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Countdown To Celtics Tipoff: 67 Days

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Welcome Back to the Celtics Season Tipoff Countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 8th). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (67 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

As the NBA continues to release more scheduling information, it has been revealed that the Celtics will start their season at home in a showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers. The two teams are set to rule the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future, making this a must watch marquee matchup. Let’s see if reigning Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons can score more than 1 point this time around.

In other news, Jaylen Brown turned some heads on a guest appearance with the “Pull Up” podcast. Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum asked Brown to give an honest prediction for the Celtics’ upcoming season. Brown responded “Oh, we’re getting to the Finals. No question about it.” While the Celtics are the early favorites to make it out of the East this season, one has to admire the guy’s confidence.

On This Date

August 9th 1928: Celtics legend Bob Cousy was born in Brooklyn, New York. Cousy played for the Celtics for 13 seasons (1950-1963.) Nicknamed the “Houdini of the Hardwood” and most commonly referred to in Boston as “Mr. Basketball,” Cousy played on six Championship teams, was voted to 13 All-Star Games, and led the league in assists for eight straight seasons. His number (14) has been retired in the rafters of the Garden since his 1971 Hall of Fame Induction.

Stats (2017-18)

Aaron Baynes started in 67 games for the Celtics, averaging 6 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest. He played a key role on the defensive side of the ball last season, which likely aided the big man in his new 2-year contract with the team.

Fun Facts

Bill Russell became the NBA’s first African American Head Coach at the start of the 1966-67 campaign. Red Auerbach retired as head coach of the franchise and entrusted Russell (who was still an active player at the time) with the duties.

In 1967, the Philadelphia 76ers ended perhaps the most impressive championship streak in sports history when they defeated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. The defeat marked the first time in 10 seasons that the Celtics failed to reach the finals, while simultaneously ending a streak of eight straight Titles.

That concludes today’s Countdown to Celtics Tipoff. Make sure to be back here tomorrow as the clock continues to tick towards the 2018-19 season!

 

Jimmy Butler To The Celtics Makes Too Much Sense

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With the Warriors beefing up their already stacked team, It’s time for Danny Ainge and company to revisit an old friend.

As Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Jimmy Butler and all star point guard Kyrie Irving would like to team up at some point. With the east looking like a one team race, it’s up to the Boston Celtics to bring banner 18 home. The question is, what would a trade package look like?The most obvious piece to first go is Jaylen Brown. He is a very physical guy who runs the floor, and plays somewhat solid defense. Here’s where it could get tricky. The other players that come to mind would be role players such as: Guerschon Yabusele or Terry Rozier. The Timberwolves get a win win player regardless. ” Scary Terry” can shoot the midrange and pop the three very consistently. While Yabusele can be a great defensive player while he has a keen eye in the perimeter and playing in the post. He needs development for sure.What’s a good trade package without draft picks? If the Celtics could maneuver this, there might be a first round swap of some nature. After all this… is Jimmy Butler worth it? yes!He has a natural sense for winning. Thus his problems with work ethic in Minnesota. He wants to improve as a team, not as an individual. Which could explain why he’s demanded trades for years now. In addition, Brad Stevens can turn any player better then before they came on the team.With no chances of acquiring  Anthony Davis, Clint Capela, or Kawhi Leonard due to various reasons. ( rose rule, cap, luxury tax, etc.) Jimmy Butler has to be the move that can push the Boston Celtics on top for the first time since 2008. While resigning Marcus Smart remains to be the top priority, Jimmy Butler to Boston needs to happen to beat the evil ones.

Potential Trade Packages for Jimmy Butler

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It looks like All-Star shooting guard, Jimmy Butler, does not want to play in Minnesota anymore. He has grown tired of playing for a young, nonchalant Timberwolves team, according to recent reports. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler is looking to team up in free agency with Kyrie next season.

The question is if the Celtics should pursue Butler or wait to see if they can get him in free agency.  Butler has not stated that he is interested in playing for the Celtics, but has said that he would love to team up with Kyrie. Both Kyrie and Jimmy Butler are set to become UFAs in 2019.

With the Golden State Warriors adding Demarcus Cousins to their team, this could be the Celtics counter-move in the war of attrition. Butler has proven that he is top-20 player in the NBA. He is a four-time All Star, Most Improved Player, four-time All-Defensive second team, and two-time All-NBA third team. He even looked like he was on his way to being a nominee for MVP last season before he got injured.

