I think given the latest wins we are having + how improved some of our guys are looking, it’s safe to say the tanking comments are over.

We are literally seeing guys like Walsh, Queta, Minott and Gonzalez rise in a matter of months, given that Detroit has taken the spot of the Cavs last year, the Knicks just keep being the Knicks, Orlando is not looking significantly better than last year and Atlanta is a huge question mark due to not being able to rely on Trae plus the Bucks debacle I think it’s safe to say we are the dark horse of the east, specially if we make a good move before the deadline. Having a deep playoff run seems more possible with each win.

I think we should try to go for a Zubac trade with the clippers, and I think the best way to do it is making a 3 team deal, we send Simmons to LA, Hauser to any team that needs 3pt shooting and a guy on a small contract like Tillman as salary filler, apart from Simmons LA gets a pick or 2 from the 3rd team, and we get a guard on a small contract as filler.

With this move and a potential Tatum return in march or april I think we get to a spot where we are not just the east dark horse but we actually get back to being a contender and potential finals appearance, if we dont make any moves and end up as a top 4 seed in the east, then I feel like JB should at least get some MVP votes and All-NBA.

Anyways, just wanted to give my takeaway from how the season is going so far from the perspective of someone that has been on a Anti-tank position before the season even started as well as against trading important players for us like JB or Derrick, specially for a move that only benefits us short term vs the long term advantage that comes with keeping our key guys. I really hope any AD trade conversations get shut down from now on, mfs really want to sacrifice depth and availability for the illusion of getting 2020 AD which will not happen. Brad Stevens is not Nico Harrison. LOL

flyingpandum | Boston Celtics

33 | 2 days ago

Getting rid of Hauser is going to be a mistake once Tatum comes back. Tatum and Brown are going to command so much attention that you want floor spacers that they can kick to. I suspect Hauser and even D. White are going to improve once Tatum comes back. Right now they are struggling a little because they haven’t had that space they once had.

MrTrue86 |

10 | 2 days ago

Not really a dig on Hauser by any means, he was good and important for us last season with Tatum and the rest of the bigs, plus he is still doing good so far, and I know he will get better with less defensive attention on him, I just think its necessary to avoid giving picks to LAC. The draft is becoming the most sustainable option to create depth on teams so I see it as an either or between giving up Hauser or giving up picks. Specially looking at how good Hugo is turning out in his rookie season, even late 1st rounders can be huge if you have the right coaching staff and development strategies.

KOBE_GYN

7 | 2 days ago

Yeah it has less to do with hauser the player and more to do with him making 12 mil or whatever it is a year. It’s both one of the more tradable contacts we have and also expensive enough that he could end up needing to be sacrificed to create cap space to add another expensive player (hopefully a big). Great shooting and passable defense are always a positive, but they’re also relatively replaceable skills especially if Walsh and Baylor can continue to improve. He doesn’t really add anything beyond those 2 traits, and they’re going to need to shed salary the next time a big move is made.

HustlinInTheHall

-4 | 2 days ago

Hugo is good but he doesn’t sniff the lineup in the conference or NBA finals for another 3-4 years. You can look at every finals roster for the last decade, basically none of the primary contributors are in the first 3-4 years outside of garbage time. It takes years for even a stud pick to round out their game enough to survive in that situation and then as soon as they do you are extending them for massive money.

The draft is useful for building depth, but fundamentally you win titles with your top 7 players. There is no path to the title that doesn’t involve having an elite starting 5 and 2-3 bench role players and then the rest are just fodder for the regular season minutes and emergencies.

Puzzled_Argument_748

3 | 2 days ago

I not sure what you are trying to say here, Tatum as a rookie and Brown as a second year player started 6 games in the conference finals as the two best players. Ant in his third year, Murray in his second year

TreyAdell

1 | 2 days ago

Jordan and Minott have been 40% on 3s and they are rim pressure threats/offensive rebounders/good passers. Love Hauser but he just may be a bit superfluous

HogtownHugh

1 | a day ago

Love Sammy but he’s about to be the 6th best all-around wing on the team once JT is back. Pack your bags pal

cc4433

1 | a day ago

I was ready for a fire sale on Simons and Hauser as I believe there will be a demand on both whether that is now or down the road this season. But Hauser’s defense has improved significantly.

chinesefox97

25 | 2 days ago

Zubac is making less than Simons. We actually don’t have to trade any other player to get him, which is why I like Zubac so much.

