☘️ Boston Celtics Official 2023-2024 Regular Season Thread ☘️

[ill4eva]

Sports Hub trolling hard today talking about somehow acquiring Boogie, PG13 and Jimmy Butler

Really? I thought those were 3 trade targets, not all of them (i.e. Celtics might be able to obtain 1 of them. Not all of them).

 

[B Sox]

I'm just very skeptical of having to basically trade the entire future to potentially get Boogie or Butler. I really like both players, but I'm just not sure they are 100% worth it and would really put us to that next level. Plus, next year's draft, which is supposed to be much better than this year's, is loaded with guard and wing talent and we'll be able to swap picks with the Nets who should be even worse than they were this year. Should be able to get an elite player with that pick.

 

[finnns2003]

Trade that makes the most sense to me is the #3 pick for Okafor. Crappy defender, but he's 20 years old and can give you 20 PPG. Those guys don't grow on trees and for a team that has no inside presence, I'd gladly take him. WAY better prospect than anyone that can be had with #3 pick.

Unfortunately this may be the move. If we're not getting Ingram or Simmons, I don't want to spend a 3 on anyone in this draft. Buddy Hield is not worth the 3

 

[B Sox]

Unfortunately this may be the move. If we're not getting Ingram or Simmons, I don't want to spend a 3 on anyone in this draft. Buddy Hield is not worth the 3

I think the trade is very doable, and I don't think it's really unfortunate at all. Okafor is a great prospect and while he's not as good of a rebounder, his offensive numbers are pretty comparable to Boogie Cousins' first few years in the league. I think he can take an even bigger leap once he has some competent guards to get him the ball. Look at his highlights from this year...Very impressive against pretty much every center in the league-

 

[B Sox]

Does anybody in here like Nic Batum as a FA for the right price?

 

[ill4eva]

Does anybody in here like Nic Batum as a FA for the right price?

Nope. He's going to get similar money to Demarre Carroll. Jae does similar things for less than half of what Batum will command as a free agent.

 

[AEA18]

 

[bostoiah]

I'd pass on Jahlil. I rather take a shot on Bender at 3. Shoot, I think I prefer Nerlens Noel to Jahlil. Bigs in the league need to rebound, play D or stretch the floor. Okafor can't do any.

 

[B Sox]

I'd pass on Jahlil. I rather take a shot on Bender at 3. Shoot, I think I prefer Nerlens Noel to Jahlil. Bigs in the league need to rebound, play D or stretch the floor. Okafor can't do any.

Bender is VERY intriguing to me, but man, if he were to end up being a bust, I would be REALLY upset. Celtics need to get a starting caliber player out of this pick. I think Okafor has the potential to be one of the best offensive bigs in the league, and I also think that Stevens (and the team) can get him to improve his defense. He already has a mid range jumper. He's 7ft 275. Doesn't need to be out there shooting 3s...I just think he gets slept on a bit because he was on such an awful team.

Bottom line is he is 20 years old and will be a very effective starter for many years to come. I'm not sure Bender, or anybody else that can be picked at 3 for that matter, can be that...

 

[bostoiah]

Bender is VERY intriguing to me, but man, if he were to end up being a bust, I would be REALLY upset. Celtics need to get a starting caliber player out of this pick. I think Okafor has the potential to be one of the best offensive bigs in the league, and I also think that Stevens (and the team) can get him to improve his defense. He already has a mid range jumper. He's 7ft 275. Doesn't need to be out there shooting 3s...I just think he gets slept on a bit because he was on such an awful team.

Bottom line is he is 20 years old and will be a very effective starter for many years to come. I'm not sure Bender, or anybody else that can be picked at 3 for that matter, can be that...

I'm higher on this draft than many. Aside from the top-2, I really like Hield and Jaylen Brown. I think Brown especially will surprise some people. He seems to have his head on straight too, love his attitude. I see him as a Demar Derozan type in his prime with better defense. I'm all for trading down if 3 is a reach for Brown. Something like 3 for Nurkic + 7 in a trade with DEN

 

[B Sox]

I'm higher on this draft than many. Aside from the top-2, I really like Hield and Jaylen Brown. I think Brown especially will surprise some people. He seems to have his head on straight too, love his attitude. I see him as a Demar Derozan type in his prime with better defense. I'm all for trading down if 3 is a reach for Brown. Something like 3 for Nurkic + 7 in a trade with DEN

Don't get me wrong, I think there are a ton of rotation players in this draft for sure....

Jaylen Brown is another player that scares me to death. Great body and a highly intelligent dude, but he doesn't know how to play basketball. I don't think I necessarily want to be the one to teach him. If he were to drop out of the top 10, I then may think about trading up for him, but I wouldn't even think about touching him at 3.

 

[B Sox]

My dream offseason that could potentially be somewhat realistic (and get us the 2 seed in the East) would be-

1.) Trade #3 pick to Philly for Jahlil Okafor- If he were in this draft, we would be doing jumping jacks to have the ability to pick him. Can give you 20/10 for the next 10 years.

2.) Some sort of trade focusing on sending Avery Bradley, 16th pick and 23rd pick to OKC for Serge Ibaka- I love Avery Bradley, but we have a lot of guards, and if there was ever a time to sell on one of them, it would be Bradley now. Coincidentally, he is exactly what OKC could use on their team with his defense and 3 point shooting. All season long, it has seemed like OKC hasn't been able to figure out what to do with Ibaka. He's a great, high energy player, but they have been sticking him out at the 3 point line. I think an Okafor/Ibaka pairing could be very complementary.

3.) Sign Mike Conley- As much as I love IT, he is really best suited to be a 6th man microwave scorer that can come in and play major minutes if he's hot, but doesn't necessarily need to be relied upon if he's not. Conley is an all-star level PG that just hasn't been able to make the all-star team in the West. Very good floor general and good 3 point shooter. Would be able to get Okafor a lot of easy buckets.

Main Core for 2016/17-
PG- Conley
SG- Smart
SF- Crowder
PF- Ibaka
C- Okafor
Bench- Thomas
Bench- Olynyk
Bench- Rozier
Bench- Jerebko
Bench- Mickey

Is this too farfetched? Thoughts?

 

[youngbillrussel]

I'm onboard with all of those moves except signing Mike Conley. That move would be redundant to me with how the celtics view IT & with Smart & Rozier in the wings. I'd rather sign Ryan Anderson, keep Bradley, trade Olynyk, & use 16/23 on bigs like Labissiere & Maker.

PG Isaiah Thomas
SG Avery Bradley
SF Jae Crowder
PF Ryan Anderson
C Jahlil Okafor

Bench

Evan Turner
Marcus Smart
Amir Johnson
Jonas Jerebko
Terry Rozier
Jordan Mickey
Labissiere
Maker

Still would have some money to use for the bench, assets from the Oylynk trade, 5 second round picks this year and all the future nets picks intact.

 

[bostoiah]

Ibaka would be the perfect guy to plug next to Okafor tbh. Can stretch the floor and play good D. I think that's an overpay for him though. I think Bradley might have as much trade value as Serg. He's on a stupid cheap contract too. Pass on Conley. I prefer IT. Some good ideas man and def realistic.

I hope we can somehow get Cousins + Butler but that's so far fetched

 

[getback]

Main Core for 2016/17-
PG- Conley
SG- Smart
SF- Crowder
PF- Ibaka
C- Okafor
Bench- Thomas
Bench- Olynyk
Bench- Rozier
Bench- Jerebko
Bench- Mickey

Is this too farfetched? Thoughts?

I'm not against IT coming off the bench, but I honestly do not see it happening.

 

[B Sox]

I'm not against IT coming off the bench, but I honestly do not see it happening.

I agree...I just think 6th man is his best possible fit. IT just can't hang with the league's elite PGs, and he struggles to score against the bigger ones...

 

[ill4eva]

I agree...I just think 6th man is his best possible fit. IT just can't hang with the league's elite PGs, and he struggles to score against the bigger ones...

Nah, he can score against any one person in the league. However, when the whole team game plans against you and your wide open teammates can't hit the side of the barn, that's where IT struggles. He doesn't need to go to the bench and have his role reduced. IT needs another scorer who can create his own shot to help him out. Every elite team in the NBA has at least 2 players capable of scoring 20 points on any given night.

 

[B Sox]

Nah, he can score against any one person in the league. However, when the whole team game plans against you and your wide open teammates can't hit the side of the barn, that's where IT struggles. He doesn't need to go to the bench and have his role reduced. IT needs another scorer who can create his own shot to help him out. Every elite team in the NBA has at least 2 players capable of scoring 20 points on any given night.

That's where my man Jahlil comes in

 

[B Sox]

I mean, I just don't understand how anybody could not want this-

Having someone you can dump the ball down to that will draw defenses in will open things up for everyone else immensely...

 

[AEA18]

Need knockdown shooters around Okafor.

 

[B Sox]

Okafor abusing KAT for 25 and 12-

26 and 10 against Boogie-

 

[B Sox]

Need knockdown shooters around Okafor.

That's fine. You have a much better chance acquiring shooters through FA and draft than you do getting someone of Okafor's talent.

 

[B Sox]

View media item 2038697

View media item 2038698

According to this, Okafor's defense is actually better than his teammate, Noel, who is widely considered to be a superior defender...

 

[617collector]

 

[joeyxfresco]

I can get behind Jahlil in green