Unless Galinari plays like Jamal Murray (who missed the last two postseason when he tore his Acl in March 2021), Boston isn't in the same position as Denver, when it comes to running it back.
The Celtics Offseason
- Thread starter kazuneko
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Well, while they came up short in the Finals last year, they were also two games short of winning the whole thing. They aren't that far away, and slightly better three point shooting in a few Finals games and they are world champions. This is different to me than a team like Philly, that has never even made the conference finals.
Re: Tatum and Brown, and especially Tatum since he is our best player, I think because they were extremely competitive at such a young as a team people maybe expect them to have won something by now, but that isn't really true. Tatum is 25 years old, here is how old a bunch of great players were when they won their first title as the best players on a championship team:
LeBron - 27
Curry - 27
Durant - 28
Giannis - 26
Kawhi - 27 (younger on the SA team and probably their most complete player, but also shared the court with a bunch of hardened post season killers)
Dirk - 32
Kobe - 30 (obviously not the best player on the Shaq teams)
Shaq - 27
It's very frustrating since the title window feels open and the Celtics have been in the mix for a few years now that they haven't been able to get it done, and potentially getting swept by a Miami team is extra salt in the wound. It sucks super, super hard. But Brown and especially Tatum are really too young to be rushing to any judgements on what they can and cannot accomplish. When ace playoff killer Jimmy Butler was 25, he was making his first all-star game and getting bounced in the second round.
Jaylen's hand may be bothering him but he had a lot of bad turnovers last playoffs too and his bball IQ just isn't there IMHO. Everything he does well, Tatum does better and he has real weaknesses in size, team D, passing.
I think his trade value could exceed his real value and I would definitely explore trading him, especially if they can find a BIG with Horford getting up there and Rob's health.
That said, I don't see anything specifically wrong with the talent level and if a good value trade isn't there I would be fine with filling out the coaching staff and running it back. Against the Heat they have been missing wide open 3s and not playing together as a team, and getting frustrated at times which leads to not digging out of bad stretches. The 3s are probably just luck. The other stuff... I don't think that is an innate quality of players like Smart or Horford who have faced adversity and pressure all their careers and had lots of success (Including being down 3-2 to a very good team with two superstars just ten days ago). So if there isn't a good fit in a Jaylen trade I would just keep the same team, fill out the coaching staff (don't have to replace CJM but get him some assistants) and maybe try to add a veteran who I thought could help them keep their heads in the game when things are getting a little bit away from them.
I think his trade value could exceed his real value and I would definitely explore trading him, especially if they can find a BIG with Horford getting up there and Rob's health.
That said, I don't see anything specifically wrong with the talent level and if a good value trade isn't there I would be fine with filling out the coaching staff and running it back. Against the Heat they have been missing wide open 3s and not playing together as a team, and getting frustrated at times which leads to not digging out of bad stretches. The 3s are probably just luck. The other stuff... I don't think that is an innate quality of players like Smart or Horford who have faced adversity and pressure all their careers and had lots of success (Including being down 3-2 to a very good team with two superstars just ten days ago). So if there isn't a good fit in a Jaylen trade I would just keep the same team, fill out the coaching staff (don't have to replace CJM but get him some assistants) and maybe try to add a veteran who I thought could help them keep their heads in the game when things are getting a little bit away from them.
Run it back next year with Tex Winter and the triangle.
Seriously, this year was brutally disappointing but also very, very strange— starting with a former Maine Red Claws assistant getting thrust into the head coaching role and ending with the play-in Heat unexpectedly morphing into the 96 Bulls. I have to think that coaching this group to execute in the half-court offense in crunch time is a shorter and more crossable bridge that tearing it down and starting over. Owning double-digit leads in the first two games of the ECF means you're close, as frustrating as this all is.
Seriously, this year was brutally disappointing but also very, very strange— starting with a former Maine Red Claws assistant getting thrust into the head coaching role and ending with the play-in Heat unexpectedly morphing into the 96 Bulls. I have to think that coaching this group to execute in the half-court offense in crunch time is a shorter and more crossable bridge that tearing it down and starting over. Owning double-digit leads in the first two games of the ECF means you're close, as frustrating as this all is.
