Boston Celtics 2016-17 Season Discussion

It's an either-or kind of thing. You either need the kind of handle and patience to dribble around defenders (Isiah Thomas) or the kind of lightning-quick first step to just blow by them (John Wall), or some combination of the two. Smart is not exactly a plodder, but I'd say he has averagish athleticism for the position, and he's not a creative enough dribbler to get to the rim if there's a guy in front of him.

Recency bias on my part. Watched a couple of games (or stretches within the games) where they seemed to be gunning. Thanks for providing the facts.

Btw regarding Fultz etc... all my talk was post draft stuff, pretty sure I mentioned that. It's more if an if they are looking at him or another guard they think is potentially better than what they have then they need to go for that.


I don't think they should be doing anything right now on the trade front unless it's a steal that won't eat cap room for next year or give away any of their elite assets. Nothing they can do will win them a championship this year. That's not to say you don't try but I'd rather this group develop together than get some veteran to take minutes from someone we need long term. Like someone to take minutes from Brown would be bad.

If I was GM I'm going after young bigs in the offseason.  Players like Noel and Len.  They fill a big need and are young enough to grow with team.  So if I can get them now I go for it.

This year's free agent group just isn't that good.  I think we have no chance at Griffin, new CBA took away the slim chance we might have had.  I know people have been high on getting Hayward, but again new CBA means he would have to turn down a ton of money.  Also let's be honest the Jazz look to have just as good or maybe even a better long-term outlook than we do.

You also confuse me by talking about trading Bradley, but saying we could use Reddick.  That just makes no sense in my book.  You also talked about Bogut, who I'm OK with on a short small money deal.  I don't see the point in cap space if we are talking about players like Reddick and Bogut.

 The core of IT, Crowder, Horford and Bradley isn't going to get you passed the Cavs unless you add a Cousins without losing any of that core. And that isn't even a guarantee, highly unlikely. 
 As I said before, I fully expect Danny to keep some of the core together while adding the young talent and letting it develop. The C's may trade one of the Nets picks but only if they get back something substantial. We are looking at a good not great team while the picks mature. Might as well considering the chances of beating Lebron in the next few years are slim.

 I agree that with Cousins and that core they could compete with anyone. Just saying IMO that's not happening, between what it would take in a trade and a trade even happening given the dynamics of the CBA.
 As far as Lebron/Cavs not being MJ, well he has been in the finals for 6 years running and won 3 of the last 5. I don't see that run ending anytime soon. As long he is healthy he will be there for a few more. 
 

You expected that we are in for another 3-6 years build towards title contender, those are your words. My point is Danny is not thinking that way. He just wants to know what the Nets picks are going to produce before making his move. After this offseason he will have no cap space and only one pick will be unknown. That 2018 pick and you will know what the 2017 recruiting class looks like. So you will know the strength of that draft. This offseason is when he's going to make a move to contend.

Cousins might not be available right now, but the earlier reports seems to be team reports. Cousins was joking with reporters about if he should sign extension, his way of saying he has not agreed to sign new deal like reports said. So a Cousins trade after season is not dead like earlier report made it seem. It just makes sense. The Kings have no good young players to build around Cousins and zero chance to rebuild team without trading Cousins.

Your Cousins trades sure seem like you made them up trying to prove a point. Sure most teams would have to gut team to get Cousins, but not us. Brown, Smart, Rozzier, two euro stashed players, Mickey and Nets picks. You can't tell me that you can't make a trade using those assets. I can't see a team beating an offer of Smart, Brown, filler, and the two Nets picks. In that case Rozzier takes over for Smart and you would need a backup small forward. The core is not destroyed.

Danny has been looking for that good deal, while knowing he had a ton of different options going forward. After this offseason those options are almost gone. So he'll make a move even if he has to pay market rate. Maybe he can't get a star, so he'll move onto the notch below star like the Heats good young center. Danny isn't thinking like you that if I can't get a great deal I'm just going to wait on young guys to develop and waste the prime years of Thomas, Crowder, Bradley and Horford.

It all depends on where the Nets pick lands, who we can get and what other moves Danny might be able to make. If the next two lottery picks are like Smart and Brown I would absolutely trade all 4 for Cousins. If we land #1 pick and Danny thinks Fultz is a star, then no.

Would you rather a 4-5 year window as a true title contender or 8-10 years of being good, but not a title contender like the Hawks?

I'm not too familiar with the CBA but what is the issue with the Kings being the only team able to give Cousins the 5 yr/219m? contract? If the celtics traded for him say this offseason wouldn't they then be able to offer him that contract? The way it sounds to me is that Cousins isn't jumping at the bit to sign an extension just yet (hes jokingly asking reporters if he should re-sign with them) and once this offseason begins and the Kings aren't any closer to being able to legitimately compete he will effectively be able to choose where he wants to go by informing the Kings he won't sign an extension with them and the only team he will is the team of his choosing. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but it sounds like a spot where the Celtics would be one of the very few teams that could offer the Kings the picks/players they would be looking for in a return and Cousins a team that is set up for long term success. Unless I'm misunderstanding the new CBA I don't see the fact that the Kings are currently the team that can offer the most money being a huge roadblock. Personally, I don't want them to do anything like this unless it comes with another deal/signing to get them Butler, Griffin etc as I think adding just Cousins puts them in position to compete with but probably still lose to the Cavs and very unlikely to make it through both the Cavs and Warriors.

So if the celtics traded for him this offseason they wouldn't be able to extend him for the same amount the kings can, or alternately, the Kings couldn't sign him to that extension then trade him to the Celtics this offseason?