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Post by Admin on May 28, 2018 19:05:47 GMT -5
Next season for the Celtics starts today - things are looking very bright
By Tom Lane
The 2017-18 Celtics season ended last night with Cleveland taking the series 4-3. The 2018-19 season starts today.
For those immersed in despair over the young Boston team falling to the nearly-omnipotent Lebron James and his crew, I will start with Jayson Tatum's performance. In 42 minutes, he totaled 24 points on 9-of-17 from the field while grabbing seven rebounds.
More than that - he just seemed poised and in control. He didn't have a lot of assistance from his teammates. Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown all seemed panicked and unsettled. Tatum is heading to stardom.
We all know there would have been a different outcome had Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis been available and healthy. That will happen next season.
We are also very aware that Danny Ainge already has a series of plans in place to have a powerhouse of a team in place by September. He will be addressing the team weaknesses that became evident in the Conference Finals.
The Celtics will have their two injured veterans, Kyrie and Gordon, back and that will help solve the youth issue and the scoring woes. This present Boston team has had trouble scoring the ball all season.
Danny also knows you can't teach size, and Terry Rozier, at 6'2", was caught too often in mismatches against Lebron and Tristan Thompson. That will factor in this summer on the question of signing Marcus Smart and/or extending Terry. I doubt we will see both back in September.
There is no such thing as a mismatch with Smart on defense, and he is an ultra-valuable backup. He is the darling of the Boston fans and for good reason. I just don't see him as a starter for the Celtics, but Boston is the right team for him.
Greg Monroe has been little-used in the playoffs, and he is just too slow on defensive switches. He does not seem a good fit with Brad Stevens schemes. Aron Baynes does fit well in limited minutes. He defends well, plays hard and is a fierce rebounder. At the right price, he may be back.
In several Twitter polls I have conducted, respondents have shown a strong preference for the Celtics to acquire a rebounder-rim protector, either in the upcoming draft or through free agency. That certainly makes sense.
Al Horford has carried a heavy load, particularly in the post-season. Tristan Thompson, as always, gave him a lot of trouble in this series. He is more comfortable with an additional veteran or two around him. That would be Kyrie and Gordon.
Marcus Morris had a double-double last night, but he also does not seem to be a good fit for the Celtics. I see him as part of a trade, either this summer or prior to the trade deadline.
Both Jaylen Brown and Rozier just didn't have it in last night's contest, and it looks like the moment was just too much for these two youngsters. Both are extremely talented, but as previously stated, T-Ro's size and the mismatches it creates are a problem. Brown has no such issue, and next season may see him progress into stardom alongside his Jay-Team partner, Tatum. And Daniel Theis can not be ignored. He just kept getting better and better as the season progressed, and he will be back.
This injury-plagued team was magnificent. Few envisioned them getting this far into the post-season. Danny Ainge is determined to put a powerhouse on the floor in September, and we can be sure he will have the pieces in place. Most NBA analysts are predicting Boston taking control of the Eastern Conference.
The NBA draft will be held on June 21, 2018, and the Celtics have the 27th pick in the first round. I will be doing a series of articles and Twitter polls centered on the draft - potential draft choices - and trade situations involving that pick and/or moves up or down in the draft itself. The 2018-19 season starts today for the Celtics. Danny's mind and phone are most likely busy as I write this.
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Post by Admin on May 28, 2018 19:33:05 GMT -5
To Recap:
Keepers:
Irving
Hayward
Brown
Tatum
Horford
Smart
Theis
On the Bubble (Keep/Release/Trade):
Baynes
Morris
Ojeleye
Larkin
Yabusele
Nader
On the way out via Release or Trade:
Rozier
Monroe
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Post by Admin on May 28, 2018 19:59:34 GMT -5
Where the 2018 Celtics changed their ceiling for the better The Celtics painful elimination from the Eastern Conference Finals will sting for a bit, but this run changed the trajectory of the team for the better.By Alex Kungu
Through it all, three themes emerged from this playoff run: 1. This run changed the Celtics ceiling foreverThis run is the type of stuff that builds trust from the coaching staff and will lead to the young wings getting sets called for them next season in ways that may have never come. It proves to vets like Irving, Hayward, and Horford how good the kids are and allows them to trust them to make plays. Overall, it’s going to make this team more deadly than they would have ever been without this experience and that’s encouraging considering the team was already a contender before knowing just how good any of these kids were. 2. Turns out stars are quite important! It’s hard not to imagine that this team could have stolen a game or two in Cleveland with Irving, or at the least shortened the series against the Bucks. Thanks to the regular season, the Celtics never had to steal one from the road, but that seems to be the one area where the team will love having Irving and Hayward back. 3. This might have been the last game Terry Rozier played for the CelticsThis is a little controversial and something I’m not 100% on, but at this stage, I think the writing may be on the wall. Rozier has been fantastic during this playoff run. It ended in disappointment, but he finished with 16.5ppg, 5.3rpg, and 5.7apg on an inconsistent 40.6/34.7/82.1. Rozier proved he could be a starter in this league and showed he could perform on the biggest stage. His value has never been higher at this point, and he may have just outplayed what the Celtics were able to pay. Boston’s first move should be to see if they can extend him on reasonable money (8-11mil/year) which gives Boston the ability to keep him or deal him down the road without any pressure of impending RFA. If not, it may be in Boston’s best interest to trade him now while a hot playoff run is still on every front offices mind. [Admin Comment: Hello Orlando!]