JB and Tatum are the Big 2. Smart is not part of a Big 3. The Miami series has confirmed that Smart is stupid and not a leader. Despite his obvious positive qualities, his reckless, me-first attitude is a net liability. Their lead guard should be someone like him (defense and distributor first) without those negatives. Perhaps end of career CP3 makes sense here.
I would consider JB as untouchable as JT. His hand probably is a factor in his sub-par performance in this series. CJM did a great job stabilizing a difficult situation, but he is not the guy to make the run for the Championship next year. He shows enough promise that I hope this is not the end of his coaching career, but an experienced, battle-tested guy who has handled a roster of high-level talent is necessary to make sure this team does not underachieve again. I trust Brad to figure out who that guy is.
I would consider JB as untouchable as JT. His hand probably is a factor in his sub-par performance in this series. CJM did a great job stabilizing a difficult situation, but he is not the guy to make the run for the Championship next year. He shows enough promise that I hope this is not the end of his coaching career, but an experienced, battle-tested guy who has handled a roster of high-level talent is necessary to make sure this team does not underachieve again. I trust Brad to figure out who that guy is.
Unfortunately, I think the best option is running it back.
I would explore trades for a big wing/center, that can cut down on Horford/TimeLord minutes.
I think there needs to be a real examination of Mazzulla as a coach, what the locker room thinks about it and if there are any upgrades out there.
Maybe another offseason with him as the main guy, especially now that it’s 100% clear that Ime isn’t coming back, gets more buy in.
Regardless, I think they need to hire 2-3 experienced assistants, and one of those has to come with a strong defensive background. I think CJM made a huge mistake continuously deemphasizing defense and that needs to change next year
I would explore trades for a big wing/center, that can cut down on Horford/TimeLord minutes.
I think there needs to be a real examination of Mazzulla as a coach, what the locker room thinks about it and if there are any upgrades out there.
Maybe another offseason with him as the main guy, especially now that it’s 100% clear that Ime isn’t coming back, gets more buy in.
Regardless, I think they need to hire 2-3 experienced assistants, and one of those has to come with a strong defensive background. I think CJM made a huge mistake continuously deemphasizing defense and that needs to change next year
The Nuggets without Murray were getting blown out in the first round every year, not making at least the conference finals 3 out of 4 years.
As unsatisfying as it's going to be for most people, I'm in the camp that the roster is going to be tinkered with, not overhauled. Splitting up Tatum & Brown shouldn't be an option.
Denver is actually a great example. Three of their eight-man playoff rotation were new to the team this year (Brown, Braun, KCP), but their four most important players (Jokic, Murray, MPJ, Gordon) are holdovers from last year. If "running it back" means keeping the JT-JB-Smart-Time Lord core and consolidating around them, then that's absolutely what the Celtics should do.
It's not a great example because there were so many injuries, but last year, Denver started Will Barton and Monte Morris in their playoff series against Golden State. Bones Hyland, JaMychal Green, DeMarcus Cousins, and Bryn Forbes were the first off the bench. You can still drastically remake and improve a team without touching its core.
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The Heat have a much better coach and staff of assistants. Unclear that CJM can ever get there, to be honest; these playoffs have been pretty disastrous for him.
The 1984 Celtics were mentioned upthread as an example where the coaching change did indeed help. And honestly nothing should stop Stevens from finding the absolute best head coaching candidate and absolute best group of assistants; sometimes change for change's sake can be good. But having DJ replace Tiny Archibald's and Quinn Buckner's minutes was a massive upgrade. Smart's minutes could certainly be upgraded as his DPOY days are likely over for good.
Not that he’s played well but absolving the top 2 and placing blame squarely on the distant “third star” seems way off base to me. This team is being let down by an inability to get anyone going. I have no idea what egregious”stupid” stuff Smart has been doing aside from a few bad passes. He hasn’t even shot the ball much. Feels more like convicting him now for prior crimes. He should be on the table for a shakeup but there’s a lot of mental gymnastics involved to pin whatever this is on him
I definitely get all the age-based arguments. At the same time, few of those guys logged the kind of minutes that Tatum and Brown have at their respective ages. So the question is whether title-level maturity happens due to calendar age, or games of experience?
