[MatosParticipant]

 I understand that we haven’t yet seen a game in the ECF, but I think its safe to presume that the Cavs are gonna cruise to the finals. They have LeBron & Kyrie, plus the right pieces in a supporting cast.

Four different teams during LeBron’s consecutive finals appearance run, found themselves in discussions to possibly dethrone LeBron in the playoffs. The end result always happened to be teams blowing it up after that failed attempt.

Pierce/KG’s Celtics – Again speaking since LeBron’s finals appearance run, Celtics tried to challenge LeBron & Wade. Couldn’t do it. They knew it. They were only getting older and that Celtics squad wasn’t challenging LeBron anymore. Ray jumped ship and KG & Pierce even gave it a shot in the Nets uniform but that too didnt work out. C’s were never the same (well, until now).

Pacers – PG, Stephenson, Hibbert, and David West seemed like they were formidable opponents (for years to come) and some thought they would dethrone LeBron. Didn’t happen. They ended up blowing it up because they knew that team wasn’t going to get past LeBron.

Hawks – Had a great year. Finished first. Although this battle didnt consist of years of competiveness (really only that one year with the 4 all-stars), they were still considered as a possible chance at beating LeBron in the playoffs. They blew it up after their loss that year.

Raptors – Past 2-3 years they’ve been playing well in the season and not well against LeBron in the playoffs. They know that they can’t beat the Cavs. Hell, DeRozen even said it basically. Lowry looks like he’s on his way out and that team is not gonna contend with LeBron next year. 

That brings me to the Celtics. We all know the Cavs are going to cake walk to the finals. I don’t see the Celtics challenging them over the next few years with IT and Horford at the helm. Not suggesting blowing it up, but is it a possibility to consider trading IT and Horford for younger assets to start building this team around Fultz, Brown, next year’s pick (Ayton). They could haul in some serious value for them now. But if they wait in a few years (when they won’t have the championships they’re seeking), IT and Horford’s value is not going to bring in as much. Is it worth it?

Thoughts?

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dell87Participant]

 I would not trade IT and Horrors. Because I believe you always need a mixture of vets and young guys. If the Knicks want to get rid of Carmelo that bad then I would offer a package of smart Crowder a 2019 1st rou nd pick and one of our overseas assets. I know it sounds like a low ball offer in a sense but if I’m the Knicks why not? 

Pg. Smart

Sg. Nikilita

Sf. Crowder

Pf. KP 

C. Hermangomez

I know thats not a lot of shooting. But that’s a young team that you can build with. Along with other future first round picks that the Knicks will be drafting . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Celtics3178Participant]

I am a die hard celtics fan but even bigger fan of the game. I do see what your saying but I strongly disagree with you for three reasons. First of all the celtics can add Fultz this year keep brown and add ayton next year and there’s your core for the future. ALL 3 are freak athletes. So no point of blowing it up for the future. The celts can win while rebuilding. You always want solid veterans to teach the young guys no one better then Horford for that. The second reason is we can add a Max player plus Fultz and keep our core intact. If the celts land Blake  griffin or Gordon Heyward plus Fultz they are 8 starters deep with 3 all stars. Start Fultz AB Crowder Griffib and horford. IT plays a Jason terry type role during the mavs Brown Smart Kelly and we have a euro big men stashed whose getting unreal reviews name zizic. Euro s are proving they can comeback in right away and produce. LEbrons never had a team that deep in the east. The final reason these role player are getting better every year for the celts and the cavs role players are all old. AB Smart and Kelly improve every year. We will have to see how brown devlopes but he has tons of potential. 

[The GoatParticipant]

 I think the Celtics may keep Fultz and package a few guys and picks like Rozier, Olynyk, Amir, Jerebko for a veteran forward. Could be Millsap, Carmelo, someone like that..Hayward would be great. Free agency in play too here. They still have Yasubele and Zizic? stashed overseas.

 They would have IT, Bradley, Fultz and Smart in the backcourt, Brown and Crowder at the 3. They try get a forward as I mentioned to pair with Horford, take an Ayton next year.. thats a dynasty in the making. Fultz will transition to the starting unit when IT loses some zip and becomes a 6 man dynamo. Imagine in 3 years time still being able to roll out a second unit that contains IT, Smart, Crowder and Horford..

Theyve done a great job rebuilding from the Rondo-Allen-Pierce-Garnett championship team.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

I question why the Celtics signed Horford. The Cavs have jsut manhandled him for the last 3 years and it will be more of the same this year. I felt the same way when the Raptors signed Carroll he was owned my LBJ everytime they met eachother in the playoffs as well.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Why would the Celtics blow it up? They blew up the Nets and get to remain competitive while building. 

