Boston Celtics: A story about greatness

[tlowe77]

Boston Celtics: A story about greatness (Quest for Greatness)

Hello everyone,

This story is going to follow three players throughout their careers with the Boston Celtics and their quest to become the greatest Celtics of all time, these three players are Julius Randle, Marcus Smart and Dante Exum.

I managed to draft all three in the 2014 Draft (without cheating either haha) and this is where the story will start. It will also feature other players who are required to help these three reach the great highs they are after.

I will be doing a monthly recap on the team, via an article piece, which will included milestones, stats, team results, any personal stories, league standings (but I won't be going into too much depth about other teams only a mini season preview each year with top 5 players and a little write up. I find it to hard and lengthy to follow every team and I want to get through 15 seasons!)

During the 2013-14 NBA season the Celtics made major changes to get higher in the draft and also free themselves of bad contracts. I have listed the following trades that were made before I started this:

Jeff Green (SF-84) to the Cleveland Cavaliers
FOR Andrew Bynum (C-76) and 2015 1st Round Pick
*The Cavs wanted to remove Bynum from their team and I wanted to get a pick and move Green on as he wasn't in future plans. Plus Bynum can be waived at seasons end.

Jordan Crawford (PG-76), Greald Wallace (SF-72), 2015 1st Round Pick to the Pjiladelphia 76ers
FOR Evan Turner (SF-81)
*I really like Turners game and he is a good glue guy. The Sixers needed the 1st rounder added to the deal to be willing to take on the contract of Wallace, they also got a good back up PG in Crawford.

Avery Bradley (SG-82), 2014 &2015 2nd Round Picks to the Dallas Mavericks
FOR Wayne Ellington SG(72), 2014 1st Round Pick
*Ellington wanted out and the Mavs really wanted to add a tall shooting guard and move Ellis to the point. Mavs didn't value their pick as they were aiming for playoffs.

DRAFT NIGHT:

Wayne Ellington (SG-74), 2015 1st Round (via Cavs), 2014 2nd Round (Pick 37) to the New Orlean Pelicans
FOR 2014 1st Round Pick (Pick 14)
*I made this trade after I got Smart with pick 12 and seen that Exum was still there.



P.S - The Miami HEAT won the '13-14 Championship with a 4-3 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

LeBron James won both season and finals MVP. He is the greatest... for now!

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Second Post

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Third Post

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SEASON 2014-2015 PREVIEW

After a lack-luster season where the Celtics made moves for the future and were happy with a losing season (As were most teams who didn’t have a real shot at the Championship), it looks like the wait is over and we have reloaded with some great young talent.

It all started on lottery night when we moved from 7th to get the 2nd pick in the deepest draft I can remember. We also had the 12th pick which came via the Mavericks.

On Draft night we selected the big man Julius Randle at 2, which by himself would have been a great draft but then 30 minutes later that’s when all the fun started.

With the 12th pick we managed to get Marcus Smart who had dropped after a poor showing in the NCCA tournment and then we sent Wayne Ellington, Pick 37 and our 2015 1st Round Pick to the Pelicans for pick 14.

We then used that pick to take a gamble on the Australia wonder kid Dante Exum, many are unsure how he will go without playing in a high level comp but he is worth the risk in my eyes. Espically at pick 14.

Management then decided to decline team options on Andrew Bynum (C-86, 26yr), Jared Sullinger (PF-74, 22yr) and Marshon Brooks (SG- 73, 25yr), still not sure about the Sullinger decision.

Victor Faverani (C-74, 26yr), Phil Pressey (PG-71, 23yr), Kris Humphries (PF-70, 29yr), Keith Bogans (SG-64, 34yr) and Henry Sims (C-62, 24yr) all decided to test there value on the open market, while Evan Turner (SF-81, 25yr) was extended a qualifying offer, the Bulls offered a 4yr/$27.48mil deal which was matched almost instantly by the front office.

We targeted Greg Monroe to fill our empty starting centre spot back but management didn’t want to pay overs and it costed them as Detroit matched the 4yr/$40mil offer. We quickly signed Robin Lopez (C-70, 26yr) to a 3yr/$8.40mil deal to try and cover the center position with Kelly Olynyk but we still look weak in the big man department.

Michael Beasley was another target to be an instant offense threat off the bench but knocked down our 4yr/$32mil offer to go and join the Mavericks. So we offered Luol Deng (SF-80, 29yr) a 3yr/$24mil deal which he snapped up after receiving little to no interest from other teams.

