2017 Celtics offseason

From a purely on-the-court perspective, I'd prefer to move Crowder. He can play the small ball 4 better than any of the other wings/forwards, but I think that Smart's ability to run the second unit and distribute is much more valuable and unique to the team than what Crowder brings. But then things start to get tricky when you look at the contracts. Smart could get paid almost twice as much as Crowder next offseason. You can't keep him, Bradley, and Thomas after next year (most likely you just get one) and you never know who's going to get stupid with the restricted free agent offer sheets. I'm scared Smart's next contract could be an albatross.

I guess it comes down to how much they think that Smart can develop over that next contract. If his shot will improves and eventually becomes the 4/5th best player on a contending team, then you move Crowder and take that risk that by resigning him. But if he never develops into anything more than a tough, bench defender that hustles his butt off and does a bunch of the little things, then you say thanks for the memories and ship him somewhere else. You can find that player on cheap dollars when you are contending.

One other thing; I've been one of his biggest critics because of his injuries but I don't understand how people think Bradley has no real upside... his game has improved every year and he's still just entering his prime years. He might not have a decade left of upside type play but he can conceivably keep improving thru his next contract.

Him and IT are clunky fits defensively because of their size but that's more on IT than Bradley. If we focus on Cleveland and Golden State, you might be able to effectively use Thomas vs Cleveland because they have certain guys you don't have to worry too much about offensively. Golden State, not so much. But Bradley can guard Curry and Irving as well as anyone in the league. He's much better at it than Smart, but Smart can switch off those guys and cover someone like Green or even Love on a couple possessions whereas Avery cannot.

The point is, Bradley keeps adding to his game. Is very valuable as a two way player who can score without the ball in his hands and shoot 40% from three. I have to think they try to keep that around.

I don't disagree one bit. I'd love to either stand pat and see what we can do with this current roster or flip a combination of Crowder/Smart or Rozier and see if we can get some rebounding help. As it looks right now, the only center on this roster is a 20 year old with no NBA experience.

Stab at the roster... I'm going to say Smart gets dealt. I'm saying Bradley is safe because he gives them the best player for next year and it's been quiet around him for the most part. Even with the PG trade stuff he was never named it was always "another starter" assumed to be him.

Ball handling guards:

1. Thomas
2. Rosier
3. Jackson (unfortunately)

Off ball Guard(s)

4. Bradley

Wings:

5. Hayward
6. Crowder
7. Brown
8. Tatum
9. Nader
10. Ojeleye


Stretch 4:

11. Yabusele
12. Daniel Theis


Bigs:

13. Horford
14. Zizic
15. Free Agent



First thing that strikes me is how young the bench is on this team and how much upside there is.

Second thing is that there is a lot of responsibility handed over to Rozier as the primary backup PG. This offense really doesn't need a traditional PG the majority of the time so this should be ok. Hayward can run the offense (he's great as a pick n roll ball handler) and Tatum may even be able to handle some of that in his rookie year. But still, a veteran backup PG might be a nice add, if you can find a taker for Jackson or just cut him because he's not good.


Third, they will probably sign 2 backup bigs. One a more traditional big and a second more of a stretch 4 guy. I'd love to see Dwayne Dedmon here for the midlevel exception. David Lee on a smaller deal may be a possibility as well.


Edit: forgot about Daniel Theis.... interesting roster choices... probably only room for a traditional big.

Trading for a rebounder to sit on the bench isn't going to help this team much.

One thing I will say is the G league team is going to be stacked and a bunch of guys will be riding the shuttle there this year.

Can a team only dress 11 for a game and have 4 play in the G league if it wanted to?

You are trading or cutting smart? You like Jackson better than Allen? Looking at keeping crowder?

This was my guess not my preference necessarily. They need to trade someone to sign Hayward so it's likely either Smart, Bradley or Crowder. It sounds like Smart is the one they are trying to deal so I went there.

I don't like Jackson at all but I think the team does as he's more a pure PG so my guess is he stays over Allen. I bet they try to keep Allen's rights tho like they did last year with Nader.

Yabusele has to be here if you want to keep him. Unless he agrees to go back overseas they have no choice and there is no reason at this point in time to think that's even s remote possibility.

Not worried about Jackson. If Smart goes, I bet they get a Vet Min FA PG behind Rozier (who still scares me as a ball handler) in the 2nd unit.

What teams would be seriously, by the cap salary numbers, looking at making an offer for any of these 3 guys? Understand that all 3 have value and could play for several teams. What team could we seriously consider making a decent offer and help us with signing Hayward and setting up options for next year and the year after. Somewhere down the line with all the picks and young players, we have too many players for 12 to 15 spots. Info only, not saying it will happen, but can we trade nader or yabu?

Totally agree with everything you are saying. Just an info question on Nader. Do not want to trade the guy.  Just wondered if you could , saying you needed to.  I guess specifically what team would go get one of the 3. I am thinking maybe t-wolves would be interested in Bradley. I understand why those 3 in particular. I understand about the wasted pick. Not a wasted pick, but the best available option at the time. The Celtic's knew going in with the pick that smart's O game was limited. And because of the way the game is played now, scoring is more important than it ever was. But if you have someone better on the roster and smart has some value to someone else, why wouldn't you make the trade? The idea long term is have the team get better.

You think Parker is available

Hopefully, they trade whoever to a lottery team that is not BKN or LAL. Improving some of the other bad teams may be a small reward in and of itself :-).