Top 2016 Offseason Priorities for the Boston Celtics

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2636966-top-2016-offseason-priorities-for-the-boston-celtics




Top 2016 Offseason Priorities for the Boston Celtics



Vytis Lasaitis , Featured Columnist


May 3, 2016







Elise Amendola/Associated Press




Avery Bradley's hamstring injury left the Boston Celtics shorthanded against the Atlanta Hawks, leading to a 4-2 first-round series loss and a premature end to Boston's thrilling 2015-16 campaign.

Following the Game 6 defeat, Isaiah Thomas met the media with tears in his eyes. He, just like the rest of this resilient group, took the postseason elimination to heart, and it was heartwarming to see the players care so much. Despite the adversity, it's important to give the Celtics a serious pat on the shoulder and remind them of the bright future ahead.

Players grew both individually and as a unit under the expert leadership of head coach Brad Stevens. Boston finished the regular season with a 48-34 record—an unexpected jump in an improved Eastern Conference. Many essential elements of a future title contender are already in place, and a couple of substantial additions could push the Celtics over the top next year.

Key players are tied down to cheap deals, and Boston general manager Danny Ainge will have a plethora of assets at his disposal this summer. The players did their part—now it's time for the front office to work its magic.



Keep Evan Turner




Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images


It's rare for players to reinvent themselves the way Evan Turner has. He went from putting up empty numbers for the Philadelphia 76ers, to an awkward fit with the Indiana Pacers, before finally settling in with Boston.

Turner finished fifth in the Sixth Man of the Year Award voting, and he has finally found his niche as a versatile wing off the bench. He still has a tendency to fall in love with his own offense, but those greedy moments are becoming infrequent.

He ran the point, scored in crunch time and played solid defense—all of which Stevens has been complimentary about.

"I can’t imagine anybody being more valuable off the bench than Evan," Stevens said, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "He’s been extremely valuable. He guards three positions a night, sometimes four positions. Obviously we have him with the ball all the time. He’s just had a great year and really impacted us in the last two years."

Turner's lack of three-point range is rarely exposed when he handles the ball, and he can score and make plays in the pick-and-roll. His post game is another reliable weapon—one Boston conveniently utilized in late-game situations.

Both parties will have to be patient. Ainge will most likely chase bigger fish before addressing depth, which will give other teams an opening to snatch Turner. The price tag is also a concern, as he is in for a hefty raise on his $3.4 million salary during the impending cap boom.

The market might be hot for Turner, but he wants to stay if the money is right, according to Bleacher Report's Brian Robb. If he is fine with waiting and signing a reasonable $10 million-per-year contract, Boston should keep him.



Clear the Frontcourt




Mike Lawrie/Getty Images



The Celtics addressed their frontcourt logjam with a midseason waiving of David Lee, but the big men still had to battle for every minute. As Stevens leans more on small-ball lineups with Jonas Jerebko and Jae Crowder at power forward, Tyler Zeller becomes essentially expendable.

Jordan Mickey, whom the Celtics like and would love to develop, and Kelly Olynyk are still under contract, but the future of almost every other big on the roster is up in the air.

Jared Sullinger, who is entering restricted free agency, saw his minutes drop to 13.5 per game in the playoffs, and his performances may have done enough damage to end his tenure with the team. Bobby Manning of Celtics Blog didn't have many kind words regarding Sullinger's postseason showing:

The drops weren't dramatic but they've deteriorated into such a putrid playoff 'performance' that he has stuck out like an infected thumb that needs to be amputated. Between both losses in Atlanta, he has floated on the perimeter, shown an unwillingness to battle with either Paul Millsap or Al Horford, and worst of all has been kept off the boards completely. The latter part is most concerning of all because it reflects a lack of effort more than a bad mismatch.



Juan Ocampo/Getty Images
Tyler Zeller


Boston shouldn't cut into its cap space to keep Sullinger, and Zeller is likely a goner, too. Amir Johnson has been an excellent contributor, but he was brought in as a placeholder, and it would be surprising if Ainge picked up his $12 million team option. Jerebko was excellent in the playoffs, and his $5 million contract for next season has to be exercised—the value is simply too great not to.

That would leave just four bigs on the roster (Crowder included). Boston could address the gap at center through free agency or simply find another placeholder if it helps land a star elsewhere. Either way, preserving cap room is the No. 1 priority, and Ainge might have to momentarily strip his frontcourt to join the race.

Even if everything fails and Boston desperately has to fill out the roster, there should be cheap options available.

Joakim Noah's market value is at an all-time low, but he would be an intriguing fit both as a defender and playmaker around the elbows. Marreese Speights has bounced back after a slow start with the Golden State Warriors, and he could provide some instant offense off the bench. Zaza Pachulia and Ian Mahinmi are competent, mid-tier bruisers.



Use the Draft to Acquire a Star




Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Ben Simmons



Boston will have eight picks (three first-rounders) in this summer's June 23 NBA draft. It will obviously not use all of them, and figuring out which selections to keep will be tricky.

Since the Celtics own the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick, they'll have a 15.6 percent chance to land the No. 1 selection, and they'll pick within the top three unless another team moves up. With that in mind, nothing major should take place before the May 17 draft lottery provides some clarity.

