2016 Boston Celtics Offseason Thread

Significant drop after the top 2. Cant wait to draft Dragan Bender...

I like Dunn but he just doesn't fill a need. I would look at Murray, Hield and Bender. At this point I'm leaning towards Murray, but would be happy with any of them.

Chad Ford current Mock has Celtics taking Murray, Ante Zizic and Thon Maker. Have to say that is a good looking mock and 3 players I really like. Add's a go to scorer that can really shoot in Murray. The Comps to Brandon Roy show his upside. He can shoot and get to the rim and finish. A very underrated big in Zizic that is highly productive in Europe right now. Then there is Thon Maker, a stretch 4 that can really block shots and has a massive upside. As much as a love that mock I think both Zizic and Maker rise up draft boards in the next 40 days. At this point, whats the difference between Bender and Maker? Sure Bender has a higher floor, but he sounds more like a point forward. I see Bender as the better passer and having the better basketball IQ, with Maker being the better shooter and shot blocker. Both have crazy high upside, yet both seem a couple years away. Also both need to add strength and become more physical.

I wouldn't worry about taking a guard at #3, because at 16 and 23 there will be a bunch of very interesting big's available. Players like Deyonta Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Ante Zizic, Thon Maker, Ben Bentil, Juan Hernangomez, Chinanu Onuaku, and Diamond Stone just to name a few might/should be available at picks #16 and #23. I just like the bigs in the mid to late first more then the guards.

What are your guys thoughts on Ben Bentil? He would seem to be an option as a stretch 4 at pick #23 or #31. The guy can flat out score and plays with a great motor, which I really like.

This is the time where I remind everyone that Chad Ford is a hack with zero sources.

Well about as ready as any freshman could be.  I would bet he struggle with D his first year or two, but his offensive game sure seems NBA ready.

His sources are junk, and he's a bad person who has bodies in his basement.

We don't need another guard, but you have to take best player available and for me that's Murray right now.  He is like Thomas, an offensive weapon, that can score at will.  He can drive and finish at rim and really shoot it from deep.  Bradley can shoot it from deep and make the mid range jumper, but that's about it.  He doesn't drive and finish at rim well and he really can't create his own shot.  Smart and Rozier can both drive and finish at rim, but aren't good shooter.  Hunter is a great shooter, but he can't really drive and finish at rim well.

I would also add that with Smarts size you could plug him into a small ball lineup at small forward against certain teams, if you can have Bradley, Murray and Thomas as your two other guards.

If your going to trade one of Bradley or Smart I would trade Bradley as he would seem to have a much higher trade value then Smart, even though Rozier and Smart seem like overkill as their games are very similar.  My question is what type of Medium trade did you have in mind?  Maybe for Greg Monroe?  Reports are Bucks might deal him and Celtics were after him hard last year. 

Tyrone Corbin as an example of good coaching? Seriously? Also, show me those guys' cumulative winning percentage in the NBA as coaches, because the names that I recognize I can only associate with losing teams there. And George Karl has had success, sure, but he's been hated by his players everywhere he's been. Ray Allen called the guy a snake publicly- I don't think he's worth comparing to Stevens, who players actually seem to like playing for, and would never give these idiotic interviews like saying "no one is untradeable" and the like. You guys can dislike Cousins all you want, but you could absolutely build a very good team around cousins with the right pieces around him. And just for fun, here's a quote from Kevin Pelton on him today: 

"Take Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins. During 2014-15, the first year of his four-year rookie extension, Cousins' $13.7 million salary took up about 23 percent of the salary cap. Even with annual raises, Cousins' $18.1 million salary for 2017-18 is about 17 percent of the projected cap. Entering this summer's free agency, 22 players are already guaranteed more money than Cousins next season, including Tobias Harris, Enes Kanter and Wesley Matthews.
As a result, I estimate Cousins' net value (the value of the production he provides minus his salary) at nearly $51 million over the two seasons remaining on his current contract, making him far more valuable as a trade chip than Simmons ($37 million) or Ingram ($28 million)."

No one doubts Cousins talents.  Heck he might be the most talented player in the league if he gave 100% night in and night out.  The problem is that he clashes with all of his coaches, is a hot head and doesn't always play hard.  Maybe Brad Stevens and a team like the Celtics that Wins and has a long history of doing so can turn around Cousins and get the most out of him, maybe not.  I would gladly trade for him, but you better surround him with some Vets that he respects that can help him along.

Don't forget we were interested in okafor at the deadline

UMASS - I didn't have a specific trade in mind. But, for example, an exchange of Smart and Noel certainly wouldn't require the #3. So now you'd be down Smart and Turner (though listed as a SF, his role is more guard-like in that he's a primary ball handler).

Point being is that what the roster looks like today could be VERY different from what it looks like on opening day. So to say we don't need a guard is, potentially, shortsighted.

Which is why, as you stated, Boston should just go for best player available.

PS Before anyone jumps on me, I'm not endorsing Smart/Noel one way or another. Supposedly there were talks before so I linked the 2 (and, again, don't think #3 would be required so it fit the type I was trying to discuss).

Kinda hope the Lakers move quickly as, by all accounts, they're looking to make a trade with #2. While the C's have MORE trade assets, the Lakers have the bigger piece (ie Ingram or Simmons).

Would love them to use #2 to go after Cousins. First, that would prevent Boston from going after him (I'm just terrified of him). Second, it would take them out of the running for Butler/George (should either be available).

I'm also curious on where Boston's interest in Kevin Love now stands. We heard that they did NOT offer the BRK pick for Kevin Love but that was when it had a chance to be Simmons or Ingram. Now that it's #3, would they be interested in offering it? And would Cleveland be interested now that it isn't #1 or #2? Not sure but we know that Danny has been obsessed with Love in the past.