We probably have no choice but to keep riding these two and hope for the best. Maybe some coach can get them to mature and stop playing so dumb.
The least drastic move, besides standing pat, would be to trade Smart for a solid, durable big, and use Brogdon, White, and PP as PGs. Add a hard nosed older wing for the back of the rotation. If the Jays are going to stay together, it makes sense to play them with PGs who can consistently make threes. Shore up the assistant coaching staff, and run it back, or move on from Mazzulla and bring in a veteran coach like Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, or Monty Williams (who has had his team fizzle out disastrously/quit on him twice in two seasons).
This team needs three things going into next season: (1) a dribble penetrator who can QB the offense and create for teammates; (2) a third big that can rim protect and shoot (i.e., the Horford understudy); and (3) a culture guy/leader/defensive tone setter.
I thought they solved #1 last offseason with Brogdon. He proved to be a fine scorer, but a pretty poor facilitator. I've also been disappointed with his decision making in high leverage situations. I thought he would be the guy to settle them down and make the play, but he's been as much of a turnover machine as everyone else.
I was disappointed they didn't try to solve #2 last offseason. They didn't build enough depth behind Rob and Al given age and health concerns. Gallo was a fine regular season signing, but he's not a playoff contributor. Grant playing his way into Joe's doghouse certainly didn't help. I'd love for them to find a way to get a guy like Wendell Carter Jr. here.
As for a tone setter and leader, Al and Marcus have both been this guy for them over the past few years. Ime also played this role last season from the bench. CJM clearly doesn't have the same impact on the locker room and defense that Ime had. And I hate to speak ill about Al or Marcus, two of my all time favorite Celtics, but the team's culture sucks and they've lost their defensive identity. To some extent, that's a reflection on them. They need a Draymond, PJ Tucker, Dru Holiday type that amps up the physicality and gets after the team to play better, harder, and smarter. I was hoping Grant would develop into that role, but he hasn't and Smart just isn't the same guy on defense as he was last year.
They are in a fortunate position in terms of their roster. Their floor with JT is the EC Semis. However, it seems their ceiling with this core is exceptionally talented but just not enough toughness to get over the hump and win it. I don't think they can retool the roster to bring in a facilitator, more toughness, and a Horford understudy by casting off Payton and Grant and signing vets. They need to shake up the roster. Moreover, the stench of quit that has followed them around this series needs to be torn out by any means necessary. Ultimately, this likely means everyone but Tatum is available and JB or Smart (and maybe both) are on the move.
Ime screwed the team over. They were comfortable with brain drain with Ime at the helm. Then as the season is about to start, Ime is out and CJM is in. The C's did not build a staff to support a rookie coach and then the top assistant leaves mid-season for a college job. CJM has been out coached out throughout the playoffs, but I can't see how they fire him. They put him in an impossible position. Plus, if they fire him, they are on to their 4th coach in 4 years. You never see that with a contender and the turnover kills the ability to build a certain culture. The whole reason why CBS became PBS was because he was ill equipped at building the culture on the bench and they needed Ime in there to "coach harder". Maybe CJM isn't that guy either, but I think he deserves a longer leash. I just hope they build a good, defensive minded staff around him, including a strong veteran assistant that can take the reigns from CJM if necessary.
I thought they solved #1 last offseason with Brogdon. He proved to be a fine scorer, but a pretty poor facilitator. I've also been disappointed with his decision making in high leverage situations. I thought he would be the guy to settle them down and make the play, but he's been as much of a turnover machine as everyone else.
I was disappointed they didn't try to solve #2 last offseason. They didn't build enough depth behind Rob and Al given age and health concerns. Gallo was a fine regular season signing, but he's not a playoff contributor. Grant playing his way into Joe's doghouse certainly didn't help. I'd love for them to find a way to get a guy like Wendell Carter Jr. here.
