The NBA offseason is record-short this year, only 72 days. With that in mind, there is a lot to do to prepare for the December 22 start date. We will be reviewing teams both in need of change, and rumored to be making changes. These 72 days will be FULL of dumb decisions and messy roster drama, and it’s time to catch up. Up first? The Boston Celtics. Although the Celtics put up a formidable bubble performance, going to game 7 in the Eastern Conference final, Danny Ainge is never satisfied. The Celtics are not what I would call messy (save Marcus Smart’s locker room meltdown), but they have been on the cusp of many trade rumors, some good and some bad. Lets take a look at where the team may or may not need to make moves.
Draft: Not Significant
This year’s draft lacks both star power and depth (although I do love LaMelo and the Ball family drama). The Celtics are hoarding both draft picks and prospects like a squirrel in winter. Their roster is currently built primarily around young guys; Jayson Tatum, who’s only 22, takes on one of the primary leadership roles. The Celtics have three first round picks, and no need for more mid-range draft prospects. The only way that this draft becomes significant for the Celtics is if they trade up, or they reevaluate the prospects they currently have on contract and make space; which is next to impossible to do without the Summer League showcase in this short NBA offseason.
Personally, I’m not interested in trading up unless the pick is in the top ten. Spoilers for below, there are multiple players the Celtics can easily shop. If the Celtics packaged their three first rounders with a veteran player, maybe Hayward or Theis (I’m sorry Daniel my boo), they can probably get up to the top 10 with an interested bite. If I were Ainge (I would never even dream of being that smart), I would target the Hawks, Pistons, or Cavaliers; reason being they are all reasonably active on the trade market to negotiate in this particular NBA offseason.
Recommendation: Package the picks in a trade for a higher pick or a veteran.
Trade Market: Significant
Not only are the picks a huge trade piece, but Gordon Hayward want’s out; thank god. Hayward’s relationship with Brad Stevens from their college days has been a negative deterrent to the rest of the locker room for years, and Hayward’s body breaks easier than your Grandmother’s China pattern. I see no reason to keep his roster spot held when we could package him and either a young guy or some picks for a strong veteran in return. One other point to note; Hayward has a massive contract, at around $32 million, which will be hard to trade away without taking some sort of a loss. However, it’s worth it to make cap space for another deep playoff run.
Gordon Hayward has the 15th highest salary in the league??????
— Dirty Kyle (@Messybeats_17) November 7, 2020
There have been rumors Ainge is after Myles Turner, which is a fine option. I’d love Victor Oladipo, but the boys in green would have to give up way more to get him in return; not only because he doesn’t want to move, but because he offers significant musical ability that we simply can’t underpay.
The Celtics also may be shopping Kemba Walker; he has the highest salary on the Celtics roster. This is an AWFUL idea, unless they can get a huge return. Danny Ainge has an uncanny skill for screwing over GMs, but I don’t know how he pulls this off. Rumor has it Ainge is trying to win Jrue Holiday; and to do so, he needs to package Walker WITH something else. Granted Walker’s contract is too large to keep both; but, is Holiday really worth the sacrifice? He provides much needed veteran stability, and offers a support role that the Celtics don’t have right now. However, Kemba is the first significant free agent in years to actively sign with the Celtics. How is Boston to make themselves look like an attractive market if they ship out every player that doesn’t get them to the Finals?
Get as ‘crazy’ as you want. Just don’t trade Kemba Walker. https://t.co/0FQFlKW7l6
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) November 13, 2020
Recommendation: Package Hayward with the picks to either trade up in the draft or ink a sought out veteran.
Free Agency: Potentially Significant
The Celtics have little wiggle room in cap space unless they dump Hayward’s contract. If they do, there are multiple free agents that could fill both their lack of depth at big man (I love Daniel Theis no diss to him), and the veteran support they need. The more important decision, although not pressing, is getting Jayson Tatum to resign. He is in a peculiar position because the value of his supermax has decreased in COVID-19. He is holding out for the contract to increase in value, but the longer that he waits, the more of a risk there is to the Celtics. Another team could wisp him away and there we go, plummeting into a rebuild. Tatum, Brown, and Smart are the cornerstones of this locker room; inability to hold onto those key pieces will quickly lead to a max exodus from the players.
Recommendation: Resign Jayson Tatum and pursue Goran Dragic if salary cap space allows.
Staff Retention: Significant
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Ignore the drama with Gordon Hayward, Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the NBA. Yes, he was outcoached in the Eastern Conference Final by Erik Spoelstra. However, the Eastern Conference competitive teams are absolutely stacked with great coaches; and more importantly, they’re all a great fit in their particular rosters. Stevens is the best fit for the Celtics, and we are in a significantly worse place developmentally without him. The Sixers are a perfect example; they have many keys to be successful, but their coaching and front office staff is a revolving door (Doc Rivers is a horrible replacement don’t @ me.) This NBA offseason has been crucial to coaching staffs. I think that Brad Stevens is as important to the Celtics’ future as Jayson Tatum, and the Celtics front office needs to do everything they can to keep him.
Recommendation: Protect Brad Stevens like your first born.
Do the Celtics need more help than we think? Let me know on Twitter @swalshy63 and check out my other great Belly Up Sports content!
