I think there is a 50-50 shot they re-sign Kyrie Irving and if they do, that effectively leaves them with two max contracts (including Gordon Hayward). Should they re-sign Al Horford to market value, both he AND Marcus Smart would likely combine to equal a max contract as well with Jayson Tatum's max coming due, too. Considering how punitive the luxury tax has become, there is no viable path for the Celtics to afford the rough equivalent of those 4 max contracts and the 10 roster spots left to fill.

That conundrum makes me wonder what they intend to do with Jaylen Brown and (to a lesser extent) Terry Rozier. Will they actually allow those guys to get to free agency? If so, the cap space we really should be saving ourselves for are the Celtics' castaways, while fleshing out the rest of our roster via the draft.

What do you guys think?

Ainge would trade his mother.

Nalod wrote:Key is to drafting is a game not of percentages but frequency. If you only hit 40% of your picks make sure you have a lot of them. Teams whiff on picks, even the best evaluation of talent does.

I wholeheartedly agree with that point. It's what I've advocated the Knicks do for a decade with the vast resources they have at their disposal but that is never going to happen. We're a micowave culture and think success can happen overnight through (enter impending free agent susperstar here) every year.

That being said, let's not pretend that Ainge is Sam Presti, Bob Meyers, or the Spurs and is getting value across the draft. Save Terry Rozier, his only draft picks of significance have been high lottery picks courtesy of Billy King. The balance haven't/won't even made/make it past their rookie contracts, which isn't exactly a success story.

NardDogNation wrote:...the point is that the Celtics might be forced to surrender some of the current talent on their roster and we should position ourselves to get them. I still think Jaylen Brown is a star in this league with the right opportunity despite a real-plus/minus close to the bottom of the league. If we're patient, can we realistically wait for him to become a free agent and make him an offer the Celtics can't match?

This is similar to Frank situation.
But we can be patient with Frank like to forever but Celts are already up to roster decisions.
So Jaylen Brown may be the victim of this.

SupremeCommander wrote:they'll get him. If he's walking away, how do you say no to something like Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown?

The Lakers with Brandon Ingram and assets say "hello"

NardDogNation wrote:...the point is that the Celtics might be forced to surrender some of the current talent on their roster and we should position ourselves to get them. I still think Jaylen Brown is a star in this league with the right opportunity despite a real-plus/minus close to the bottom of the league. If we're patient, can we realistically wait for him to become a free agent and make him an offer the Celtics can't match?

Nah I wouldn't give up a pick for Rozier or Brown at the moment. I don't feel we should look to move future picks until after or during the draft. With the target of adding a Zion, Barrett, Morant in the draft. Then using the future pick to land another piece if Hardaway can be packaged in that deal. Then we preserve enough cap to add a FA as well. Meaning top 3 pick, trade for proven player, and FA signing.

newyorknewyork wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:...the point is that the Celtics might be forced to surrender some of the current talent on their roster and we should position ourselves to get them. I still think Jaylen Brown is a star in this league with the right opportunity despite a real-plus/minus close to the bottom of the league. If we're patient, can we realistically wait for him to become a free agent and make him an offer the Celtics can't match?

Nah I wouldn't give up a pick for Rozier or Brown at the moment. I don't feel we should look to move future picks until after or during the draft. With the target of adding a Zion, Barrett, Morant in the draft. Then using the future pick to land another piece if Hardaway can be packaged in that deal. Then we preserve enough cap to add a FA as well. Meaning top 3 pick, trade for proven player, and FA signing.

I tend to be a hardliner when it comes to giving up picks. We've had so many boneheaded decisions involving them that we could have built and re-built a perennial playoff team had we just kept them in the first place. But if I could get Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown for our pick this year, I'd definitely do it. Outside of Zion, you're basically hoping the rest of the draft could develop what a Jaylen Brown already is. And then there is the obvious fact that both players better fit the timeline of Kristaps Porzingis, especially if Kevin Durant is really in play. Whatever the case, those two would round out our starting lineup nicely and we would still have the ability to add talent around them....

G: Terry Rozier
G: Frank Ntilikina
F: Jaylen Brown
F: Kevin Knox
C: Kristaps Porzingis

NardDogNation wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:...the point is that the Celtics might be forced to surrender some of the current talent on their roster and we should position ourselves to get them. I still think Jaylen Brown is a star in this league with the right opportunity despite a real-plus/minus close to the bottom of the league. If we're patient, can we realistically wait for him to become a free agent and make him an offer the Celtics can't match?

Nah I wouldn't give up a pick for Rozier or Brown at the moment. I don't feel we should look to move future picks until after or during the draft. With the target of adding a Zion, Barrett, Morant in the draft. Then using the future pick to land another piece if Hardaway can be packaged in that deal. Then we preserve enough cap to add a FA as well. Meaning top 3 pick, trade for proven player, and FA signing.

I tend to be a hardliner when it comes to giving up picks. We've had so many boneheaded decisions involving them that we could have built and re-built a perennial playoff team had we just kept them in the first place. But if I could get Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown for our pick this year, I'd definitely do it. Outside of Zion, you're basically hoping the rest of the draft could develop what a Jaylen Brown already is. And then there is the obvious fact that both players better fit the timeline of Kristaps Porzingis, especially if Kevin Durant is really in play. Whatever the case, those two would round out our starting lineup nicely and we would still have the ability to add talent around them....

G: Terry Rozier
G: Frank Ntilikina
F: Jaylen Brown
F: Kevin Knox
C: Kristaps Porzingis

Not really high on Rozier, especially with his upcoming free agency. I do like Brown. Not sure I'd make that deal. I might consider it if a couple of Boston first rounders are tossed in lieu of Rozier and our pick is protected 1-7, or something like that.