If Boston has a chance to grab Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, it should seriously consider keeping the pick and building around either player. The talent pool becomes a little cloudy lower down, which means there are several directions.

Dragan Bender is intriguing, but he would be a major work in progress. Jamal Murray, Buddy Hield and Kris Dunn should all be solid players, but the Celtics are already set with a backcourt trio of Thomas, Bradley and Marcus Smart.

Boston could also trade down and grab an energetic big like Domantas Sabonis, but he'd compete for minutes with Mickey, and development projects are counterintuitive for a team looking to win.

The most likely scenario, and one Boston is bound to explore if it can't land Simmons or Ingram, is shopping the Brooklyn pick. If a disgruntled star becomes available, the Celtics can pile their assets and concoct some truly enticing rebuilding packages.



Keep the Superstar Chase Rolling



Brian Babineau/Getty Images



Speaking of disgruntled stars: Ainge will turn every rock in free agency to add All-Star talent, and Kevin Durant will be the primary target, according to The Vertical's Chris Mannix:

Ainge will be aggressive in free agency, team sources told The Vertical, and yes, that means a run at Kevin Durant. The Celtics believe Durant will meet with them this summer, but they know that meeting won’t accomplish much unless there are significant moves leading into it. Durant will be 28 in September, and the former MVP isn’t interested in hearing what a team could someday become.

Boston is a compelling situation for Durant, but it's true that Ainge will have to bring in further reinforcements to truly grab the former MVP's attention. The Celtics could, in theory, clear enough cap space for two stars by renouncing their free agents or swinging a sign-and-trade.



Rocky Widner/Getty Images
DeMarcus Cousins


The DeMarcus Cousins situation with the Sacramento Kings is a constant flood of speculation, while Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman didn't outright dismiss the possibility of moving Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN.com's Nick Friedell. If either team engages in trade talks, Boston has the right assets to construct a mutually beneficial deal.

A player of that caliber would catapult the Celtics to title contention in itself. If Durant was to also come along, Boston could have another dynasty in the making.

There are other options in free agency if the dream scenario doesn't pan out. A pseudo-star like the Hawks' Al Horford would be a spectacular fit in Stevens' system, while someone like the Miami Heat's Hassan Whiteside could help the rebounding and rim-protection department. Regardless of who Ainge ends up signing, one thing is certain: He'll aim for the skies.



All salary statistics are courtesy of Spotrac.com unless otherwise noted.



bob
MY NOTE:  A whole lot of rehash of stuff we've already talked about on this board, pretty obvious too for most of it.  Kdp has done as good, or better, a job than him. Could you imagine Zaza in green?  Oh.  My.  God.  Half the Celtic fans would be turning themselves inside out.  He's the type of player you hate until he's on your team.  My prediction is that Tommy would love an instigator like Zaza.  Of course, Tommy loves everybody in green anyway...Mahinmi might be possible, he has been replaced by by Miles Turner and might not be happy about that.  Limited offensively (very!) but a bruiser as he says.

When Pierce, KG and Allen were here we were excited for the next season, because we had a helluva team already and wanted to get on with it, but the offseasons were boring precisely because were were already "built".  This off-season promises to be the most eye-popping, mind-blowing, now-you-see-them-now-you-don't, Holy Shit, Danny! offseason we have seen since 2007.  And we know what happened that summer...

There are only 2 teams with more salary cap space than us, Portland and Lakers, and not by much. Just as with our draft pick this year, Danny has positioned us, on cap space, so that we are in the 3rd best place to be in the league. And we have other assets that neither of them have, all our draft picks. In Portland's defense, they have an excellent coach and players on a par with ours. In other words, they have 2, Lillard and McCollum, that are absolute keepers and the rest are overachieving 6th men. The Lakers? Well, they have a kindergarten. A talented kindergarten, for sure, but too young to probably compete for a few years.

What I DON'T like about this article, is that it mentions nothing about our needs for shooters, a GLARING weakness of ours. How could he miss that getting scorers, wherever they come from, is an offseason priority of ours?


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great article with a lot of options, so many options it can make ones head spin already.

I WISH i could write and put my thoughts together as well as this piece.

I disagree that Turner is a must sign, even though i like him. in fact i think if Ainge can find an upgrade at the SF/SG spot he should. Said player needs to be able to hit the 3, IMO.

I put out Evan Fournier as an possible option as a RFA. He may cost about the same as the $10M the article says Turner may command.

seems spot on about that Nets pick, we have to wait and see if we get lucky. if we do keeping the pick makes the most sense and to continue the rebuild with youth.

I disagee that Zeller should be gone, i can see him back IF Ainge gets a true starting NBA center for next year. Zeller could cost in the $5M range and like Jerebko that would be a good deal for a reserve.


so many possible moving pieces this year...probably more than anytime I can think of.

Danny may need to add staff this off-season.

speaking of moving pieces.....how many "star" players may be on the trade market this off-season?

I have read D. Cousins, J. Butler and B. Griffin as "possibly" available.

anyone read anything about any others?