Celtics are in the ideal position in that they can win a bunch of games, go far in the playoffs and add the high-end talent so few teams have the opportunity to add to supplement a core that grows together. 

They could tweak some things and get better but I think it’d be silly to blow it up and trade Horford especially after just signing him last offseason – isn’t that kind of bad business? 

Draft Fultz. Trade some combo of Smart/Brown/Rozier/Bradley for an impact player and take another franchise piller in 2018. 

Wait out this LeBron run while winning a ton and making tons of money in the process and have a "contending window" that lasts a good 12 years. 

 

 

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

 This idea that because the Cavs are better right now, they are "unbeatable" for the next few years is absurd. If the Cavs were that much better than the Celts they would have won the East this year. Any given year, injuries, egos or any number of factors could bring them down a peg and allow the Celtics into the finals. And when you get to the finals you can win the finals.

You don’t blow up a up-and-coming team that just won the conference because it feels, in the moment, like you won’t ever get over the last hurdle. 

And how sure are you really that Brown/Fultz/Ayton are destined to become a better trio than IT/Horford/Bradley?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nill650Participant]

 you lost me at if the Cavs were that much better they would have lost the east this year…

Really? and you don’t think it has anything to do with not playing hard on the defensive end? 

Get this straight, The cavs are light years more talented and experienced than any other team in the East. INcluding the young Boston Celtics. The Cavs easily beat themselves by taking off plays when they are trting to prepare for the post season by preserving thier bodies. They did, it has worked so far…& they are 9-0 since the playoffs began.

Boston is going to be a really nice roster with solid depth even as soon as next season with the pieces they can add from the draft and fa, that will propel them to being one of the best regular season teams for the next few seasons and will continue to climb the mountain but will likely end up losing every year in the playoffs to The Cavs, unless Lebron himself becomes a Celtic.

 

FYI Lebron prefers to play road games so this mentality that home court is something The cavs cared about but failed to achieve is garbage.

 

[machu46Participant]

I don’t think it’s necessary for the Celtics to blow it up, but I think they need to at least consider what they could get by trading Isaiah now. I just don’t think it’s wise to give him a max contract for his 30-35 age seasons. I simply don’t think this version of the Celtics will ever be a legit title contender; their potential lays with Fultz turning into a superstar.

[MatosParticipant]

 My point exactly. IT is going to want to win soon. He’s 28. Horford is 31. They want to win now. If the C’s blank out on Free Agency (which is a possibility), you’ll get value in trading IT and Horford for younger assets to play with Fultz, Ayton, Brown, Crowder for years. That’s not blowing it up. That’s maximizing on your value for the long run.

[HitsterParticipant]

The Celtics didn’t expect to be relevant so soon again, they have cap space and assets, so they aren’t going to blow anything up. Lets say they draft Fultz this year and keep him, make a move to bring in an experienced frontcourter to upgrade a bit on Amir, this may be done by moving say Rozier or Smart to free up playing time for Fultz. They will likely get another top 5 pick next year where they say add a young big to develop behind Horford.

This team will still be very relevant out East and come 2018-19 will probably look to go past Cavs as LBJ will be 34 then.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 @Musmatos – The Celtics are winning now. They are one of the Final 4 teams playing in the NBA playoffs. 

The team is in a rare position where it is loaded with players who can "win now" while also having the opportunity to draft players who will help them win later. 

The team doesn’t need to blow anything up. The Nets blew it up for them. 

 

 

 

[MatosParticipant]

They are not going to win a championship with IT and Horford as their best players. If they strike out on Free Agency or even just fail to get a clear cut top-10 player, they’ll never get past the Cavs. Trading IT and Horford now is an option if they want to get maximum value. Don’t act like its not.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 No it really is not an option right now for them. 

They are a top-four team in the NBA. They might not be the prohibitive favorite but why would you want to trade away key guys on a team that will win 50-60 games a season and advance deep into the playoffs before sheparding the next wave of players you draft because of another team for the chance at a few more prospects and a few seasons of "rebuilding"

From a financial perspective that’s idiotic – you are going to make so much more money if you are relevant (maybe not winning titles but relevant in the contending conversation) and winning lots of games for years and years. 

The Celtics won’t win a title with IT and Horford as their best players. I believe that is true. But they’ve got the top pick this year – Fultz could be this team’s best player in two or three years – and they’ll have another franchise piller type player when they get a top-five pick in 2018. 

Horford and IT can be great complementary players when thsoe Celtics teams are ready to win titles. For now, they’ll be the go-to guys on a team that consistently wins 50 games and goes deep into the playoffs before losign to LeBron like every other team in the East. 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts