2016-2017 Season Record:  52-30 (5^th Seed in Eastern Conference)

 

Season Highlight:

Kevin Durant re-signed.  Tell me what mattered more last year for Boston?  The Celtics of now are very similar to the Celtics prior to Jmac’s arrival. Both relied on an elite player to elevate their gameplay, neither had a lot of bench depth.  However, that’s where the comparisons stop.  This team is much more dangerous and Jmac really has tried to put an elite starting 5 together.  3 players are top 5 at their position, 2 players are considered tops in the “3 and D” category.  As long as KD continues to sign with the Celts, this will continue to be their season highlight, barring winning the NLL Finals.

Season Lowlight:

Getting bounced out of the 1^st round by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Any time you go to the Finals the previous year, expectations are high.  Unfortunately, Boston could not rise to that challenge and saw their playoff ticket punched early, to the dismay of the greater Northeast and Jmac.

Best Trade:

The Boston Celtics send Jeff Teague, Wesley Matthews, Mason Plumlee and Jordan Clarkson to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Kyle Lowry, Brook Lopez, Shelvin Mack and Ryan Kelly to the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics send a 1st-Rounder (Por) to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send a 1st-Rounder (Min) to the Boston Celtics.

Teague and Clarkson have played well, but Lowry and Lopez are both in the top 5 at their respective positions.  Yes, Boston gave up extra depth, but they have elite players at PG and C now.

Worst Trade:

The Boston Celtics send Al Horford to the Phoenix Suns.

The Phoenix Suns send a 1st-Rounder (Pho) and 2nd-Rounder (Pho) to the Boston Celtics.

Phoenix also later sent Ed Davis and 35 GM to Boston to complete the deal.

At the time of this trade, it was a pretty fair deal.  Horford was getting paid about $26 Million per and Boston needed to prepare to pay KD and others.  Not wanting to go into the Luxury tax, Jmac recognized that Ed Davis was a poor man’s Horford and had 25% of the salary.  Looking back now, we can say that This trade just didn’t work for Boston.  Ed Davis lasted about 6 weeks before being traded and he just did not perform to expectations all year.  The 1^st round pick was included in a separate trade that netted Jeff Teague, who was also shipped out within a few months.  The pick ended up being #11 overall, Frank Ntilikina, who is a prospect that will need a few years to develop (this also doesn’t help Boston, as they are in Win Now mode).

Other Notable Trades:

There were a lot of trades.  Boston is one of the most active GMs in the NLL.  Here are some key ones:

The Boston Celtics send Ishmael Smith, Andre Roberson and Boban Marjanovic to the Sacramento Kings. The Sacramento Kings send Dewayne Dedmon and Jordan Clarkson to the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics send a 2nd-Rounder (SA) and 2nd-Rounder (SA) to the Sacramento Kings. The Sacramento Kings send a 1st-Rounder (Sac) to the Boston

-Dedmon became a starter for some time and Clarkson was part of the deal that brought in Lowry.

The Memphis Grizzlies send Jeff Teague to the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics send a 1st-Rounder (Pho) and 1st-Rounder (Bkn) to the Memphis Grizzlies.

-Teague was integral piece for Boston to get Lowry.

The Boston Celtics send Patrick Patterson to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send Trevor Ariza and A.J. Hammons to the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics send a 2nd-Rounder (Chi) to the New Orleans Pelicans.

-This was a sneaky good trade for Boston during the offseason.  Patterson doesn’t fit the Celtics scheme, but Ariza’s 3 and D will.  Also, Hammons is a big with a lot of potential.

Best FA Signing:

Ishmael Smith – He only played for Boston for a short time, but was traded away to the Kings for Clarkson and Dedmon, so he was pretty valuable.

Worst FA Signing:

Joel Anthony – He played a total of 5 games and averaged 2 points.

Star:

Kevin Durant – The #3 overall player in the NLL, KD averaged nearly 30 and 8 per.  He shot 55% from the field and also chipped in 2 blocks a game.  He was unstoppable and the main reason that Boston was a a threat in the East.

Surprise:

Ed Davis – Expectations were high for Ed, especially when you’re the return, along with GM and a few draft picks.  Ed looked like he was ready to really be a contributor, but to Boston’s dismay, he was laying eggs early on, scoring and rebounding at about half the rate he did the year before.  Jmac wasted no time dumping him for Patrick Patterson.  Ed didn’t even last 6 weeks on the Celtics.

Goat:

Kyle Lowry – You can’t go from almost 25 points a game in the previous season to averaging about 13 and missing about 35% of the season, especially during the final push and the playoffs and not expect to be a goat.  Kyle Lowry was supposed to be the floor general, distributing the rock and being the 3^rd or 4^th option to score, but he really seemed to become the 5^th option most nights, if he dressed that is.

Draft Report Card:

N/A.  Boston made moves using draft picks to bring back players in more of a win now situation.

 

Looking to the Future:

Boston’s future is murky.  Just 2 years ago, they were going after the trophy, before losing the to Lakers in the finals.  Some unlucky injuries to key players and some trades that didn’t quite pan out, and suddenly, they aren’t even considered an Eastern Conference “elite”, which is still arguable, as they did win 50 games in a very stacked conference.   Of the 4 teams above them in conference, 3 are still better and 3 of the teams under them have improved, so where does this leave the Celts?  They will be able to retain 2 of their FA starters, but Reke will be tough to bring back this year and Brook is likely going to need wooing next year.  They are already over the salary cap after Iggy, KD and Lowry resign, which means the Celts will be hard pressed to bring in a high salary star to help improve.  Expect Jmac to search the bargain bins, looking to find the next diamond in the rough, as he prays that the few young players he has exceed expectations.  With a KD led team, they will definitely be a playoff  team, but without the ability to bring in another player that can move the needle, is Jmac willing to be average for the next few years, or will he continue to shake things up and move practically anyone not named Kevin?

 

Upcoming Free Agents:

Archie Goodwin – he could have his option picked up, but is it worth it to keep him on the roster?

Kevin Durant – If this guy doesn’t re-sign, Jmac may quit.

Andre Iguodala – Should re-sign, but Jmac has been actively shopping him.

Kyle Lowry – Expected to stay in Boston.

Tyreke Evans – This is a conundrum, do you pay what it’s going to cost to get him to stay?  A lot of GM points will need to be sent to persuade him to return.

Dorian Finney-Smith – His option will likely be picked up

Walter Tavares – likely will have option picked up

Derrick Jones Jr – Young player that will have his option picked up.

Dewayne Dedmon – His return is doubtful.  He’s still a great salary value, but he doesn’t want to stay in Boston.  Can KD talk him into coming back?

Shelvin Mack – Average player, but fits that combo guard spot Jmac likes.