Boston Celtics 2016-17 Season Discussion

So if the reports are correct and based on the Portland Cleveland swap of picks (Cleveland is getting their own 2018 pick back in exchange for this year's pick), it looks like Atlanta will get a 2019 1st rounder from Cleveland in the Korner trade.

Of course, that means they aren't going to take advantage of this year's deep draft. But maybe they are banking on 2 1/2 years of aging for the Cavs and other teams catching up and surpassing them (making the pick better than what is certain to be no bether than 1 of the last 4 of the 1st round).

I get the feeling a LOT of teams will be in the same boat (not having someone to go up against Embiid).

But that's not really the problem. Cleveland won't have someone to go up against him. But Philly, obviously, doesn't have someone to go up against Lebron.

You don't have to try and match the best player. You just need someone that the other team can't match up with. Then it comes down to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th (and beyond) players being better than theirs.

I mean the Celtics don't have a LeBron either though. The big man problem stretches past Embid. Most teams at least have a big man that can give some pushback to a guy like Embid. The Celtics have a bench piece in Amir Johnson.

This is just frustrating to watch sometimes for me. The Celtics have had this problem for 5-6 years now since Perkins left and/or when Garnett was still good and they have yet to adequately replace the position with other than what seems like below replacement level big men.

Absolutely. Wasn't suggesting they did. Only saying that a team doesn't have to have a star to match up against the star on the other team (not at the same position, I mean).

So, you can be okay losing the battle at 1 position as long as you win them at others. My feeling is a lot of teams will be losing the C battle against Philly for a long time.

Yeah I didn't get the bust thing some one here was throwing on Smart. Smart isn't consistent but he has flashes of being awesome at times.

The only bust I see on this team day in and day out constantly is Kelly Olynik. I can't figure out even one thing he does well.

The fact that "space" and Olynik are the best compliment to him, that really made me really laugh.

How do you think we are a rebuilding team?

Almost half of Smart's field goal attempts are three-pointers, which means his raw FG% is a little misleading. He still needs to shoot more efficiently, but a .444 eFG% (his mark this year) is merely bad and not terrible. DeMar DeRozan has a career .457 eFG%, for instance. Hell, Julius Randle has a career .456 eFG%.

Philly just beat the Nets... Philly has officially turned the corner with Embid as a team that's too good to totally tank. Miami and Phoenix may be the biggest threats to the Nets for worst record...

Okafor got another DNP-coaches decision. That situation is crazy. They are going to lose one of those guys for nothing it seems... Okafor or Noel needs to go. It seems like the best combo is Saric (stretch), Noel (defense and rebounding plus Embid (all around stud)... I'd love to get Okafor on the cheap but Philly doesn't seem inclined to get anything short of a big package for him. Can't say I blame them. I'd try a Rozier and Clippers pick package but it would definitely come up short. Considering all the issues around Okafor I can't justify going to a package with Smart especially since Smart keeps developing.

Semantics I suppose they are still in the process of executing their rebuilding plan. Having an exciting competitive team while building.

They tore it down and are still in the midst of their plans for the rebuild therefore they are still building towards their goal. Hence still rebuilding. I don't think their rebuild ended when they acquired Thomas. They are clearly still within the same plan even if that adjusts with each move.

The rebuild may end this summer if they make they exhaust their flexibility and enter the "all-in" phase.

A team like Memphis isn't a contender but isn't rebuilding because they have no flexibility so they have to basically ride with what they have.

Milwaukee isn't really a rebuilding team either they are more of a developing team because they don't have flexibility to drastically change and have acquired their young assets... same as a team like Minnesota.

The Celtics clearly tore it down on 7/12/13 and shed cap room and acquired assets for their rebuild. They haven't used up any of those things yet so how can the rebuild be done?

Just because we have assets doesn't mean we are rebuilding. The fact we haven't gone all in doesn't mean we're still rebuilding either. Rebuilding teams don't keep spending assets to win games now. You are either trying to win games and contend or your rebuilding. The Celtics are being smart like the Spurs/Warriors and are contending while also adding young players. They aren't like Cleveland that likes to trade all of it assets to win now, not thinking about the future.

Thomas and Crowder were talent acquisitions they got by upgrading assets to assist the rebuild. Rondo
Was gone for nothing but was turned into Crowder a great trade piece if they want to use it or a great asset to have that frees up another trade piece. Thomas was high way robbery and another asset acquisition. Funny thing is both have developed into more than was expected. That's great news.

My guess of what happens is they make this years Brooklyn pick for themselves. They sign a free agent this offseason then they make a trade with the 2018 Brooklyn pick plus one or two out of Brown, Smart, Crowder or Bradley maybe Thomas for another "star" player and then that's your rebuild contending core. Hopefully.