www.celticsblog.com/2018/5/28/17401872/shamrock-notes-where-the-2018-boston-celtics-changed-their-ceiling-for-the-better |
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Post by Cabutan on May 28, 2018 22:36:57 GMT -5
Baynes should be a keeper he is just a hard worker and did great things for us. I would also add Semi because he is cheap and serviceable. If we could develop Semis offensive game, he could be a bargain.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2018 0:17:54 GMT -5
We will add Irving and Hayward to this squad. So who will go?
I have to think that it is two of Brown, Smart and Rozier. If Brown goes, it will be for a top-5 draft pick in this draft. Essentially, it will be like rolling the asset forward. If Danny seriously likes somebody, trade Brown and get a rookie that will not need an extension for another 4 years. Also, one that will be able to contribute effectively in a bench role. Michael Porter Jr? Will Memphis trade #4 for Brown?
I think that Smart is not going to get a big offer in the market. Danny should let him assess his market value and then sign him for the market value. I think that the odds are better than 70% that Smart returns.
Baynes should be kept. We will need a strong man to defend big physical players like Embiid. Noel will be an interesting signing at the mid-level. Moose will likely be let loose.
I also believe that Rozier is likely gone. If Brown stays then Morris is gone. Otherwise, we can use the 1-year rental of Morris.
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Post by petey62 on May 29, 2018 6:37:24 GMT -5
If we cannot get a favorable trade for Rozier, we should keep him.
I expect Smart will get a decent offer but I would not match it.
Smart really does not fit the Celtics scheme. The Celtics reliance on the 3-pointer makes Smart a liability offensively. He doesn't even have a decent mid-range game and he's not a great FT shooter. He's a tough, defensive-minded player but that doesn't compensate enough for his offensive mediocrity. A more efficient offensive player would not need to make all the dirty plays Smart makes because they'll be contributing offensively.
If he is to stay, Brad Stevens must insist on him being a Tony Allen defensive stopper. He cannot allow Smart to chuck up 10 shots per game. That's not what he's out there for. Smart has to get the tough baskets, the dirty plays because he'll never be an efficient enough offensive player to balance his defensive prowess.
Smart's shooting percentage makes it seem like a turnover when he bricks up a 3-pointer (or, lately, even layups and FTs).
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Post by Cabutan on May 30, 2018 11:10:46 GMT -5
Smart cant go because he is the heart of this team. It is the Celtics energy engine and I say even though I feel he was very disappointing in the last two games of the season. Without Smart though, our season would have ended in Milwaukee.
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Post by Cabutan on May 30, 2018 11:13:04 GMT -5
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Post by cole on May 30, 2018 15:18:37 GMT -5
The one guy on that list I wouldn't miss is Morris.
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Post by petey62 on May 30, 2018 17:17:10 GMT -5
Smart cant go because he is the heart of this team. It is the Celtics energy engine and I say even though I feel he was very disappointing in the last two games of the season. Without Smart though, our season would have ended in Milwaukee. I believe, that with this Celtics team, when there is a void, it easily gets filled. Smart is a gutsy player, the heart of the Celtics. However, in my opinion, somebody would step up and become the heart of the team. We'd miss that energy but we'd also miss quick, ill-advised shots. We'd miss having the 2nd worst shooter in the NBA (to Lonzo Ball) launching up 3-pointer after 3-pointer with no success. We'd miss all of that while getting more efficient offense than we're getting from Smart. Bottom line, if he gets an offer in the $13-14 million range, no way we should match it. |
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Post by puddin on May 30, 2018 17:28:00 GMT -5
Smart cant go because he is the heart of this team. It is the Celtics energy engine and I say even though I feel he was very disappointing in the last two games of the season. Without Smart though, our season would have ended in Milwaukee. I believe, that with this Celtics team, when there is a void, it easily gets filled. Smart is a gutsy player, the heart of the Celtics. However, in my opinion, somebody would step up and become the heart of the team.We'd miss that energy but we'd also miss quick, ill-advised shots. We'd miss having the 2nd worst shooter in the NBA (to Lonzo Ball) launching up 3-pointer after 3-pointer with no success. We'd miss all of that while getting more efficient offense than we're getting from Smart. Bottom line, if he gets an offer in the $13-14 million range, no way we should match it. Petey:
Prior to Smart, who was the last gutsy heart of the Celtic franchise?
