2017 Offseason Thread

[jeremym480]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I still really hate the departure of AB man...I just thought he was the guy that could be the X factor if the Celtics take that next step. I thought Crowder was a bit more replaceable...

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Bradley is one of my favorite players ever for not only on the court but off the court, as well. If all things were equal, I don't think there are many Boston fans who would take Crowder over AB. Unfortunately, things aren't equal because AB is due for a payday next offseason while Crowder has one of the best non-rookie deals in the NBA; so that makes AB a classic cap causality.

Even if Boston re-signs both IT and Smart to somewhat modest deals of around $25M for IT and around $12M for Smart, they're looking at contracts of around $135-140M in 18/19, so someone had to go.

[wwharton]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Is the issue with IT his height or is his height mentioned because it's tied to his limitations on defense?

Because Curry, a bit taller, is average at best on that side of the court and won a title as the best player on a team with limited rim protection (and had an overall great defense).

Honestly, it's not even really worth considering this idea that IT needs to be a 6th man for his team to win a ring... for any reason. This idea that teams "are not beating the Cavs if they don't..." is ridiculous. Like I said before, the Heat were supposed to win the next 10 championships when that team nobody even had on the radar (Warriors) changed the landscape overnight, and did it unconventionally.

Meanwhile, the Celtics just won the EC... unconventionally. It's baffling that so many are claiming who has no shot based on some script or because of how good some individual players are or teams are on paper.

[AlexBrady]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Seemingly Boogie would help most teams that aren't the ****ing Pelicans. I'm sure almost half the league has him on their wishlist for things to get by next off-season.

Cousins is a highly overrated player and his numbers don't lead to wins. He only plays hard when he has the ball. He doesn't box out on the defensive glass or make timely interior rotations. Doesn't hustle in defensive transition. Most NBA clubs know to stay away from Cousins.

[wwharton]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Bradley is one of my favorite players ever for not only on the court but off the court, as well. If all things were equal, I don't think there are many Boston fans who would take Crowder over AB. Unfortunately, things aren't equal because AB is due for a payday next offseason while Crowder has one of the best non-rookie deals in the NBA; so that makes AB a classic cap causality.

Even if Boston re-signs both IT and Smart to somewhat modest deals of around $25M for IT and around $12M for Smart, they're looking at contracts of around $135-140M in 18/19, so someone had to go.

I don't understand the love affair for Smart either. He's a nice piece but considering the Celtics' situation, I could easily see them letting him walk before giving him $12M... unless his shot improves A LOT between last year and next.

[z Revis]

2017 Offseason Thread

I agree that Thomas can be a 2nd or 3rd option for a championship team. I just think he should come off the bench, or y'all gonna have to mix up the lineups to make up for the fact that he's 5'9 (I swear he's actually like 5'7).

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You seem to have some weird fascination with him being short lol



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[jeremym480]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I don't understand the love affair for Smart either. He's a nice piece but considering the Celtics' situation, I could easily see them letting him walk before giving him $12M... unless his shot improves A LOT between last year and next.

Let me put on my Marcus Smart fanboy hat for a minute....

Smart is one of those guys that almost has to be on your team for you to truly appreciate. What he does is just so much more than his shooting % or any statistic really because he does so much that doesn't show up in the box score. The guy is built like a tank, plays tough defense, can guard 1-4 (maybe not all 4's but certainly some), boxes out, etc. and the best part is he only just turned 23 in March. He has his limitations offensively, I don't have any doubts that he will some day make an NBA All-Defensive Team and I think it will be sooner rather than later.

Yes, his shooting is a problem, and another problem is that he's a little too wild on some driving attempts (that's a problem for Crowder, as well). Smart just had a 3PT% of 28% last season and do you know who else had a 39T% of 28% in his third season? Jimmy Butler. So, maybe there is hope for him yet. Considering his age, gaining experience, etc. hopefully, he can settle in a little more and shoot a better percentage.

