The Boston Celtics misplaced to the 8 seeded Warmth in fairly embarrassing trend. They clearly must blow every little thing up. Then once more, they made the Japanese Convention Finals 3 occasions within the final 4 years and have two star wings headed into their prime, so clearly they should hold all of it collectively. In case you are envisioning the “battle of wits” scene from Princess Bride, then you definitely perceive precisely the place this text goes.
I’ll try to make predictions about how the remainder of the offseason goes to go. After which I’ll instantly forged doubt on any and all of these predictions in probably the most frustratingly inconsistent method doable. However first I’m going to meander my method by means of the remainder of the article. You recognize, form of like an homage to this yr’s Celtics staff.
“One thing has to vary” is a thought that retains echoing round in my mind. I can’t inform how a lot of that’s knee jerk emotion from getting bounced by a staff that my mind nonetheless tells me is inferior in expertise. If the entire is lower than the sum of its components, then one thing is basically improper with the combination and also you in all probability want to search out new components. Then I begin trying intimately on the components and I discuss myself into retaining practically all of them.
Joe Mazzulla is coming again as head coach. We all know that one already so the controversy over “ought to he be” is generally theoretical. I’m troubled by the best way the season went and I feel he definitely deserves his share of the blame. Particularly it looks like this staff sought out an offensive id by too typically neglecting the defensive id that obtained them to the Finals a yr in the past. It doesn’t assist that this explicit rookie coach didn’t fare in addition to final season’s rookie head coach. However seeing Will Hardy’s success in Utah has me questioning simply how a lot of final season’s success needed to do with a robust bench of assistants.
No disrespect to the fellows backing up Mazzulla this yr, however I would really like slightly extra expertise on the bench subsequent yr. Maybe that (plus one other yr of expertise) will put Joe in place to place the gamers in place to succeed. Or perhaps it would simply give Brad a “break glass if wanted” possibility to advertise within the occasion that Mazzulla must be fired subsequent yr.
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jaylen Brown is the following main subject on the board. For a second straight playoffs, his lack of ability to deal with the ball in site visitors was an enormous issue within the Celtics defeat. The brand new CBA goes to make life very tough for costly groups and if the Celtics signal two gamers to Tremendous Max contracts, they’ll be squarely within the crosshairs for these apron penalties (appears like a cooking present gimmick).
So they might be clever to at the very least discover the marketplace for him proper? You possibly can in all probability get a package deal together with a stable veteran, a promising younger participant, and a draft decide or two. Then you definately both substitute Brown’s manufacturing within the combination and fill in holes elsewhere, otherwise you flip a few of these belongings to usher in one other star.
Then once more, there are many groups on the market which are desperate to get Jaylen Brown on their staff. So many groups have a number of good items and perhaps one star, however may actually use that 2nd star to turn out to be actual contenders. Regardless of developing brief a number of occasions, you would need to take into account the Celtics actual contenders largely as a result of Jaylen Brown is a star. So wouldn’t it simply be simpler to maintain him?
Working it again doesn’t seem to be a clever possibility. You’ll be able to’t hold doing the identical issues and anticipate totally different outcomes. If Joe and Jaylen are returning, it’s essential change a few of the surrounding items. The Grant Williams scenario would possibly simply resolve itself if he can get a suggestion someplace that Boston isn’t keen to match. It might stink shedding that asset for nothing, however signal and trades aren’t all the time as straightforward to come back by as we wish. In case you do pony up the cash to maintain him, that solely places extra of a squeeze elsewhere on the roster.
Derrick White, you’re good. I’m simply going to anoint you as untradeable and a core piece transferring ahead. I can’t be accepting questions on this matter.
So if I’m selecting between Marcus Sensible, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard (who has in all probability already packed all his luggage and mentioned his goodbyes) then I gotta trip with Marcus and love and belief him until the top. We should always in all probability promote excessive on Brogdon (sixth man OTY, had one in all his healthiest seasons …until the top) and Pritchard (everybody wants taking pictures).
Then once more, everybody seen that Sensible took a step again on protection this yr. He’s efficient on offense in sure methods, however in case you are trying to change issues up with out transferring the Jays, then perhaps Sensible is the one to maneuver. However then I come again to wanting protection to be a bigger a part of our id going ahead and I can’t get there.
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures
As for our bigs rotation, we’re caught getting 50% manufacturing out of our excessive ceiling rotation guys. Al Horford is fantastic, however he’s additionally getting too previous to play 82 video games plus playoffs at a excessive degree. So typically you get the Al of previous and typically you simply get previous Al. Robert Williams III has world-crushing upside, however he’s additionally simply not accessible rather a lot. I’d like to hope for good well being going ahead, however sooner or later it’s a must to surprise if he’ll ever play a full season. Grant could return, or perhaps he gained’t. He was cold and warm throughout the yr and out and in of the rotation as effectively.
The additional down the bench you get the much less precise influence you get within the playoffs. Possibly Hauser can show to be a rotation man within the playoffs subsequent yr. Possibly Gallo comes again and makes Hauser expendable. Possibly the Kornet/Muscala/Griffin Bus Boys combo will get break up up. Possibly the Celtics transfer some items for one more backup massive possibility. Or perhaps they simply draft somebody within the 2nd spherical that truly performs subsequent yr.
Okay sufficient meandering. I assume I’ve to ship some precise predictions. I gained’t trouble calling these SWAGs as a result of they’re neither foolish nor wild. In truth, they’re somber and worrisome so take into account the the evil twin of the SWAGs.
Joe Mazzulla – Returns as head coach, however will probably be trying over his shoulder at whomever the Celtics rent to be his lead assistant.
Jaylen Brown – Indicators the tremendous max contract that the Celtics provide him. Then if issues go bitter subsequent season, he’ll need to sulk until the offseason when he could be traded (at decrease worth than he could possibly be moved at now due to the contract and a notion that he topped out in 2023). Or perhaps every little thing will go nice and I’ll look dumb for wringing my palms.
Grant Williams – Indicators an enormous provide elsewhere and Boston doesn’t match.
Malcolm Brogdon and Payton Pritchard – Traded for depth both on the wing or middle. Don’t ask me for my commerce concepts but, I’ll get round to that finally.
Celtics followers – Really feel pissed off that the staff takes a step again shedding Grant for nothing and no different important strikes made.
In case you missed it, I’ve no nice conviction in these predictions. Except they occur, then I’ll make sure you say I advised you so. Be happy to play alongside by making your personal predictions within the feedback beneath.