As for a tone setter and leader, Al and Marcus have both been this guy for them over the past few years. Ime also played this role last season from the bench. CJM clearly doesn't have the same impact on the locker room and defense that Ime had. And I hate to speak ill about Al or Marcus, two of my all time favorite Celtics, but the team's culture sucks and they've lost their defensive identity. To some extent, that's a reflection on them. They need a Draymond, PJ Tucker, Dru Holiday type that amps up the physicality and gets after the team to play better, harder, and smarter. I was hoping Grant would develop into that role, but he hasn't and Smart just isn't the same guy on defense as he was last year.
They are in a fortunate position in terms of their roster. Their floor with JT is the EC Semis. However, it seems their ceiling with this core is exceptionally talented but just not enough toughness to get over the hump and win it. I don't think they can retool the roster to bring in a facilitator, more toughness, and a Horford understudy by casting off Payton and Grant and signing vets. They need to shake up the roster. Moreover, the stench of quit that has followed them around this series needs to be torn out by any means necessary. Ultimately, this likely means everyone but Tatum is available and JB or Smart (and maybe both) are on the move.
Ime screwed the team over. They were comfortable with brain drain with Ime at the helm. Then as the season is about to start, Ime is out and CJM is in. The C's did not build a staff to support a rookie coach and then the top assistant leaves mid-season for a college job. CJM has been out coached out throughout the playoffs, but I can't see how they fire him. They put him in an impossible position. Plus, if they fire him, they are on to their 4th coach in 4 years. You never see that with a contender and the turnover kills the ability to build a certain culture. The whole reason why CBS became PBS was because he was ill equipped at building the culture on the bench and they needed Ime in there to "coach harder". Maybe CJM isn't that guy either, but I think he deserves a longer leash. I just hope they build a good, defensive minded staff around him, including a strong veteran assistant that can take the reigns from CJM if necessary.
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Focusing primarily on the Boston side wish list. Just throwing out CP3 as someone who may be the type of player I'd like to replace Smart. On further thought, best solution would probably be a younger guy with more of a distributor (not hero ball) point guard mentality. Closer to what Smart used to be. Don't think combo of White, Brogdon and PP is quite up to the level needed to compete for a Championship. To piggyback on the Draymond-like villain type who you hope makes everyone else on the team better, maybe Lowry is the prototype for what I'm looking for.
Yes, an all-time great would be the type we'd want...but name your claims. Who?
I cannot understand the "can't have 4 coaches in 4 seasons" thing.
The first guy moved upstairs, replaced with a handpicked successor. Turned out he needed some strange, so he was out, replaced with an interim coach because the timing didn't allow for anything else who for some reason they made permanent. Had they not made that decision, they'd use the offseason to do a full coaching search of which CJM would be included. This isn't George Steinbrenner hiring Billy Martin back and forth with the Yankees - it's a business handling some unique business circumstances. The priority is getting the right leader - stability for stability's sake is what weak leaders do. Wyc and Brad should be confident their leadership is plenty to keep continuity while the right day to day decisionmaker is identified.
If the choice is Joe Mazzula's culture or 4 coaches in 4 years, give me the 4 in 4.
The first guy moved upstairs, replaced with a handpicked successor. Turned out he needed some strange, so he was out, replaced with an interim coach because the timing didn't allow for anything else who for some reason they made permanent. Had they not made that decision, they'd use the offseason to do a full coaching search of which CJM would be included. This isn't George Steinbrenner hiring Billy Martin back and forth with the Yankees - it's a business handling some unique business circumstances. The priority is getting the right leader - stability for stability's sake is what weak leaders do. Wyc and Brad should be confident their leadership is plenty to keep continuity while the right day to day decisionmaker is identified.
If the choice is Joe Mazzula's culture or 4 coaches in 4 years, give me the 4 in 4.
The attempted foul was pretty dumb, but I also think the prior post referring to him as "me first" isn't really on the mark. I think Marcus really does put the team first and is happy to do whatever it takes to win. Unfortunately, I think he doesn't always know what that "it" is - and relies a bit too much on (maybe by necessity now) going for the kind of "hero" defensive stop. Going for the steal, trying to take charges, etc., etc. In his defense, he's successful at it a lot. I'm not a big Smart fan, but I'm often amazed at how he is able to come up with really big defensive plays in key moments. But, on the flip side, it also seems pretty clear that his shooting isn't where we need it to be, and he's actually a fairly pedestrian defender (albeit a versatile one). He also gets smoked by quick guards, but that is just about everyone. Trae Young is Trae Young. It's not like many teams are out there stopping him.