Jimmy had 22.2 PPG, 4.9 APG, 5.3 RPG, and 2.0 SPG in 59 games. Over the past four seasons, he has averaged over 20.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, and 5.0 RPG. He is an inarguably solid scorer and one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

With Butler saying he won’t re-sign with the T-Wolves next season, he is most likely on the way to the trade block. If the Celtics were going to get him, it would cost some big assets, but nothing too big since Butler already said he is out of Minnesota. Here are some trade packages the Celtics could do for Jimmy Butler:

Terry Rozier, Sacramento/Philadelphia Pick, Marcus Morris

Photo Credit: NESN

This trade involves Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris, and the first round pick which will either be from the 76ers or Kings. Rozier has one year left on his contract and will look to get paid this upcoming season. His role was significantly increased after Kyrie got injured. He started 16 regular season games and all 19 playoff games.

Marcus Morris also has one year left on his contract. Morris was acquired from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Avery Bradley last year.

Lastly, the first round draft pick the Celtics would give up will most likely be a high pick with the recent history. This adds even more value to the pick.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/988941821299625984

Jaylen Brown

Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

Jaylen Brown has been thrown into a lot of trade scenarios this offseason. Brown was the third overall pick by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft. He showed last year why he was selected so high with 14.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, and starting in every game in which he played (70). Jaylen is one of the best perimeter defenders in the Eastern Conference. He is a target of interest for many teams. However, Brown looks to be a future all-star in the NBA and would be tough to give up.

Other Considerations

If the Celtics do acquire Jimmy Butler, they would have no cap space to sign Marcus Smart. The Celtics are placed in a tough scenario with Jimmy Butler. Butler and Kyrie want to play together, but the C’s would have to break up the core chemistry to acquire him.

But at the end of the day, Celtics are among the favorites to make it out of the East. Jimmy Butler could be the reason the Celtics hang banner number 18.

Which Celtics Target Makes the Most Sense at Pick 27?

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The Boston Celtics are slotted to select lower than 16th in Thursday night’s draft for the first time since 2012. The last time the C’s picked this low was in 2009. That year, they selected the immortal J.R. Giddens following their first NBA title in 22 seasons.

This, of course, is barring any last-second jockeying from President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. He could decide at any moment that the #27 overall pick would be better served as part of one of his infamous trade packages. Twitter has been buzzing with fake trades for Kawhi Leonard or a move into the top five. However, such moves seem unlikely. It appears we’re headed for a (relatively) straightforward night.

As of Monday, the Celtics have held pre-draft workouts with 17 different players, including:

  • National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson
  • Final Four Most Outstanding Player Donte DiVincenzo
  • Duke guard Grayson Allen
  • Arizona guard Allonzo Trier
  • Villanova forward Omari Spellman

Ainge mentioned in interviews earlier this month that he and his team had “tried to laser focus in to about 10 [players] at this point” for the 27th pick, taking a number of different factors into account. But which of those players makes most sense for the C’s?

Needs and Wants

Guard is the most pressing area of need roster-wise. That explains why Boston has worked out so many high-pedigree players at that position. Marcus Smart is a restricted free agent. Terry Rozier proved his value in the postseason, but his contract expires after this season. Shane Larkin was serviceable as a spot up shooter and fringe rotation guy. However, he’s more of a nice depth piece to have in the mix than an irreplaceable rotation player. And of course, Kyrie Irving‘s health and impending free agency have spawned hot takes and think-pieces across the internet for well over a month.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Celtics are thin at big.  Al Horford is Brad Stevens‘ Swiss Army Knife and Boston’s most important player. He also turned 32 on July 3rd. Aron Baynes was surprisingly effective last season. He’ll hopefully figure into the team’s plans next season. Daniel Theis is coming off a torn meniscus, and Greg Monroe is not a viable modern center.

Ainge seems to favor gritty guards and wings with strong intangibles (Rozier, Smart, Avery Bradley, Tony Allen, Jaylen Brown), especially with first round picks. That rules out a player like Trier, whose scoring is offset by often lazy defending and lack of focus.

Spellman and DiVincenzo could be high ceiling options who fit the mold. DiVencenzo has wowed at both the combine and in his individual workouts, which has only perpetuated a stock rise. Spellman could be the type of multi-faceted offensive big Ainge hoped to get with Jared Sullinger. However, I’d be surprised if either are still there at #27 based on their pre-draft buzz.