Pud
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Post by Cabutan on May 30, 2018 17:29:38 GMT -5
Smart cant go because he is the heart of this team. It is the Celtics energy engine and I say even though I feel he was very disappointing in the last two games of the season. Without Smart though, our season would have ended in Milwaukee. I believe, that with this Celtics team, when there is a void, it easily gets filled. Smart is a gutsy player, the heart of the Celtics. However, in my opinion, somebody would step up and become the heart of the team. We'd miss that energy but we'd also miss quick, ill-advised shots. We'd miss having the 2nd worst shooter in the NBA (to Lonzo Ball) launching up 3-pointer after 3-pointer with no success. We'd miss all of that while getting more efficient offense than we're getting from Smart. Bottom line, if he gets an offer in the $13-14 million range, no way we should match it. we never recovered from the lose of Posey nor Allen IMO. Good thing is that Hayward plays hard on both ends but I dont think he would go and dive for those 50/50's. Yea, I am pretty sure there is someone out there in the league that can replace Smart's guts of steel but somehow no one knows who that person is for now. |
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Post by petey62 on May 30, 2018 18:23:12 GMT -5
I believe, that with this Celtics team, when there is a void, it easily gets filled. Smart is a gutsy player, the heart of the Celtics. However, in my opinion, somebody would step up and become the heart of the team.We'd miss that energy but we'd also miss quick, ill-advised shots. We'd miss having the 2nd worst shooter in the NBA (to Lonzo Ball) launching up 3-pointer after 3-pointer with no success. We'd miss all of that while getting more efficient offense than we're getting from Smart. Bottom line, if he gets an offer in the $13-14 million range, no way we should match it. Petey:
Prior to Smart, who was the last gutsy heart of the Celtic franchise?
Pud
We have had guys who played with that passion, energy and did the dirty things who were a bit more efficient offensively than Smart. You can go back to Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling, Courtney Lee, and Mickaël Piétrus. But there is a HUGE difference between then and now. Back then, the Celtics had talented, veteran players. There was somewhat of a lull post-big 3 era until Smart was drafted. The heart of the Celtics, even when Tony Allen and Posey played, was always Paul Pierce. And again, it was KG when he was acquired. The Celtics just don't have any strong personalities like they had in the past. Honestly, as much as Smart has been the heart of the Celtics, for the past couple years, IT has been its soul. You know, there are alot of teams that don't have a player who is the "heart of the team" that is not the star and leading scorer like Lebron is for the Cavs. An example of that is Draymond Green but he's an all star. Most guys who are the "heart of the team" are the star players, Westbrook, Harden, Giannis, while some teams just don't have that player who represents the heart of the team-does the dirty plays and gutsy plays. Smart shot 1-10 on Sunday. That lone basket was one of those dirty plays where he snuck up between Thompson and Lebron to steal the ball and hit a layup. That was it for him. He missed all 9 of his other shots. I'm sorry but I'll take more dependable, efficient offensive production any day before the sneaky, dirty plays like that layup which happen maybe once or twice in a given game. |
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Post by petey62 on May 30, 2018 18:27:29 GMT -5
I believe, that with this Celtics team, when there is a void, it easily gets filled. Smart is a gutsy player, the heart of the Celtics. However, in my opinion, somebody would step up and become the heart of the team. We'd miss that energy but we'd also miss quick, ill-advised shots. We'd miss having the 2nd worst shooter in the NBA (to Lonzo Ball) launching up 3-pointer after 3-pointer with no success. We'd miss all of that while getting more efficient offense than we're getting from Smart. Bottom line, if he gets an offer in the $13-14 million range, no way we should match it. we never recovered from the lose of Posey nor Allen IMO. Good thing is that Hayward plays hard on both ends but I dont think he would go and dive for those 50/50's. Yea, I am pretty sure there is someone out there in the league that can replace Smart's guts of steel but somehow no one knows who that person is for now.chrisjey, you make quite a compelling point. I'd counter that and say this whole team is gutsy and tough. I honestly believe someone will step up and assume that toughness. The one thing that this team is, it's resilient. We'd miss that toughness but I believe somebody on the current roster can step into that role. Maybe not as effectively as Smart but, on the flip side, they'd almost be guaranteed to be a more efficient offensive contributor than Smart ever has been. |
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Post by puddin on May 30, 2018 18:55:15 GMT -5
Petey:
Prior to Smart, who was the last gutsy heart of the Celtic franchise?
Pud
We have had guys who played with that passion, energy and did the dirty things who were a bit more efficient offensively than Smart. You can go back to Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling, Courtney Lee, and Mickaël Piétrus. But there is a HUGE difference between then and now. Back then, the Celtics had talented, veteran players. There was somewhat of a lull post-big 3 era until Smart was drafted. The heart of the Celtics, even when Tony Allen and Posey played, was always Paul Pierce. And again, it was KG when he was acquired. The Celtics just don't have any strong personalities like they had in the past. Honestly, as much as Smart has been the heart of the Celtics, for the past couple years, IT has been its soul. You know, there are alot of teams that don't have a player who is the "heart of the team" that is not the star and leading scorer like Lebron is for the Cavs. An example of that is Draymond Green but he's an all star. Most guys who are the "heart of the team" are the star players, Westbrook, Harden, Giannis, while some teams just don't have that player who represents the heart of the team-does the dirty plays and gutsy plays. Smart shot 1-10 on Sunday. That lone basket was one of those dirty plays where he snuck up between Thompson and Lebron to steal the ball and hit a layup. That was it for him. He missed all 9 of his other shots. I'm sorry but I'll take more dependable, efficient offensive production any day before the sneaky, dirty plays like that layup which happen maybe once or twice in a given game. IMHO.... prior to Smart, the previous gutsy heart of the franchise was KG.
