975 0.3 4.0
Kelly Olynyk $2,165,160 3.3 3.5
Marcus Smart $3,431,040 2.0 2.3
Evan Turner $3,425,510 -1.6 0.6
James Young $1,749,840 -3.7 -0.2
Gerald Wallace $10,105,855 -1.0 -0.7
Avery Bradley $7,730,337 -0.4 -1.6
Possible Free Agents
Player Type RPM WARP
Jonas Jerebko Unrestricted 2.3 2.8
Jae Crowder Restricted -0.2 2.6
Brandon Bass Unrestricted -1.2 1.9
Phil Pressey Non-guaranteed -3.7 0.4
Luigi Datome Restricted -0.2 0.3
Chris Babb Non-guaranteed -- 0.0
Draft picks
Own first-round pick (16th)
L.A. Clippers first-round pick (28th)
Philadelphia second-round pick (33rd)
Own second-round pick (45th)
Projected cap space
Maximum: $23.7 million
Minimum: $0
Likely: $21.1 million
What's returning
Nearly the entire core that led the Celtics to a 20-11 record after the All-Star break, second-best in the Eastern Conference. That slightly overstates how well Boston played; the Celtics' plus-2.9 differential after the break was fourth in the East, and typical of a 48-win team over a full season. Still, Boston's surge into the playoffs was unexpected after trading what were nominally the team's two best players in Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green.
Adding point guard Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline dramatically changed Boston's offensive ceiling. Thomas was a perfect fit for the Celtics, who desperately needed a shot creator. Thomas used 32.1 percent of Boston's plays after the trade, a rate that would have ranked seventh in the league. But his efficiency actually went up slightly to a career-best .579 true shooting percentage (TS%), and Thomas also handed out 7.4 assists per 36 minutes. The Celtics' offensive rating improved by 10.4 points per 100 possessions with Thomas on the floor, per NBA.com/Stats data, to what would have been the league's third-best mark (109.2).
With Thomas as super-sixth man, shot creation in the starting lineup was turned over to Evan Turner, who excelled at times in the role. Turner still relies too heavily on pull-up jumpers to be an efficient scorer -- his TS% was a woeful .482 -- but he can make plays for teammates and is a versatile contributor.
Turner's presence as a point forward turned guards Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart loose to focus on playing off the ball and defending tenaciously. Bradley was the leading scorer among players who spent the whole season in Boston, though he also shoots too many 2-point jumpers. Smart proved more competent from 3-point range than expected (33.5 percent), but he didn't get to the basket as frequently as hoped. Smart's real value is at the defensive end, where he provides a bulldog presence to complement Bradley's more graceful style.
Upfront, the Celtics have three parts of a solid frontcourt rotation in youngsters Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller. Olynyk's floor spacing, Sullinger's offensive rebounding and Zeller's high-percentage finishing make them valuable pieces. Alas, all three share a common weakness: rim protection.
Perhaps Boston's strongest returning piece is head coach Brad Stevens, who molded this group of misfit toys into a cohesive unit. Using pace and small lineups, Stevens manufactured floor spacing without a single starter who shot appreciably better than league average from 3-point range. He also built a credible defense without the interior presence that is typically required for such performance. Two seasons into his NBA career, Stevens looks like a future star on the sidelines.
Free agents
As part of the return for Rondo, Jae Crowder was a bargain for the Celtics at the league minimum. He's due for a big raise as a restricted free agent, though he's unlikely to leave. Crowder's energy and strength allowed him to play as an undersized power forward, which hid his poor outside shooting. Jonas Jerebko also served as a stretch four for Boston after a deadline deal, revitalizing a career that had stagnated in Detroit. Jerebko shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range with the Celtics and averaged 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Nobody came calling for veteran Brandon Bass at the trade deadline, and he ended up starting for Boston in the playoffs. Bass' ability to knock down the midrange jumper and defensive versatility make him an ideal reserve on a good team, a role he'll probably fill elsewhere next season.
Biggest need: Rim protection
As noted, none of the Celtics' big men have a shot-blocking presence. Boston ranked last in the league with 3.6 blocks per game, and opponents made 53.9 percent of their shots within five feet against the Celtics, the league's third-worst mark, per NBA.com/Stats. Adding even a shot blocker with limitations elsewhere would give Stevens far more options with his frontcourt.