Best Options

Ultimately, I think the best bet here is Brunson, followed closely by Duke’s Allen and Georgia Tech shooting guard Josh Okogie. Brunson’s feel for the game is unmatched by anyone else in this draft class. He’s also a terrific shooter (52/41/80 shooting splits last season) with a diverse offensive arsenal that includes a developed post-game. Plus, Brunson has proven himself on the biggest stage, winning two national titles as a starter. In other words, he’ll be able to contribute immediately.

The Same can be said for Allen, who, despite his on-court antics and volatility, has been a top contributor on one of the best teams in the country throughout his college career. Okogie is a project with tremendous upside. He has all of the physical tools (6′ 4″ with a 7′ wingspan). He was also a 37.6% three point shooter at the college level. Okogie may be rough around the edges, but would be a welcome addition to Boston’s ever-growing stable of switchable wings.

Ainge will take the best player available on the board, there’s no denying that. But part of the beauty and fun of the draft is “the best player on the board” could be anyone. It all depends on who rises, and who falls. All things considered, if that player is Jalen Brunson, expect commissioner Adam Silver to call his name when the Celtics are on the clock.

Who Can Trade For Kawhi Leonard

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With the finals MVP and defensive player of the year requesting a trade, the news and speculation of Kawhi Leonard’s impending future looms a huge topic before free agency.

When news spread about all star Kawhi Leonard requesting to be traded, speculation of many teams came into fruition.  With breaking news such as this, this could shake up the free agency plans of almost every team. The longer this holds off, the better the potential return. Here are some projected trades for the all star.

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills 

San Antonio Spurs receive: Lonzo Ball, Luol Deng, 2019 first round pick, 2020 first round pick. 

This trade ( if the spurs will trade in conference) makes a lot of sense. The Spurs duo at guard ( Parker, Ginobili.) have been on the decline for the last few years. The Lakers get their superstar to entice Lebron James, and coach Pop gets the young talent to revitalize his team for the future.

New York Knicks receive: Kawhi Leonard, Davis Bertans

San Antonio Spurs receive: Emmanuel Mudiay, Enes Kanter, 2018 first round pick.

The spurs get an athletic point guard who can score well on the one-on-one iso plays, and move the ball effectively as a floor general.  They also receive a high pick in this year’s draft ( maybe a Trae Young selection?)  The Knicks do this because they finally give Kristaps another excellent player to pare up with. It might be the jolt the Knicks have been looking for. This is a great step in their rebuild.

San Antonio Spurs receive: Jaylen Brown,  Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier 2019 first round pick. 

Boston Celtics receive: Kawhi Leonard, 2018 first round pick 

The Celtics get the ultimate team in the east with Kyrie, Gordon, Al, and Leonard. While giving up a lot of great young talent, they get another draft pick to stockpile as trade bait for anyone else Danny Ainge wants. The spurs receive a great dynamic trio, along with a draft pick in 2019. Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier proved they can start and handle any challenge that comes their way. In addition, the spurs keep Kawhi out of direct competitions hands.

 

Philadelphia 76ers receive: Kawhi Leonard, Dejounte Murray, 2018 first round pick.

San Antonio Spurs receive: Dario Saric, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, 2018 first round pick, 2021 first round pick. 

If the 76ers needed any better case to covey Lebron it’s this. Kawhi Leonard. They get one of the great defenders in the game to join Joel Embiid. The Spurs get two athletic wing players who are great catch and shoot players. Coach pop would love to coach these athletic scorers who can spread the court effectively with more development.

Whoever lands this superstar is gonna have to pay a small fortune for one year of his services. With no extension hopes alive, who will win the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes?

 

 

 

Maddy Meyer

Kyrie Irving Happy in Boston, Focused on ‘Redemption Year’

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Concerns about Kyrie Irving’s future in Boston arose due to his decision not to resign with the team this summer. There are some who speculate that because of this Irving is a “flight risk.” These views could not be further from the truth.

The Interview

Kyrie Irving sat down with the Boston media on Tuesday to discuss his plans moving forward. He spent the entirety of the meeting gushing about the team and his excitement heading into next season. His main focus is on staying healthy and doing what he can to help the team contend for a championship. He labeled the upcoming season a “redemption year”.