Prior to KG, I struggle to remember who might have preceded him.
Maybe I have to go back to the Bird era.... but my memory is iffy at best.
That's pretty exclusive company from my viewpoint, clouded by my forgetfulness maybe.
Pud
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Post by petey62 on May 30, 2018 20:24:41 GMT -5
Pud, you very well might be right. But IMHO, Smart is nowhere near "Jersey in the Rafters" heart of the Celtics, The Big Ticket. KG. I love Smart's energy but as the pulse of the Celtics go and his impact on winning, Smart ain't even in the same area code.
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Post by puddin on May 30, 2018 20:53:32 GMT -5
Pud, you very well might be right. But IMHO, Smart is nowhere near "Jersey in the Rafters" heart of the Celtics, The Big Ticket. KG. I love Smart's energy but as the pulse of the Celtics go and his impact on winning, Smart ain't even in the same area code. Not yet... but he is a game changer and he plays with similar intensity to KG.
That's rare indeed and you can't teach that.
Smart's offensive game will change based on disappointment with how this PO run ended and how he contributed to its demise.
He will sit down with coaching staff and talk about efficiency issues and they will come to agreement on a way forward.
That's the beauty of this year's learning experience for him and for coaches and key players who went into uncharted waters and came up short.... and hurt right now like hell.
They are anxious for next season to begin already, as am I.
Pud
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2018 22:52:48 GMT -5
The one guy on that list I wouldn't miss is Morris.
Marcus Morris admits he's 'wary' about future with Celtics
By: Jeff Smith
The first seven seasons of Marcus Morris’ NBA career have been a bit of a whirlwind. He’s played for four different teams but progressively got better over the early years.
While his scoring declined a bit during his first season with the Boston Celtics in 2017-18, he certainly wasn’t asked to do nearly as much offensively as on previous teams. Even still, Morris averaged 13.6 points and a career-high 5.4 rebounds per game.
Morris carved out a nice role for himself down the home stretch of the regular season and in the playoffs, starting 21 of 54 regular season games (and four postseason games). He also averaged 26.7 minutes per game in the regular season and 29.6 in the playoffs. His minutes did take a hit from the previous two seasons with the Detroit Pistons when he averaged 35.7 and 32.5 minutes per game.
Injuries played a large role in Morris’ minutes jumping around some, and he seems to be fully aware of that. This is why when the topic of his future with the Celtics came up, he didn’t seem overly confident in his fit with the team, as he told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
“I’m just not sure,” Morris said. “There’s going to be a lot of players next year, so I’m not 100 percent sure where I fit totally yet. It’s just something I’m still kind of wary about.”
Between the looming return of Gordon Hayward, and Jayson Tatum unquestionably earning more regular season minutes, Morris could wind up being the odd man out. He’s not wrong to be wary about his future with the team, and if the situation presents itself, there’s an outside chance he could be a potential trade candidate.
Time will tell, but as Spotrac shows, he has a pretty reasonable contract and is set to have a cap hit of just $5.375 million next season. While that would be appealing to a wide range of teams, it’s not ideal for a team with a loaded salary cap to have someone making over $5 million not playing at least a big role off the bench.
The future of Morris could prove to be one of many intriguing storylines for the Celtics this coming offseason.
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2018 23:24:29 GMT -5
Celtics offseason outlook: With so much talent on roster, is Boston trade unavoidable?
By Sean Deveney
 Getty Images
Big issue 1: The Celtics won't garner much sympathy from the other 29 teams in the league on this, but one of the team's big issues will be how to sort out the talent on hand, when stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward return to a group that underwent a postseason surge without them but will be expected to slide back in behind Irving and Hayward in the team’s pecking order.
Rookie Jayson Tatum showed the potential to handle a role as a No. 1 scorer, and Terry Rozier showed he deserves to be a starting point guard in the NBA. Jaylen Brown still needs work, but displayed an ability to be a top-tier two-way player in the league. Oh, and Al Horford is still an anchor on both sides of the ball. That's six worthy players for five starting spots.
That's led to speculation that the Celtics will be involved in trade talks this summer for some of its talent, and they surely will have discussions. Some of the players who have been involved in that speculation — Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis — are pipe dreams. San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard is a more realistic Celtics target, but might require too steep a price in return.
Still, the Celtics will have some lumps in the roster to smooth out, too many guys who deserve big roles but not enough opportunities for all of them. Again, plenty of teams would like to have that problem, but it will be something that, without changes, coach Brad Stevens will have to work out.