I'm not in the blow it up camp. I keep JT and JB and continue to build around them. The C's ran into an incredibly hot Heat team that has better coaching (something the C"s can look to address) with one of the best 2 way wings and 2 way big men in the game. The ridiculous shooting from guys like Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent has made the series even more lobsided.
I think the C's need to take a look at Joe first. Is he a guy who can improve? He hasn't shown he can make the right adjustments in the playoffs, outside of starting Timelord against the 76ers, which is something the players were apparently begging for. So, I don't know if he's the guy for the team moving forward. The team has been pretty inconsistent all year in crunch time when the game is close. A lot of that is on the players, but I also think a better tactician would really benefit the team (whether that's a new HC or better assistants, I'll let Brad be the judge on that).
I also think they need to look at the PF position. Find a guy who can matchup with the more athletic bigs like Giannis and Bam. While I love Al, he's just too slow and Timelord is better as an off-ball rim protector when the matchups are right. Grant will give you the effort, but he's undersized and inconsistent. Gallo will give you shooting, but not much else. If there was a way to keep Al and Timelord to play the 5 while finding a more athletic PF, I'd take a look at that. I don't know who that athletic PF is, but I'd try to find him. I'm thinking of a younger Bobby Portis type of guy, who will play hard and do the dirty work.
And it might be time to move Smart, another guy who I absolutely love for his heart and hustle. If he can be a piece that brings back that athletic PF, I think you hand the PG position over to Brogdon and White and consider the team better balanced.
If they can do that, I think a Brogdon/White, JB, JT, PF, Al/Timelord team can make another run at it.
I think the C's need to take a look at Joe first. Is he a guy who can improve? He hasn't shown he can make the right adjustments in the playoffs, outside of starting Timelord against the 76ers, which is something the players were apparently begging for. So, I don't know if he's the guy for the team moving forward. The team has been pretty inconsistent all year in crunch time when the game is close. A lot of that is on the players, but I also think a better tactician would really benefit the team (whether that's a new HC or better assistants, I'll let Brad be the judge on that).
I also think they need to look at the PF position. Find a guy who can matchup with the more athletic bigs like Giannis and Bam. While I love Al, he's just too slow and Timelord is better as an off-ball rim protector when the matchups are right. Grant will give you the effort, but he's undersized and inconsistent. Gallo will give you shooting, but not much else. If there was a way to keep Al and Timelord to play the 5 while finding a more athletic PF, I'd take a look at that. I don't know who that athletic PF is, but I'd try to find him. I'm thinking of a younger Bobby Portis type of guy, who will play hard and do the dirty work.
And it might be time to move Smart, another guy who I absolutely love for his heart and hustle. If he can be a piece that brings back that athletic PF, I think you hand the PG position over to Brogdon and White and consider the team better balanced.
If they can do that, I think a Brogdon/White, JB, JT, PF, Al/Timelord team can make another run at it.
Coaching staff needs an overhaul. I don't think Stevens is going to have a problem identifying what that looks like.
People are shitting on Smart but he bailed out the Celtics last series before Tatum's G7 eruption. Evaluate the trade market for him but they can run him back too, if nothing worthwhile is out there.
Jaylen is the question mark. Does he want out? If so, you have to trade him as big a mistake as that would be. That will also affect what the Celtics do the rest of the off-season.
People are shitting on Smart but he bailed out the Celtics last series before Tatum's G7 eruption. Evaluate the trade market for him but they can run him back too, if nothing worthwhile is out there.
Jaylen is the question mark. Does he want out? If so, you have to trade him as big a mistake as that would be. That will also affect what the Celtics do the rest of the off-season.
I continue to wonder if they have their point guard but don’t use him that way enough. White seems to me to have the whole game—court awareness, shooting, can take it to the hole, decent size, plays D. I think this team would be better by making him the primary point guard/facilitator, including crunch time.