On a positive note, he did shoot just close to 40% on 3's in the playoffs, hitting 29 of 73 attempts (.397%). I'm hoping he can build on that going forward.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Cousins is a highly overrated player and his numbers don't lead to wins. He only plays hard when he has the ball. He doesn't box out on the defensive glass or make timely interior rotations. Doesn't hustle in defensive transition. Most NBA clubs know to stay away from Cousins.

Beat me to it.


While his situations have been awful, we're on year 8 of the Cousins experiment with no real evidence that he can meaningfully contribute to a winning basketball team.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I still really hate the departure of AB man...I just thought he was the guy that could be the X factor if the Celtics take that next step. I thought Crowder was a bit more replaceable...

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Yeah but by the time they're ready to take that step AB is gone because we can't afford him, Crowder is locked in at a good price.

Doubtful the Celtics are ready to knockoff LeBron quite yet, next year if he goes West they might be ready to take the East but AB would be elsewhere at that point anyway, at least we have Morris next season as well now.

[areobee401]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Let me put on my Marcus Smart fanboy hat for a minute....

Smart is one of those guys that almost has to be on your team for you to truly appreciate. What he does is just so much more than his shooting % or any statistic really because he does so much that doesn't show up in the box score. The guy is built like a tank, plays tough defense, can guard 1-4 (maybe not all 4's but certainly some), boxes out, etc. and the best part is he only just turned 23 in March. He has his limitations offensively, I don't have any doubts that he will some day make an NBA All-Defensive Team and I think it will be sooner rather than later.

Yes, his shooting is a problem, and another problem is that he's a little too wild on some driving attempts (that's a problem for Crowder, as well). Smart just had a 3PT% of 28% last season and do you know who else had a 39T% of 28% in his third season? Jimmy Butler. So, maybe there is hope for him yet. Considering his age, gaining experience, etc. hopefully, he can settle in a little more and shoot a better percentage.

On a positive note, he did shoot just close to 40% on 3's in the playoffs, hitting 29 of 73 attempts (.397%). I'm hoping he can build on that going forward.

The shot selection concerns me more than the ability to make them.

I have an irrational amount of love for Smart. Would kill me to see him playing anywhere other than Boston.

[wwharton]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Let me put on my Marcus Smart fanboy hat for a minute....

Smart is one of those guys that almost has to be on your team for you to truly appreciate. What he does is just so much more than his shooting % or any statistic really because he does so much that doesn't show up in the box score. The guy is built like a tank, plays tough defense, can guard 1-4 (maybe not all 4's but certainly some), boxes out, etc. and the best part is he only just turned 23 in March. He has his limitations offensively, I don't have any doubts that he will some day make an NBA All-Defensive Team and I think it will be sooner rather than later.

Yes, his shooting is a problem, and another problem is that he's a little too wild on some driving attempts (that's a problem for Crowder, as well). Smart just had a 3PT% of 28% last season and do you know who else had a 39T% of 28% in his third season? Jimmy Butler. So, maybe there is hope for him yet. Considering his age, gaining experience, etc. hopefully, he can settle in a little more and shoot a better percentage.

On a positive note, he did shoot just close to 40% on 3's in the playoffs, hitting 29 of 73 attempts (.397%). I'm hoping he can build on that going forward.

I have great love and appreciation for Smart. As a guard, he's in the mold of Green or Rodman... the glue guy that will do all the dirty work that doesn't get recognized in the box scores. The biggest problem though, is that he is a guard so high offensive issues are more problematic. Beyond his poor shooting (goes beyond just his 3pt %... which was so high in the playoffs mostly bc teams were leaving him WIDE open) he's not a playmaker, and as you mentioned, isn't even efficient driving to the basket. More importantly, guys like Green and Rodman is/was REALLY good at something besides the defense, and Smart doesn't have that atm. Right now he's a better version of Delly.

With youth on his side, he does still have potential to improve in some areas. But other than age, he hasn't shown much to prove he will. That All Defensive call isn't coming until he can give something else on the court to deserve enough minutes to make his defense impactful.