HustlinInTheHall

6 | 2 days ago

I don’t love Zubac’s fit because he doesn’t shoot so we can’t space the floor as well, but I agree financially it makes the most sense because it still leaves us the option of a full tax reset next season if a better option doesn’t come along. With a tax reset and having JB/JT locked up we can realistically go for a third star to compete with OKC and wipe the east for the remainder of the Jays’ primes.

Civilwarland09 | Maine Red Claws

9 | 2 days ago

Seems to be working out alright with Queta.

defeatistphilosopher

2 | 2 days ago

Anyone who thought a team with Brown, White, Pritchard, and a bunch of young wings who can shoot the 3 and scrap on D is ‘tanking” doesn’t know hoops at all. Queeta hasn’t surprised me a bit, he’s been playing exactly like this in shorter minutes for two years. It’s a good team.

I definitely don’t see them making any big trades this year in season.

Puzzled_Argument_748

2 | 2 days ago

They will have to make a trade this season if they are going to add anyone significant, they won’t have Simmons contract to match with next season so it’s now or never

defeatistphilosopher

2 | 2 days ago

Who is going to give Boston “anyone significant” for Simons on an expiring contract? They aren’t getting Zubac for that.

Puzzled_Argument_748

1 | a day ago

Of course not, need to add picks prospects as well, but this makes the money work. Next year they won’t have that money so trading for a player in the $20 million range means they have to trade Hauser and Pritchard or white.

MrTrue86 |

0 | a day ago

That is the whole point of making it a 3 team trade, sending Simmons to LAC for Zubac plus 2 guys to a 3rd team, the 3rd team gives LAC a pick or 2 and we get a small contract guy.

HustlinInTheHall

2 | 2 days ago

We were never realistically tanking, or we would’ve gotten rid of more players. We did the bare minimum to get within striking distance of the tax and then let it play out. I like the Zubac deal just because it gets us a more complete roster and we can still duck under the tax and keep our options open next season in case JB or JT gets hurt again and we want to reset our tax before going hard back in for the last 3-4 years of their primes.

FlowAcrobatic

2 | a day ago

I really don’t think this is the correct way to go here. I think these wins now, may not be meaningless, but are not indicative of a deep run in the playoffs. A lot of teams look good in December. Looking good in May is a lot harder in a 7 game series. And if by some miracle I’m wrong about that and you do make it out of the east, then what? You think you stand a chance against OKC? That’s a sweep. I would build these guys value and look to deal at the deadline for draft capital, flexibility, and a more of a reset. Maybe a soft reset, but a reset. Point being there is no chance of a title now. Keep Tatum out the whole year, let him heal completely. Him coming back is not going to get you a championship this year I promise. Get in the lottery and pick up some good, young talent that can help down the road.

MrTrue86 |

1 | a day ago

This is some kind of transition year without Tatum and Brad trying to get under the apron, any wins we can get are welcome, we for sure are not aiming for a championship, but just getting to the ECF would be huge with all the hits to our depth. Too soon to know what will happen in the west, injuries can always happen, just look at our playoff run last year, if we somehow manage to get to the finals the only teams I think would sweep us are OKC, Houston and Denver, but they sweep any other east team as well, I am just trying to say that everyone was thinking we were going to be miles below teams like the Cavs, Detroit and NY, but we are not that far off, specially the Cavs that are not doing better than us so far with a lot more depth.

Fuckblackhorses

1 | 2 days ago

The ability the Celtics have had to turn seemingly every player we draft into a valuable bench piece has been so underrated. The only one I can really think of that ended up being a complete bust was Romeo? Besides a few random late 2nd round guards. Idk if we can take credit for neismith tho, ime refused to play him and he took off after we traded him.

cc4433

1 | a day ago

We missed on Nesmith bad. Never gave him the opportunity to fully prove his worth. Sad.

Fuckblackhorses

1 | 16 hours ago

Yeah but you gotta look at the context of that season and it makes sense. We had expectations with a new coach and we were sitting at .500 halfway through the year. Really had to do work to go from that team to the team that made the finals run. We didn’t really have the playing time to let a 20 year old neismith play through mistakes on defense while also shooting <30% from 3.

MundaneExtension3195

1 | a day ago

We lucked out in a way, losing so many guys for financial reasons, created the opportunity for Queta, Walsh, Hugo, Minott to get minutes and show out!

cc4433

1 | a day ago

Funny how it clicks for the C’s young talent, but Washington and Brooklyn it just never seems to, even with all the opportunity

In Brad & Joe we trust