If they extend him to the supermax, they cannot trade him for a year. And extend-and-trades are now non-existent as there are serious limits on the contract dollars in the extension.
I assume the first task on Stevens' list will be to explore if Brown is willing to sign an extension. If he doesn't commit to it, he will be traded the minute the July moratorium expires, as there is no way Stevens will let Brown leave for nothing the following season, and the rest of the offseason will shake out from there.
OTOH, if Stevens does not offer the supermax the first day he can, then it will be pretty clear that Brown is headed out regardless.
Al Horford aged in dog years since last postseason. I think he can still have a roll on this team, but it is more of a character guy in the locker room who comes in and plays 10-12 minutes on the floor, with other nights he doesn't play. He is just old to be counted on as a key rotation piece.
In the offseason they need to look and see if there is a team out there that believes Smart brings the attitude, defense and intensity they need, and will overpay for really what he is. It is possible someone does that.
Same with Grant Williams. Maybe there is some team that believes in him and is willing to give up someone who would be a better fit here in a sign and trade.
their depth is fine for Regular season, but really poor for postseason.
In the offseason they need to look and see if there is a team out there that believes Smart brings the attitude, defense and intensity they need, and will overpay for really what he is. It is possible someone does that.
Same with Grant Williams. Maybe there is some team that believes in him and is willing to give up someone who would be a better fit here in a sign and trade.
their depth is fine for Regular season, but really poor for postseason.
Al was masterful against Embiid in the Semis, and they don't win that series without him, but yeah he looks absolutely cooked now. Don't think he can handle the intensity of multiple playoff rounds and the minutes that entails anymore, even with his regular season load management.
Mentioned upthread but in situations like this the Cs phone will be ringing over the summer, rival GMs will circle like buzzards. What teams are in similar spots - disappointing, underperforming ends and a need to change *something*
Memphis - might be looking for a veteran that could keep Ja focused on basketball rather than social media. Does Smart make sense for them? Anything on that roster that makes sense coming back?
Others - Atlanta? Chicago? Milwaukee?
Memphis - might be looking for a veteran that could keep Ja focused on basketball rather than social media. Does Smart make sense for them? Anything on that roster that makes sense coming back?
Others - Atlanta? Chicago? Milwaukee?
What is Grant's status again? Locked up for one more year? Prime trade candidate IMO
I feel like the Celtics beat the Sixers because JT was the best player on the floor in the Game 7. They are losing to the Heat because Butler has been the best player by leaps and bounds.
I don’t know - they all looked like shit yesterday, while Gabe friggin Vincent looked like he deserved some All NBA votes. Let’s not be too eager to rush to judgment on such a SSS.
Not sure he can. This year is by far the most minutes he's played in his career and he's looked like it's catching up to him at times in the playoffs
If JT merely had a good game (25 points), the Celts still win game 7. So calling that "the reason", and excluding lock down 48 minute D, seems simplistic.
As for the evil Marcus -- a strength/weakness of Marcus is that he tries when nothing is happening. Been that way for years. Unfortunately, when he "tries" (especially on offense) he tends to get worse with more effort.
But getting rid of Marcus will NOT solve the underyling problem: the frequency of several minute sequences where someone needs to do something.
Yes, an all star level point guard could fill those moments, but good luck finding that.
BTW: NO WAY is CP3 worth consideration (a once-great point guard on the wrong side of 30 with a history of injuries, making $30m/yr).
His eFG is up considerably vs. the regular season. Assists are down, but so are turnovers, as a result of usage. Not sure what's leading you to this conclusion. He's shooting 45.6% on 3s on 4.9 attempts/game vs. 38.1% in the regular season.
I think Cellar Door is referring more to things like getting blown by off the dribble by Duncan Robinson, but that might be more the team collectively giving up than a DWhite-specific thing.
I don't think Marcus in and of himself is the problem, it's more that their default late and tight offense is basically centered around a Smart and Tatum two man game, and Brown and Tatum devolves into my turn your turn ISO due to Jaylen's deficiencies as a passer and ballhandler.