Biggest question: How can the Celtics land a star?
The Celtics have a number of complementary pieces, and possibly even one star -- albeit an unorthodox one -- in Thomas. However, their series against Cleveland reinforced how difficult it will be for Boston to compete with the best teams in the East without adding top-tier talent. The Celtics have the cap space to offer a max deal this summer while bringing everyone else back. Alas, Boston hasn't signed a marquee free agent since landing 34-year-old Dominique Wilkins in 1994. Celtics insiders will point out the team hasn't tried to do so in years, but the causation runs both directions.
Assuming Boston can't land a star in free agency, the team's best chance of doing so might be with unprotected Brooklyn Nets picks coming in 2016 and 2018. The Celtics have amassed an impressive war chest of first-round picks, including two this season (along with the third pick of the second round) and likely three next season, so more young talent is on the way.
Ideal offseason
Citing the desire to play a leading role in the weaker Eastern Conference, unrestricted free agent DeAndre Jordan unexpectedly spurns offers from the Los Angeles Clippers and other teams to sign with the Celtics. Jordan proves to be the missing piece and helps Boston emerge as the leading threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. After their physical playoff series, a rivalry grows between the two teams.
Supposedly picks after the top 5 are in play. Waiting for lotto.
Sully/AB/KO/Young in play. Teams interested in the lotto should be obvious. We could be able to get 2 picks in the top 10 for some mix of those guys and our future assets available.
Sully/AB/KO/Young in play. Teams interested in the lotto should be obvious. We could be able to get 2 picks in the top 10 for some mix of those guys and our future assets available.
Dallas could try to move into top 8, idk if they want to give up on Parsons for it though.
KillaCali32
Banned
props to Skooby
Kang Deezy
Overall Nice Guy
That Dallas pick for next year starting to look promising... Unless they do something crazy, I don't think they are a playoff team. A healthy OKC will take their place.
I have read multiple times that the Celtics will attach one of their crappier first rounders to Gerald Wallace to get his salary off the books... I'm sure there will be a taker, and that would open us up to having like 33 million in cap space depending on what Danny does with the trade exception.
I think it's safe to say that we've seen the last of Jared Sullinger in green. James Young is looking likely to be traded too
I wonder what it would take to get Noah and if there's any chance of him being available
http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/5/1...s-could-target-lamarcus-aldridge-wes-matthews
LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews? LETTUCE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
I know I was pessimistic at first about LMA but he could be the offensive juggernaut in the post that we need and would allow for our offense to be more fluent. He's not a bad defender and he'd be an upgrade from Zeller and Olynk. The fact that he could stretch defenses on offense would bode well for Turner/Thomas/Smart as they'd have more space to attack the rim.
Wesley Matthews would be an EXCELLENT perimeter threat and would be a big boost on defense. Injury concerns aside, he'd thrive in Boston and be a HUGE success at the 2/3 position (preferably the 3 b/c I like Avery Bradley at the 2).
LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews? LETTUCE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
I know I was pessimistic at first about LMA but he could be the offensive juggernaut in the post that we need and would allow for our offense to be more fluent. He's not a bad defender and he'd be an upgrade from Zeller and Olynk. The fact that he could stretch defenses on offense would bode well for Turner/Thomas/Smart as they'd have more space to attack the rim.
Wesley Matthews would be an EXCELLENT perimeter threat and would be a big boost on defense. Injury concerns aside, he'd thrive in Boston and be a HUGE success at the 2/3 position (preferably the 3 b/c I like Avery Bradley at the 2).
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Kang Deezy
Overall Nice Guy
Did you see Noah in the playoffs?
I know... Dude is hurt, you'd have to trade for him with the exceptation he plays 65 games and you would couldn't count on him as your only rim protector.
Even if we are going after someone like Deandre Jordan, I still think we will go hard after Cauley Stein
Honestly, in light of this series with the Rockets, fukk DeAndre Jordan. We don't need him and he may set us back in player development and in game time situations.
Gasol, Aldridge, or Vucevic for me.
Kang Deezy
Overall Nice Guy
I kind of agree
Wouldn't rule out Asik or Robin Lopez either... They'll be cheaper alternatives in case we don't get one of those guys or a center in the draft
We also know Danny was trying to trade for Brook Lopez so there's interest there if he opts out