“I think you guys can feel my attitude is really just redemption next year. Really integrating myself with our team again and really focus on winning a championship. That’s the only thing I’m really worried about.”

Irving made a point to talk about his desire to deflect the attention he is garnishing over his impending free agency.

“The focus is solely on winning a championship next year. I don’t think [impending free agency will] necessarily have an effect. I’m doing my best to kind of deflect all that and focus on what’s in front of us.”

Kyrie praised what the team accomplished this season in his absence.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what [Boston’s young players] experienced — I mean they went to Game 7 of the frickin’ Eastern Conference finals.”

Irving went on to rave about the potential of the young guys on the team, stating that, “there are guys that are literally gonna be stars in this league for years to come.” Kyrie cracked a big smile when he mentioned Gordon Hayward’s return, adding, “and now getting my man Gordon back — I’m excited man. I’m excited.”

Kyrie believes that with the experience the young guys got in the absence of both him and Gordon the team now has championship pedigree. He fully expects the team to contend for a championship next year and many years to come.

What the world can take from this interview is that in the present Kyrie Irving is happy. He’s pumped to get back to basketball and play with a good young group of guys. Kyrie cannot wait to see fellow All-Star Gordon Hayward back at full health. He’s also ecstatic about the direction the organization is heading in, and he is excited to be a part of it.

Kyrie Will Not Re-Sign with Boston This Summer, nor Should He

Irving knew the question would be coming. When questioned about signing an extension with the team this summer, he gave a brief response.

“Contractually, financially, [an extension] just doesn’t make any sense.”

This is the statement that has fans around the NBA talking and analysts debating. Kyrie Irving is not willing to consider signing an extension with the Celtics right now. What many may not know is that he shouldn’t be expected to.

Here is a breakdown of his current financial situation.

Irving would stand to lose upwards of $80 million dollars by signing an extension with the team this year. If Kyrie waits until the summer of 2019, then chooses to opt out of his player option (which he will) he will become an unrestricted free agent. At that point Irving can choose to re-sign with the Celtics on a 5-year $188 million-dollar max contract or leave the team for a 4-year $139 million-dollar max deal.

Even for a guy worth as much as Kyrie Irving $80 million dollars is a whole lot of change to leave on the table. It would make absolutely zero sense for the man to re-up at this time. Kyrie even mentioned in his meeting with the media that he has yet to have a talk with Ainge about his contract. As much as Danny Ainge would like him to re-sign now, he won’t expect the 26-year-old to do so.

The Case for Irving’s Eventual Re-Signing

According to Adam Kaufman of CLNS Media, the Celtics can offer Irving more than anyone else can next summer. With the ability to offer a 5-year max deal Irving can make $49 million more by re-signing with Boston than he can in a 4-year max offer from anyone else. As per league rules Boston has the sole opportunity to offer Irving a 5-year deal, whereas everyone else can offer a maximum of 4.

Boston gives Kyrie Irving the best chance to win moving forward. The team consists of a very young core with overflowing potential. With Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the team has two future all-star talents at the wing positions. Gordon Hayward and Al Horford are NBA All-Star veterans with playoff experience. Terry Rozier is a starting caliber point guard that will be coming off the bench behind Irving next year. The team is also very deep, with Marcus Morris, Marcus Smart, Shane Larkin and the emerging German Daniel Theis rounding the meat of the roster out.

The sweetest part for Kyrie? He will be given the opportunity to head arguably the league’s most talented team for years to come.

Irving trusts Danny Ainge and the franchise’s management group. He feels that having faith in the front office “puts things at ease” and allows himself to focus on what is important going into next season. He talked about having an “open book relationship” with the guys in charge, something Irving has openly expressed a desire for in the past. In fact, it was his lack of faith in Cleveland’s front office that became one of the major factors behind his discontent and eventual departure from the Cavaliers.

The Brad Stevens Effect

Perhaps the biggest chess piece Boston holds in the eventual Kyrie Irving sweepstakes is head coach Brad Stevens. Stevens turns 42 this October and is already considered one of the greatest minds in the league today. He is a finalist for the 2018 NBA Coach of the Year award, and just capped off his fifth season as an NBA head coach. He has improved the team’s record in every year of his career. Brad Stevens has always had an ability to draw the most out of his players. He does a phenomenal job at putting them in the best possible position to succeed.

When Irving landed in Boston last summer he spoke about his desire to build upon his craft. He wants to develop his game and become a more well-rounded athlete. There is no coach who suits Irving better with his personal goals on the basketball court than Brad Stevens.