Simmons was talking about JB for #3 + Simons on his Sun night podcast with Russillo. Celts could then either use the pick (if Scoot is still on the board) or trade for another high-level player.
Jaylen seems very unlikely to go anywhere this offseason, but I do wonder the odds he signs and then forces his way out. I don’t think he likes playing second fiddle to Tatum, but I’m sure he’ll want all that extra money.
For context, I was listening to Zach Lowe right after the lottery and he said that #3 plus Simons was probably not enough for OG Anunoby. I'm also not sure that Simons is the answer for any team that is trying to win right away. He's a pretty awful defender and kind of a chucker
Stuff like this is why running it back with a better coach, or a better coaching staff, seems defensible. The problem may not be the talent, but the utilization thereof.
Serious Q: Are there any quotes or anything tangible that suggests this? You may be 100% right but I haven’t seen anything to this effect other than fan/media speculation.
The supermax extension locks him in for the next season as he can't be traded. The same thing happens to Tatum, just a year later. And I think that makes the most sense, to be honest. Breaking up two (regular season) top 15 players should be the option of last resort.
Shake up the coaching staff, the role players and see what shakes out next season. If it still doesn't work, JB might not even have to force his way out. They should be able to move on from him and get a ton of assets, provided this series' performance doesn't carry over to next year.
He gave a response last series along the lines of “maybe we need to find ways to get me the ball more” that stood out. It was one of the games where he started out hot then didn’t shoot for the next 2 quarters. I just kind of sense it there tbh, he has an alpha personality and seems physically incapable of passing the ball. He probably wants to shoot more.
Oh 100%, signing Brown to a supermax is a no brainer barring some miracle offseason trade this year. I just wouldn’t assume that means he’s around long term.
They said this on the Athletic NBA podcast too-they identified a bunch of potential targets for the #3 pick plus. OG, Brown, Siakam, etc. I dont think the $$$ work though, and they were talking about adding Nurkic for salary purposes.
I'm a fan of Jaylen, and I like what he does when he's "on." But if Tatum is the clear #1, I wonder if there needs to be more space between your top guy and the #2.
As an aside, I looked at Portland's roster this morning for the first time in a while. Is that where once highly-rated wings go to die? Justice Winslow, Nas Little, Cam Reddish, Kevin Knox....
Imo the spacing has been a major problem on offense. Jt ( or jb) attacking the teeth of the defense, People clawing at the ball. Butler, on the otherhand, has space to operate, when help comes it needs to travel far enough to open good opportunities. Isn't that game planning?
Similar on defense. I'd let butler "get his" one on one and shut everyone else down. Go under picks ask him to shoot deep. But that's not who the c's have been this year. It's the lack of adjustment I find frustrating...
Similar on defense. I'd let butler "get his" one on one and shut everyone else down. Go under picks ask him to shoot deep. But that's not who the c's have been this year. It's the lack of adjustment I find frustrating...
I also think that maybe we should transition to White as the starting PG and if we keep Smart we let him wreak havoc on second units. We all love Smart's heart and hustle but I don't think he's going to age as well as White, even though they are essentially the same age.
This core got tired of Brad, collapsed late under Ime, and has apparently quit on Joe.
Seems to me the players are most to blame here, though I don’t think they will blown it up either. I expect tinkering on the edges (would be fine if Smart/Al are moved or given lesser roles). I doubt there is a home run move to make on the player side.
As far as coaching, honestly the best thing would be Brad coming back (he definitely wants to coach somewhere again) with a newly humbled and engaged core. I doubt that will happen but it’s probably their best option.
Otherwise, I guess go shopping for a veteran coach and hope the 4th time is a charm.
Seems to me the players are most to blame here, though I don’t think they will blown it up either. I expect tinkering on the edges (would be fine if Smart/Al are moved or given lesser roles). I doubt there is a home run move to make on the player side.
As far as coaching, honestly the best thing would be Brad coming back (he definitely wants to coach somewhere again) with a newly humbled and engaged core. I doubt that will happen but it’s probably their best option.
Otherwise, I guess go shopping for a veteran coach and hope the 4th time is a charm.