The Luck of the Irish
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The Boston Celtics. A storied franchise. They have 17 champions, most amongst NBA teams all time. They finished the 2016–2017 season with the best record in the eastern conference. They also have the number 1 pick in the 2017 draft! Confusing right? So now the Celtics have a dilemma on their hands. They can either start building towards a championship now by keeping their main core while possibly bringing in a star. They can go after Utah Jazz Small Forward Gordon Hayward who will be a free agent this offseason or try to acquire Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George in a trade. They can also blow up this 53–29 team who has made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. They can build around their young talent of Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and their number 1 pick which reports say will most likely be University of Washington star guard Markelle Fultz. Let’s explore the Celtics’ options.
Option 1. Boston ended the season being the number 1 seed in the eastern conference to eventually be lose to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They can keep building in their success by bringing in a superstar talent to take some of the load off the shoulders of the 5'9 scoring machine we know as Isaiah Thomas. They have the opportunity to try to get Gordon Hayward in free agency. Hayward missed making the All-NBA team so now he can not exercise his player option on his contract which makes him an unrestricted free agent. Despite having a career year, him missing the All-NBA team, he missed out on signing a new super max deal projected to pay $224 million. The Utah Jazz could have an interesting pitch to sell Hayward into resigned, then having a breakout year, have a great young core. But at the end of the day it is the Western Conference which is definitely more difficulty than the east. Hayward can head to Boston where his college coach, Brad Stevens is coaching, joining a team with a very bright future especially if they keep their number 1 pick. It is a good opportunity for Hayward. He signed an offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets during his first free agency but the Jazz matched it, so look for Utah to try to keep Hayward no matter what.
Option 2. Trade for Paul George. It had been reported that George wants to leave the Indiana Pacers but for the Lakers. Boston could trade their number 1 pick for George but then they run the risk of George leaving in free agency the end of the 2017–2018 season. Maybe Boston can make a great pitch to George for him to resign when his contract is up. They also can trade for Jimmy Butler, which has been on Boston’s radar according to some reports. Butler isn’t a free agent until 2020 so they will definitely have enough time to convince him to stay if they get him this offseason.
Option 3. Trade Isaiah Thomas and draft a new point guard with their pick. Danny Ainge is known for rebuilding on a fly. Don’t be surprised if he decides to scrap this team and start a whole new team for the future.
Option 4. Keep building for the future but also keep building for win now. Boston has done a fantastic job at some how building for the future at the same time as being in win now mode. They have drafted Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and have the number 1 pick in the 2017 draft. These players could make an impact today but their time will come in the near future. But Boston still have its vet stars with Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Al Horford and Jae Crowder. That perfect blend of still being good and still getting high draft picks has been working and this is probably the best option.
My opinion is, that they should go with option 4 and option 1. Go get Gordon Hayward in free agency, keep building for the future but also be in win now mode. No team has seen to perfected what Danny Ainge has done so why not keep it up.