All is Well, For Now

Kyrie Irving has yet to meet with Danny Ainge to discuss his future with the franchise. When he does, this meeting will take place behind closed doors. Ainge will have the chance to ask Kyrie if he see’s himself in Boston long-term. If the world discovered anything about Kyrie Irving after last year’s Cavs drama it’s that the man is very honest. He did not shy away from his feelings with (former) Cavalier GM David Griffin when they sat for such a meeting. He gave Griffin a list of teams he was interested in, and the rest is history.

It is presumable that Irving will offer the same level of transparency with Ainge as he did with Griffin. If the unexpected happens and he shares with Ainge a desire to play elsewhere things in Boston will get interesting.

Boston’s front office is famous for getting maximum value out of every transaction they make. In the scenario where Kyrie decides he wants out, they will not hesitate to move the young star. If trade talks begin to arise surrounding Irving this offseason, then that is the time to be concerned. Assuming he isn’t dealt by the start of the season, then chances are good he will re-sign with the team.

Until then fans can rejoice in the fact that Kyrie Irving will be back and fully healthy for the team next season.

Kyrie Irving Readdresses Future with Celtics

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It’s been just a day since Kyrie Irving caused a storm of rumors centered around his future with the Celtics. On Monday, he spoke once more on the topic. In an interview with Boston Sports Journal, Irving expressed his excitement to get back on the court next season and play with a completely healthy group.

“I’m just excited to see what that looks like, really getting that experience with (Hayward) and seeing what other pieces we have going forward,” Irving told BSJ’s Brian Robb. “I think that’s the exciting part about all this is that when you’re shaping up to gear up to be a championship-caliber team for years to come- which I think (Danny Ainge) has echoed for a little bit. I’m just appreciative to be a part of it and see where my career can take off as well. I’m excited.”

It’s safe to presume that Kyrie Irving is excited about next season and what the future has in store. While this statement does expand upon his earlier quote published by NY Times’ Sopan Deb, it still leaves a bit of ambiguity in the air for further interpretation on his long-term future with the team.

Esoteric Kyrie

Anyone who knows Kyrie Irving should expect this level of vagueness out of him in response to such a question. Irving has always been the ‘live in the present type’ of guy. He is famous for his obscure statements about topics such as the flat Earth theory, diet preferences, faked moon landings, and the nonexistence of dinosaurs.

Kyrie Irving is either a major conspiracy theorist, or one of the NBA’s biggest trolls. He tends to take long-winded routes to his response to even the simplest questions. Take this post game interview with Jaylen Brown for instance.

If Kyrie Irving was asked about what he was going to eat for dinner later, he would probably tell you that he needs to focus on lunch first. He would follow that up with another two or three sentence response about why he feels that way. Expecting Kyrie to commit his future to the Celtics with a year left on his contract just isn’t realistic.

Kyrie In the Present

What the world knows now is that in the present Kyrie Irving is happy. He is excited to get back to basketball and play with a good young group of guys. Kyrie cannot wait to see fellow All-Star Gordon Hayward back at full health. He’s also ecstatic about the direction the organization is heading in, and he is excited to be a part of it.

The Celtics will have to wait another year before Kyrie Irving makes a decision on his future with the franchise. Until that day arrives, Celtics fans should relax and enjoy the ride. Oh, and definitely some more of this.

LeBron James Set to Meet with Celtics

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Earlier today Stephen A. Smith stated on ESPN First Take that LeBron James will meet with seven teams this summer. One of these teams are the Boston Celtics, a franchise LeBron has routinely terrorized in his distinguished career.

The Top Contenders

The end of LeBron James’s tenure in Cleveland is drawing closer by the day. It is widely speculated that after the conclusion of the NBA Finals this year LeBron will join a new team to finish out his career. The most widely speculated belief is that he will make his way to the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. There he can work under Magic Johnson as a member of one of the league’s most historic franchises. He’d be able to pursue his post-NBA career business endeavors while attracting other stars to LA to continue chasing rings.

The Philadelphia 76ers are another team that have a good shot at employing the king’s services. While the Lakers are situated in the Western Conference among the likes of the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, the 76ers remain in the East with fewer powerhouse teams to threaten LeBron in the playoffs. He is known to be a big fan of ‘the process’, and is close with rookie Ben Simmons. He see’s a lot of himself in the self-proclaimed ‘prince’ of the league. James even believes Simmons has a chance to be better than him.