Big issue 2: Like most teams in the league, the Celtics don't have an ideal answer at center, choosing to go small sometimes with Horford in the middle or, more frequently, big with traditional center Aron Baynes, who was a bargain at $4.3 million.
The Celtics were the top-ranked defensive team in the NBA last year, No. 2 at defending the pick-and-roll and No. 10 in field-goal percentage allowed on shots within six feet. They managed to defend the paint without a dominant, shot-blocking center.
Still, center is the one spot where the Celtics have room for an upgrade. They'd do just fine bringing back the same cast of characters in the middle next year, but they could still search for a long-term answer at the spot this summer.
Free-agent outlook: Three free-agent issues are facing the Celtics this offseason, though none with quite as much resonance as the free-agent moves that dominated the last two summers, when Boston signed Horford, then Hayward.
The first is Marcus Smart, who will be a restricted free agent and never got all that close to a contract extension with the Celtics last fall, and was available at the trade deadline for a first-round pick this year. That's a pretty good indication that Boston does not intend to bring him back, though he could wind up staying around on a one-year qualifying offer if an outside team refuses to put down a major bid this summer.
Second will be Baynes, who will be 32 in December, but proved to be a very useful piece during the Celtics' postseason run. If the Celtics don't make a splashy move for a center, Baynes would be worth a chunk of the mid-level exception.
Finally, there is Rozier, who is eligible for a contract extension and surely feels he has earned a serious bump up in pay after averaging 16.5 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds in the postseason, committing just 1.2 turnovers in 36.6 minutes. It's doubtful that the Celtics will hand Rozier an extension ahead of his restricted free-agency year, especially when he figures to be a prominent part of trade talks this summer.
The young folks: The Celtics have eight players, including two-way contract guard Jabari Bird, who were born in 1994 or later. When you talk about the young folks on this team, you’re bringing up the bulk of the roster.
Boston does have one of the most exciting young players in the league in Tatum, who will likely finish third to Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell in the Rookie of the Year vote, but who showed over the course of the postseason that he has as much potential as those two and may well be the most polished NBA player of the three. Oh, and he's only 20.
The other prime young player on the Boston roster is Brown, just 21 and in his second season. Brown is a mature and well-rounded player who is just beginning to fill out his game — he was brought along slowly as a rookie — and has gained confidence as the year has gone on. Both he and Tatum have All-Star potential.
But the Celtics have other young guys who could develop into role players. Rookie Semi Ojeleye might never be much of an offensive threat, but he is already a versatile enough defender that Stevens had him on the floor for extended minutes in the playoffs when he needed an inside-outside defensive presence.
And it will be worth watching how hefty French forward Guerschon Yabusele, who is just 22 and was the No. 16 pick in the 2016 draft, comes along. He has the build of Charles Barkley, and the team hopes he can develop into an effective stretch-4.
Looking ahead, the Celtics have the No. 27 pick in this year’s draft and, potentially, four first-rounders next season, when the team will have its own pick, Memphis’ pick (protected for the top eight), Sacramento’s pick (protected for No. 1) and a lottery-protected pick from the Clippers.
Wait till next year: Wait, indeed.
By taking LeBron James and Cleveland to the brink of elimination in the conference finals and disposing easily of the Sixers in the conference semis, the Celtics have already established themselves as the team to beat in the East for next year and, probably, the next half-decade.
They did that without Irving and Hayward. If those two are healthy and can be successfully integrated back into the team program, this is a loaded roster and a team that won't just be favored in the conference for the foreseeable future, but will be on par with the West powerhouses for the next handful of league championships.
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2018 23:53:50 GMT -5
Boston Celtics off-season primer
Probably no fireworks this summer, but there is work to be done
By Keith P Smith
Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Even though the Boston Celtics 2017-18 season just ended, one game short of the NBA Finals no less, the NBA never really stops. The off-season is now in full swing and the Celtics have some work to do. Danny Ainge never rests in his quest to give Brad Stevens the best possible squad to bring home Banner 18, and this summer will be no different.
Below is roster information for Boston, major decision points this summer and some key dates to be aware of. It might not be a summer full of fireworks, but there is work to be done.
Roster Breakdown
Guaranteed Contracts (8): Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, Guerschon Yabusele
Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts (3): Abdel Nader ($450,000 guaranteed), Semi Ojeleye ($901,965 guaranteed), Daniel Theis (fully non-guaranteed)
Two-Way (1): Kadeem Allen
Free Agents (6): Aron Baynes (UFA), Jabari Bird (RFA – Two-Way), Jonathan Gibson (RFA), Shane Larkin (UFA), Greg Monroe (UFA), Marcus Smart (RFA)
Decision Points
Marcus Smart Restricted Free Agency: Smart in a lot of ways is the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately all that grit and hustle doesn’t come with a reliable jump shot. Smart is one of--if not the best—perimeter defenders in the entire NBA. He’s also a much-improved playmaker at the point guard position. But the question remains: How much money can you commit a player who can’t shoot? Recent reports are that Smart wants a big contract. The challenge for Smart is that this market won’t likely bear that out. Expect the Celtics to be patient with Smart. Boston isn’t using cap space this summer, so they have no reason to rush a decision.