We filled out our roster with a couple of vets which will be great for the young rooks, Shane Battier (SF-70, 35yr) 1yr/1mil, Boris Diaw (PF-60, 32yr) 1yr/$500k, and also Kwame Brown (C-58, 32yr) 1yr/$500k apparently his role is going to be to help the youngest understand that it just doesn’t happen for you and that you have to work hard. This is where his experiences in slacking off and not taking it serious when he was young will pay off big for the Celtics.

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BREAKING NEWS

Disgruntled Kings big man, Demarcus Cousins (C-84, 24yr), has been sent to the Celtics in exchange for star guard Rajon Rondo (PG-94, 28yr)

The Kings seem to have finally become tried of Cousins actions and lack of respect he has shown them, this only comes one year into the five year deal he signed last summer.

The Celtics will now be in charge of the wild big and his 4yr/$60mil contract, along with Travis Outlaw (SF-67, 30yr) and Frederick Bullard (PG-54, 23yr). The Celtic management must think they can control him and they had been looking for options to trade Rondo and his expiring contract after drafting Smart and Exum.

The Kings and Rondo will have a one year trail to see how they go before deciding on a new contract. The Celtics also sent newly signed Robin Lopez (C-70, 26yr) and unhappy guard Courtney Lee (SG-74, 29yr) to make the deal work.

Why did the C’s make this move? It was no secret that they wanted a center and it also wasn’t a secret that Rondo was available at the right price after they drafted Smart and Exum. If the Celtics management believes they can control Cousins and get him playing team basketball, this is a great trade, if they can't they will be stuck with his big contract. Big gamble. I say it's worth it though. Trade Grade: B

Why did the Kings make this move? With the turn-a-round Derrick Williams has made at the end of last year gave them great hope, and Rudy Gay looked better then ever aswell. So the Kings have two guys who know how to score, why not add a guy who knows how to get the best looks? Espically after Isiah Thomas left in free agency. And on top of that you get rid of your trouble maker. They look like a 5-8 seed in the Western Conference now. Trade grade: A

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Boston Celtics Roster - Season 2014/15

#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	SALARY
#7	Dante Exum (Starter - 75)	Guard	19	6'6"	192	2yrs / $3.44mil + 2yr TO
#20	Marcus Smart (Starter - 75)	Guard	20	6'4"	200	2yrs / $3.11mil + 2yr TO
#5	Evan Turner (Starter - 81)	Forward	25	6'7"	220	4yrs / $27.48mil
#13	Julius Randle (Starter - 78)	Forward	20	6'10"	248	2yrs / $7.84mil + 2yr TO
#93	DeMarcus Cousins (Starter - 84)	Center	24	6'11"	270	4yrs / $60.00mil
#9	Loul Deng (Sixth Man - 80)	Forward	29	6'9"	220	2yrs / $14.60mil + 1yr PO
#12	Kelly Olynyk (Role - 71)	Center	23	7'0"	238	1yr / $2.08mil + 2yr TO
#50	Shane Battier (Role - 73)	Forward	36	6'8"	225	1yr / $1.00mil
#34	Travis Outlaw (Role - 67)	Forward	30	6'9"	207	1yr / $3.00mil
#0	Boris Diaw (Bench - 64)	Forward	32	6'8"	235	1yr / $500k
#37	Frederick Bullard (Bench - 54)	Guard	23	6'2"	182	1yr / $778k
#54	Kwame Brown (Bench - 58)	Center	32	6'11"	290	1yr / $500k

Guards: We will be starting to rookies, Marcus Smart and Dante Exum, in our backcourt. We want them to get as many minutes they can this year and will not be taken them out of the lineup. Mistakes will be made and games will be lost but experience will be gained. The only other specialist guard is Frederick Bullard who is a project player and will see few minutes. Evan Turner and Loul Deng will spend time playing the two guard spot while one of the rooks has a spell.

Forwards: We have a few different types of guys for the wings. Julius Randle is the main guy as we are looking to do the same for him as for Smart and Exum. Evan Turner and Loul Deng will be our all-round guys, we will be looking for them to do a bit of everything. Battier, Outlaw and Diaw will fill in for a few minutes, but we wanted them more for there experience then playing ability.

Center: This is probably our strongest spot. DeMarcus was a great pick up skill wise, can he keep it together off the court is the question. Kelly Olynyk is a great back up. He could be starting else where but he is happy to be on this roster and will get his chances to show what he can do. And for Kwame Brown, well he knows he won't play often but he understands his role.