Now that's really breaking down negatives but I do like him, and think he's a valuable asset on any championship contender... including the Celtics. I just don't think that's enough to give him the previously mentioned $12M. I'd let him walk for that. Now if, say, the Cavs had $12M to spend he'd be perfect on that team. But the Celtics have so many young pieces and high draft picks, and possibly a need for a higher end big. I think they'd be better served spending that money elsewhere or offering him much less.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

He has absolutely every right to leave Indiana and I have no issue with him telling the Pacers straight up that he wasn't re-signing with them. I have no issue with that. But miss me with this post when this dude says he wanted them to get something back for him if they decided they wanted to trade him instead of playing out the year and then not saying a word to dead the noise that he was going to LA regardless which sunk any real deal they could have put together for him and now after he's been traded and all the deals were crap, he comes out and is saying pump the brakes on him going to LA. That's just a dick move no matter how you wanna slice it.


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What exactly is the dick move? Not coming out and saying the Lakers rumors weren't true? Would anyone believe him anyway?

[TheShizNo1]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

He has absolutely every right to leave Indiana and I have no issue with him telling the Pacers straight up that he wasn't re-signing with them. I have no issue with that. But miss me with this post when this dude says he wanted them to get something back for him if they decided they wanted to trade him instead of playing out the year and then not saying a word to dead the noise that he was going to LA regardless which sunk any real deal they could have put together for him and now after he's been traded and all the deals were crap, he comes out and is saying pump the brakes on him going to LA. That's just a dick move no matter how you wanna slice it.


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I still don't know why some of y'all think it's the player's responsibility to pretty much sit down with management and make sure the team is taken care of after they leave.

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[areobee401]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Because telling everyone in OKC after you've been traded there that you're going to LA next season no matter what sounds like the smart play. LOL

[z Revis]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Because telling everyone in OKC after you've been traded there that you're going to LA next season no matter what sounds like the smart play. LOL

Why does he have to say anything about LA? He could just say "I'm focused on this season in OKC." Instead he comes out talking about how it's "overstated" and not a sure thing he's going there and oh I love Westbrook [insert more meaningless words]. Meanwhile before the trade he told Indy he wants to go to LA and while we're negotiating trades he has his agent telling teams he's not resigning with any team he's traded to(yet he said he wanted us to get back assets for him).

How is all that not backwards as ****? lol seriously... the guy makes no sense. He needs to just stop being open about things because he contradicts himself every 3 sentences and comes off like someone who actually has no idea wtf he wants.


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[z Revis]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I have great love and appreciation for Smart. As a guard, he's in the mold of Green or Rodman... the glue guy that will do all the dirty work that doesn't get recognized in the box scores. The biggest problem though, is that he is a guard so high offensive issues are more problematic. Beyond his poor shooting (goes beyond just his 3pt %... which was so high in the playoffs mostly bc teams were leaving him WIDE open) he's not a playmaker, and as you mentioned, isn't even efficient driving to the basket. More importantly, guys like Green and Rodman is/was REALLY good at something besides the defense, and Smart doesn't have that atm. Right now he's a better version of Delly.



With youth on his side, he does still have potential to improve in some areas. But other than age, he hasn't shown much to prove he will. That All Defensive call isn't coming until he can give something else on the court to deserve enough minutes to make his defense impactful.



Now that's really breaking down negatives but I do like him, and think he's a valuable asset on any championship contender... including the Celtics. I just don't think that's enough to give him the previously mentioned $12M. I'd let him walk for that. Now if, say, the Cavs had $12M to spend he'd be perfect on that team. But the Celtics have so many young pieces and high draft picks, and possibly a need for a higher end big. I think they'd be better served spending that money elsewhere or offering him much less.

Now that I got my PG rant out and I swear I'll be done with that guy one day....

Isn't 12 mil not that bad nowadays? Just for comparison you have max contract guys getting 30 mil(Hayward) and 40 mil(Curry) a year. And I'm only using this example because I know the contracts off the top of my head.. Pacers signed two role players in Bogdanovic and Darren Collison to 10m a year(2 year deals).

12 mil seems reasonable to me for a young guy like Smart.


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