Re-signing Aron Baynes: Baynes proved incredibly valuable both as a starter and reserve for the bulk of the season. He’s the perfect big for what Boston is shaping up to be. He doesn’t need, or even really want, the ball on offense. But he’s capable of knocking down shots or scoring inside when the situation arises. He’s a very good defender and rebounder. Expect him to be high on the priority list for the Celtics to retain this summer.
Contract extension for Terry Rozier: This isn’t important for the 2018-19 season, as Rozier is under contract for next year. But he’s coming to the end of his rookie scale deal and up for his first extension. A lot of how far the Celtics will go to keep Rozier is likely tied to Smart. If they re-sign Smart for multiple years, Rozier might be on the outside looking in. If Smart leaves, or signs a one-year deal, Rozier might stick around. Don’t expect any sort of early resolution to this one, as Boston has plenty of time to decide what do on an extension.
Who to draft with the 27th pick? Unlike previous years, Boston doesn’t have any extra picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. They’ve got just #27. With a pretty deep roster, it isn’t imperative that they select a player who can contribute this season. What is important is that Ainge tabs a player who can contribute down the road. Ownership will pay the luxury tax for a contender, but there are limits. This roster is going to get very expensive and it’s going to happen very quickly. Getting cost-controlled young players has been key to the rapid rebuild, and now that importance shifts to building the depth of the roster.
Re-signing Shane Larkin: Given the concerns that Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier could be on the way out this year or next, the Celtics should try and re-up with Larkin. He fought his way onto the roster in training camp and proved very valuable as a backup point guard. Boston ended up missing him quite a bit in the Eastern Conference Finals after he suffered a shoulder injury. He might have earned a bigger contract, or at least a bigger role, elsewhere with his play this season, which is something to monitor.
Re-signing Jabari Bird: Bird showed flashes while on a two-way contract. That should be enough to get him a deal to show what he can do in training camp. He played enough with the Celtics that he’ll be a restricted free agent, giving Boston the right to match any offers he might get.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11447327/866032702.jpg.jpg) Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesGuaranteeing Daniel Theis, Semi Ojeleye and Abdel Nader: The first two are locks, given Theis and Ojeleye were rotation players for most of the season. Theis is a steal on a league minimum deal, while Ojeleye has such a high guarantee, Boston would save next to nothing by letting him go. Nader is a bit of a different story. He’s probably coming back too, but he has a relatively small guarantee. That will make him worth watching this summer. Re-signing Greg Monroe: Early on in Monroe’s Boston tenure, this looked like it would be of higher importance. Now it looks like less of a concern. Monroe contributed a lot at times on the offensive end. He’s a good passer and one of the team’s better inside scorers. That said, he can’t defend a lick. If he does come back, it will be on a one-year, “make good” type of deal and it he’ll be lower in the pecking order in the rotation. He’ll probably find more money and a bigger role elsewhere. Re-signing Jonathan Gibson: Maybe Gibson gets a camp deal, but probably not, as Boston has more than enough other guys in the back court and roster spots are getting tight. They’ll likely go with a younger developmental prospect for camp, in hopes of getting that player to Maine in the NBAGL.
Key Dates to watch for the Celtics
May 30th: NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal deadline: This is the date NCAA players, that did not sign with an agent, must decide if they are returning to school. Keep an eye on some of your favorite late-first round prospects (where Boston is picking), as some may choose to go back to school to boost their stock.
June 11th: International Early Entry Withdrawal deadline: Same as above, but for international players.
June 21st: 2018 NBA Draft: Boston has just one pick this year at #27 in the first round. Boston does have plenty of extra picks in the treasure chest and is always active in moving up and down the board if there are players they like.
June 30th: Qualifying Offers due for restricted free agents: The Celtics have three potential restricted free agents this summer in Marcus Smart, Jabari Bird and Jonathan Gibson. The first two are locks to get a qualifying offer, which allows Boston to retain match rights for them as restricted free agents. Gibson is a bigger question mark and the Celtics will likely choose to non-tender him a qualifying offer and let him become an unrestricted free agent.
July 1st: 2018-19 league year begins/free agency opens: Unlike the last two years, the Celtics will be functioning as an over the cap team. They’ll be limited to using exceptions, such as the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception and the Bi-Annual Exception to add talent to the roster. The Non-Taxpayer MLE projects at $8.6 million, while the BAE will come in at $3.4 million. The Luxury Tax Apron, or Hard Cap, is something else to watch for Boston. If they sign Marcus Smart to a big contract, or are forced to match a big offer sheet, it could change the dynamics of available exceptions for the Celtics.
July 6th-17th: Las Vegas Summer League: Boston is playing in just Las Vegas this year, after multiple years in both Utah and Las Vegas. Jayson Tatum may make a cameo appearance and play 2-3 games in Vegas, but this one will be about the other kids like Semi Ojeleye, Guerschon Yabusele and Abdel Nader.