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NBA Season 2014-15 - Team Previews

Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division

Brooklyn Nets - (Last Season, 4th 40-42)

TOP PLAYERS:

Deron Williams PG - 90
Paul Pierce SF - 82
Joe Johnson SG - 81
Brook Lopez C - 81
Kevin Garnett PF - 79

*Only made playoffs because of the poor division they were in, they didn't look like a 4th seed either as the Bulls finished them in 5 games. This team is going to struggling this year as it's team is the same, the players are older and the division has gotten a lot better. PREDICTED RECORD: 34-48

New York Knicks - (Last Season, 10th 35-47)

TOP PLAYERS:

Carmelo Anthony SF - 91

J.R. Smith SG - 84

Iman Shumpert SF - 82

Amare Stoudemire PF - 82

Raymond Felton PG - 80

*This is the Knicks last chance to make the finals with Melo. It is well known he will be looking for a new home at the end of the season if things don't change and if the Knicks don't make the Finals. PREDICTED RECORD: 32-50

Philadelphia 76ers - (Last Season, 14th 28-54)

TOP PLAYERS:

Michael Carter-Williams PG - 83

Thaddeus Young PF - 80

Jabari Parker SF - 79

Nerlens Noel C - 77

Jordan Crawford PG - 76

*This young Sixers team looks loaded with potential the moment. Now they have to play the waiting game to see if they will all live up to their hype. PREDICTED RECORD: 38-44

Toronto Raptors - (Last Season, 12th 31-51)

TOP PLAYERS:

Andrew Wiggins SF - 82

DeMar DeRozan SG - 82

Patrick Patterson PF - 75

Landry Fields SF - 74

Greivis Vasquez PG - 74

*The Raptors managed to land Andrew Wiggins after he fall down the draft board much like Noel the year before. The Raptors showed good promise up until the mid way point last year then they fall down hard, going 10-31 to close out the season. Who knows what they will do this season. PREDICTED RECORD: 35-47

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NBA Season 2014-15 - Team Previews

Eastern Conference: Central Division

Chicago Bulls - (Last Season, 5th 49-33)

TOP PLAYERS:

Derrick Rose PG - 92
Jimmy Butler SG - 81
Joakim Noah C -79
Carlos Boozer PF -78
Vitor Faverani C - 75

*This team ever gives up. Jimmy Butler has improved as an all round player and sits nicely next to DRose in the backcourt now. They have lost Deng but picked up a nice back up big man in Faverani and should be pushing for a top 4 seed with a healthy Rose. PREDICTED RECORD: 50-32

Cleveland Cavaliers - (Last Season, 8th 39-43)

TOP PLAYERS:

Kyrie Irving PG - 92
Dion Waiters SG - 83
Jeff Green SF - 81
Anthony Bennett SF - 78
Jarrett Jack PG - 77

*They have a great backcourt and decent swingmen in Green and Bennett (He had a late season surge). They really need a dominate big and they will be a real contenter. Bynum didn't work, and they are still on the look out. PREDICTED RECORD: 44-38

Detriot Pistons - (Last Season, 6th 44-38)

TOP PLAYERS:

Josh Smith SF - 88
Brandan Jennings PG - 86
Andre Drummond C - 82
Greg Monroe PF - 82
Chauncey Billups PG - 79

*Smith and Jennings first season's in Motor City went well as they made the playoff's and played exciting basketball. They even took the champs all the way to seven games in the semi finals. PREDICTED RECORD: 46-36

Indiana Pacers - (Last Season, 2nd 58-24)

TOP PLAYERS:

Paul George SG - 95
Roy Hibbert C - 82
Danny Granger SF - 81
David West PF - 80
Luis Scola PF - 76

*So close once again, yet so far. They made the conference final again but went down in six games this time to Miami. They have managed to keep everyone, even the now healthy Granger signed on for less to have a another few cracks with this group. Still a big contender.. PREDICTED RECORD: 56-26

Milwaukee Bucks - (Last Season, 13th 31-51)

TOP PLAYERS:

O.J. Mayo SG - 83
Larry Sanders C - 82
Aaron Gordon PF - 80
Brandon Knight PG - 77
Ersan Ilyasova PF - 76

*All they are lacking is a star player, they have a good bunch of players just have no one to lead them. They scored Aaron Gordon in the draft who has looked great in the pre season. Will still miss playoffs. PREDICTED RECORD: 34-48