“You have an opportunity,” James told Simmons early on, “to be better than me. But you can’t skip steps. You have to do the work.”

With LeBron at the helm and so much young talent behind him, he could make a strong run at the title during his final twilight years in the NBA.

Boston

To be clear- the chances of Boston actually signing LeBron are slim to none. However, Danny Ainge having a chance to sit down with James and make his case is a thrilling opportunity.

Financially it would be a very difficult situation to work out. The Celtics are already set to breach the luxury tax for the 2019 season, and currently have two players on max contracts. The team is set to owe Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford $76 million combined next season. Boston will be $15 million over the cap limit next year, even if they decide to re-sign Smart. In order for a LeBron signing to be feasible, the team would have to re-allocate integral pieces on the bench.

Even if LeBron agrees to take a pay cut, Boston would likely need to shed one of their three major contracts. Meaning either Horford, Irving, or Hayward would have to be moved.

Danny Ainge and the Celtics management group would have to be very creative to make such a contract work financially. It is not impossible, but it is unlikely.

Would Signing LeBron be Worth It?

LeBron James is still the most dominant player in the game today. He is 33 years old and has been in the league for 15 years. In 2018 he averaged some of the best numbers of his career with 27.5 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game. He has three championship rings, three finals MVPs, four MVPs (finalist for MVP this season), and is a 14-time All-Star. The debate has already been going on for years about whether or not he is the greatest to ever play the game.

Adding LeBron James to a team that was one win away from the NBA Finals in a season without two of their All-Stars would undoubtedly make the Celtics front-runners for the championship. He would bring veteran leadership along with other-worldly talent to a roster already bursting at the seams with young potential. Championship aspirations in Boston would be a constant until the end of LeBron’s career.

Given the bright future in store for two of Boston’s younger pieces in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have a unique opportunity to pull off a huge signing and still be set up for long-term success. Add in the draft pick stockpile the team has built, and Boston could find themselves competing for championships long after LeBron retires.

Will LeBron Sign?

Odds are LeBron will not sign with the Celtics this summer. It is a complex situation financially, and no one knows how much interest James has in joining the team. That being said, in the NBA anything is possible. Just getting an opportunity to meet with LeBron is a big step in pulling off what would be the greatest free agency signing the city of Boston has ever seen.

Buckle up Celtics fans, this summer is going to be a wild one.

The Celtics are Interested in Mo Bamba

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There are reports that the Celtics are interested in Texas big man Mo Bamba. Boston is reportedly willing to move up moving up in the draft to take him. Bamba is a 6’11” prospect with a record-breaking 7’10” wingspan.

The Prospect

Considered the most NBA ready rim protector in his draft class, Bamba has the highest ceiling out of every prospect this year. He averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and an absurd 3.7 blocks per game in 30 appearances for Texas as a freshman. He possesses good lateral quickness for a guy his size, making him a deadly offensive threat if he can improve on his footwork. His 68% shooting from the charity stripe indicates potential for a consistent outside shot, adding to his respectable 28% three point percentage.

The main drawback with Bamba is his frame. As long as he is, he weighs in at only 216 pounds. As a comparison, Marcus Morris is three inches shorter and weighs 19 pounds more than Bamba. He also tends to have an inconsistent motor. He can sometimes get hot and score in bunches, and other times he is nonexistent on the court.

Bamba is a ridiculous physical specimen that, despite a few shortcomings, has perhaps the highest floor in the draft just as much as he has one of the highest ceilings. His length and athleticism will make him an instant rim protector from the get go. His most common NBA comparison is Rudy Gobert based on his physical attributes.

Will Boston Make a Move?

The Celtics have a major need for a rim-protecting big man that can hold down the paint and grab rebounds consistently. The team has implemented a rebound by committee approach that landed them ranked fifth in the NBA in boards. However, the team struggled to control the boards against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. In three of their four losses to the Cavs, the Celtics were out-rebounded, giving up key second chance opportunities from offensive rebounds.

Mo Bamba is the one prospect that has all of the attributes the Celtics are looking for. It makes sense that the team is looking into moving up to snag him. The team already interviewed him at the Chicago pre-draft combine a few weeks ago.

Boston has the assets to make a trade, but the question becomes- is Danny Ainge willing to cough up enough to make it happen?