July 10th: Daniel Theis’ contract becomes fully guaranteed: Theis is a lock to become fully guaranteed, as he’s one of the best bargains in the NBA and Boston needs big man depth.
July 15th: Semi Ojeleye’s contract becomes fully guaranteed: Ojeleye is guaranteed to make over $900 thousand of his $1.4 million deal. That alone means he’s sticking around. The bigger reason he’ll be fully guaranteed is the potential he showed as a defender and his room for improvement on offense.
August 1st: Abdel Nader’s contract becomes fully guaranteed: Nader could be part of a roster crunch. He might be a player where Summer League means a lot. If he’s not dominant or close to it, Nader could see his roster spot up in the air heading into training camp.
October 31st: Terry Rozier’s rookie scale extension deadline: This is the date to watch for Rozier. If Boston and Rozier can’t agree to terms on an extension, he’ll play out the final year of his rookie scale deal and head into restricted free agency in the summer of 2019 just like Smart did this season.
October 16th: NBA Opening Night for the 2018-19 season: Went out of order, as this one isn’t a transactional date. But this is the next, some would say first, chance to see the Boston Celtics playing meaningful basketball while presumably fully healthy. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward will be back. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have a year more experience. The Boston Celtics are good candidates to play on opening night once again and it can’t get here soon enough. Until then, watch these clips to tide you over and get you excited for 2018-19 and the continued quest for 18!
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Post by Admin on May 31, 2018 21:47:08 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 31, 2018 22:17:16 GMT -5
Is Donte DiVincenzo Marcus Smart 2.0? Edward Babaian Boston Herald
Villanova Wildcats sophomore Donte DiVincenzo has declared for the NBA Draft.
If you've never seen him play, well, that's a shame. Because he's got Boston Celtics written all over him.
Tough. Gritty. High IQ. And just has a nose for the ball. Sound familiar? If the first person to pop into your head after reading that description was Marcus Smart you're not alone; their games are similar, except I'd have to give Donte the edge in the shooting category.
While Donte's 2017-2018 numbers don't fly off the page (13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists), his full-throttle play -- on every play -- sure did.
There's a loose ball -- who's the first on the ground? DiVincenzo.
Down two late -- guess who's coming around a screen and calmly knocking down a triple? DiVincenzo again.
While his athleticism or numbers may not awe you all the time, we as Celtics fans, thanks to having watched Marcus Smart for the last four years, know that box scores only tell part of the tale.
Like Marcus, when push comes to shove, he's there to shove back -- with timely play. Like he did in the National Championship game, dropping 31 on the Michigan Wolverines en route to winning the title.
For his efforts, DiVincenzo was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player. But don't let that sweet three-ball fool you -- DiVincenzo, all 6'5" 200-pounds of him -- is also a menace on defense, hounding multiple positions with his physical, smart play.
Like I said, Donte DiVincenzo has Boston Celtics written all over him. Question is, will he be available at #27 when the Celtics pick in this Summer's draft? The "worldwide leader" seems to think so, as ESPN has this "Danny Ainge type of guy" going to the Cs in their latest mock draft.
Personally, after his recent showing in the NBA combine, I don't think he'll be available for us to snag come June. In a recent scrimmage, Donte netted 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 steals.
As far as I'm concerned, he'd be the perfect complement to the current Celtics' roster. We know Head Coach Brad Stevens loves versatile players (e.g. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford) and, as previously mentioned, Donte can guard multiple positions. He spaces the floor well with his shooting. He's always in the right place at the right time. And he's willing to throw his body around for the sake of ending up with the ball.
 Denver Post
Come the beginning of the 2018-2019 campaign, will we be hearing "DiVincenzooooooo for threeeeeee" from Celtics' PA announcer Eddie Palladino? Who knows? With reports coming out yesterday that the Celtics have interest in trading up in the draft, this might be a moot point altogether.
That said, when you factor Marcus Smart's restricted free agency status, it's easy to picture him taking Marcus' spot on the team.
I, for one, am in the bring-Marcus-back camp, but if we don't and somehow end up with DiVincenzo, well, let's just say I won't be shedding any tears.
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Post by Cabutan on May 31, 2018 22:57:06 GMT -5
Is Donte DiVincenzo Marcus Smart 2.0? Edward Babaian Boston Herald
Villanova Wildcats sophomore Donte DiVincenzo has declared for the NBA Draft.
If you've never seen him play, well, that's a shame. Because he's got Boston Celtics written all over him.
Tough. Gritty. High IQ. And just has a nose for the ball. Sound familiar? If the first person to pop into your head after reading that description was Marcus Smart you're not alone; their games are similar, except I'd have to give Donte the edge in the shooting category.
While Donte's 2017-2018 numbers don't fly off the page (13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists), his full-throttle play -- on every play -- sure did.
There's a loose ball -- who's the first on the ground? DiVincenzo.
Down two late -- guess who's coming around a screen and calmly knocking down a triple? DiVincenzo again.
While his athleticism or numbers may not awe you all the time, we as Celtics fans, thanks to having watched Marcus Smart for the last four years, know that box scores only tell part of the tale.
Like Marcus, when push comes to shove, he's there to shove back -- with timely play. Like he did in the National Championship game, dropping 31 on the Michigan Wolverines en route to winning the title.
For his efforts, DiVincenzo was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player. But don't let that sweet three-ball fool you -- DiVincenzo, all 6'5" 200-pounds of him -- is also a menace on defense, hounding multiple positions with his physical, smart play.
Like I said, Donte DiVincenzo has Boston Celtics written all over him. Question is, will he be available at #27 when the Celtics pick in this Summer's draft? The "worldwide leader" seems to think so, as ESPN has this "Danny Ainge type of guy" going to the Cs in their latest mock draft.
Personally, after his recent showing in the NBA combine, I don't think he'll be available for us to snag come June. In a recent scrimmage, Donte netted 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 steals.
As far as I'm concerned, he'd be the perfect complement to the current Celtics' roster. We know Head Coach Brad Stevens loves versatile players (e.g. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford) and, as previously mentioned, Donte can guard multiple positions. He spaces the floor well with his shooting. He's always in the right place at the right time. And he's willing to throw his body around for the sake of ending up with the ball.
Denver Post
Come the beginning of the 2018-2019 campaign, will we be hearing "DiVincenzooooooo for threeeeeee" from Celtics' PA announcer Eddie Palladino? Who knows? With reports coming out yesterday that the Celtics have interest in trading up in the draft, this might be a moot point altogether.
That said, when you factor Marcus Smart's restricted free agency status, it's easy to picture him taking Marcus' spot on the team.
I, for one, am in the bring-Marcus-back camp, but if we don't and somehow end up with DiVincenzo, well, let's just say I won't be shedding any tears.
we will be very lucky if this guy is not picked before our turn. I believe if Danny is trying to move up it is to acquire this guy. |
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Post by drewski6 on Jun 1, 2018 13:01:52 GMT -5
To Recap:Keepers:Irving Hayward Brown Tatum Horford Smart Theis On the Bubble (Keep/Release/Trade):Baynes Morris Ojeleye Larkin Yabusele Nader On the way out via Release or Trade:Rozier Monroe Love it, but I would move Morris to keeper. He's just too much of a bargain to give up right now. Also, he's going to be very valuable off the bench for us. Everything else I agree with. While I would hate to see Ojeleye go, I can see a scenario in which he departs. I would probably also move Smart to bubble - because it completely depends on factors outside of our control (how much market value he has and the size of the incoming offers). Dont want to nitpick though, I love this. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2018 19:22:07 GMT -5
Mike Gorman: Kyrie Irving staying with Celtics long term is “not a given” (podcast)
The legendary TV voice of the Celtics was a guest on the Celtics Beat podcast to talk about the not so certain future of Celtics guard Kyrie Irving.
By CLNS Media
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Should the Celtics trade Kyrie Irving? A question asked by absolutely no one that has somehow become the most hotly debated topic of the offseason. Celtics media has rallied their defenses against these menacing barbarians at the gates clamoring for noble Green blood. Angrily shouting down these nasty ‘rumors’ that have been neither reported nor supported.
This has become the dog chasing its tail.
But since we’re talking about it (see what I did there?) would the Celtics consider trading Kyrie Irving? Legendary Celtics play-by-play broadcaster Mike Gorman says….maybe?
“Certainly, if you’re going to trade Kyrie you get excited because there’s a whole lot coming back,” Gorman told host Evan Valenti on the Celtics Beat Podcast on CLNS Media Network. “Danny [Ainge] doesn’t like to put the untouchable label on anybody. I do think [Jayson] Tatum is untouchable myself. It would take some unbelievable offer to get him away from Boston right now. But I think everyone else is in play to some degree.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11474575/923944968.jpg.jpg) Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesGorman doesn’t think it’s likely the Celtics trade Irving but if the team is serious in its pursuit of Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, Irving might have to be part of any legitimate offer the Celtics make. “Again, if you’re talking about the big guy from New Orleans [Anthony Davis] then you’re going to have to be talking about a really really, good player going back the other way. And that’s the only other player that the Celtics really would put everyone on the table for.” Irving is under contract this season and then has an opt out. The assumption has been all along that he would decline the player option and then sign a max-deal with Boston who can pay him the most money. Slam dunk right? Gorman says he doesn’t “think it’s a given” anymore. “I think Kyrie’s record over the course of his career would tell you that injuries have been a problem,” said Gorman. “I think you have to be smart here and look at what the facts are, and understand that they may be a problem going forward too.” /cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11474603/958178252.jpg.jpg) Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Irving had season ending knee surgery in April. While he is expected to make a full recovery Gorman thinks this year will go a long way towards determining whether Irving is firmly in the Celtics plans for the future.
“You’d like to see Kyrie, who’s in a contract year next year, to have the season of his career. I think the big measurement for Kyrie going forward is how many games can you reasonably get out of him.”
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