Trade Assets

The Celtics possess the Sacramento Kings’ first round pick in the 2019 draft. They have their own 27th overall pick this year, and the Memphis’s first round pick in 2019. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown surely will be inquired about in such trade talks. It is doubtful that Ainge includes either in such a deal.

The Grizzlies at number four and the Mavericks at five have both expressed interest in trading their picks this year. Mo Bamba has been projected as high as third but will most likely fall to the 4-6 range.

The most likely trade scenario would have to involve Terry Rozier. He has an expiring contract after next season, leaving him expendable. There has already been talk about concern of Rozier’s ultimate departure for a team willing to let him blossom as a starting point guard. His value blew through the roof during Boston’s playoff push this season, averaging 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38% from three.

Boston could pair him up with next year’s Sacramento pick and toss in their own first round pick this year to sweeten the deal. Boston has the assets to make it happen, it’s only a matter of if they want to pull the trigger.

Who says no? Is such a deal worth it for Boston to add another intriguing prospect to the roster? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Marcus Smart’s Impending Free Agency

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Immediately following Boston’s Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Marcus Smart was asked about his future with the team.

With the Celtics’ season over, the team will shift their focus to free agency. Boston has six upcoming free agents, including Aaron Baynes, Greg Monroe, and Shane Larkin. None of these names are bigger or more controversial than Marcus Smart.

Marcus Smart and his looming free agency has been a topic heavily debated all season long. It is no secret that Marcus wants to get paid like a big time player.

“To be honest, I’m worth more than $12-14 million,” Smart told Jackie MacMullan of ESPN. “Just for the things I do on the court that don’t show up on the stat sheet. You don’t find guys like that. I always leave everything on the court, every game. Tell me how many other players can say that.”

Smart has a point. In his first four years as a pro he has made a name for himself around the league as a bulldog. His propensity to play 110 miles an hour for 48 minutes drives the energy level of his teammates up and gets in his opponents’ heads. When Smart is in the game fans know it. He is usually found on the ground under two or three players scraping for the ball, out-sprinting the fastest guy on the court for a loose ball, or finding a way to rip down a big offensive rebound.

Off the Stat Sheet

Marcus has a knack for making “game-winning plays” while elevating the effort level and skill of his teammates. Many of his teammates have called Smart the “heart and soul” of the team. Danny Ainge even told Smart that they plan on keeping him.

Why not just pay Smart the $14 million per year?

While the things he does that don’t show up on the stat sheet help the team tremendously, he has major issues shooting and turns the ball over far too frequently. He is a career 36% shooter and an abysmal 29% from three. He also gets off 4.2 three point attempts per game. Among every player in NBA history to have connected on under 30% of three pointers, only 13 of them have shot a higher volume than Smart.

Turnovers have plagued Smart his whole career. He averaged 2.4 per game this season, and 1.8 for his career in 28.7 minutes per game. He ranked 355th in the league in turnovers per game and per 48 minutes (3.8). As great as his non-statistical attributes are, he simply isn’t a $14 million player on the stat sheet.

Money

Boston will extend a qualifying offer to Marcus Smart for $6.1 million dollars. Smart can either sign the offer or see what other offers he can get. Undoubtedly he will wait it out. If the other offers inflate too much, Boston won’t be able to match and Smart will be gone. He can either sign the qualifying offer, take the highest offer on the market, or sign a long term extension with the team well below his self-perceived value.

As much as the team want’s to keep him, they also have a ton of money locked up in future contracts. Al Horford is making $28.9 million next season with a player option he will almost assuredly opt out of. The team’s highest paid player in Gordon Hayward will make $31 million next year. Kyrie Irving is going to get $20 million. Terry Rozier will be a free agent in a few years looking for a big payday. Looking even further ahead, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will both be getting huge contracts once their rookie deals expire.

With such a loaded roster Boston just doesn’t have the cap space to pay Smart what he wants, no matter how much they desire to retain him. At the end of the day, the decision will rest sorely on his shoulders. Though he has stated that his heart is with Boston, his wallet may ultimately draw him to another team willing to pay a premium for a player with his unique skill set.

If this season does ultimately mark the end of Marcus Smart’s tenure with Boston, he sure left the fans with plenty of fond memories and plays that they will never forget. To his core he has embodied what it means to be a Celtic, and the fans will always love and appreciate everything he gave to the organization.