If Kyrie walks, hence AD isn't coming, I'd expect CBS to re-take the reigns on this team (which felt out of control on/off the court all season). With the focus returning to defense, ball movement, discipline & accountability.
coming back? Horford, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Baynes, TL, Semi, Yabu
1. Add a couple of savvy veteran role players.
2. Draft well and develop.
3. Trust Tatum and Brown will develop next season
4. Trust that Hayward will heal.
5. Trust CBS will return to being one of the best coaches in the game.
Hand wringing about 1st round exits and not making the playoffs next season, because Kyrie walks, is beyond premature/hot takey. I trust Ainge/Zarren have contingency plans for that happening. Let one of the best front offices in the game assess what happened this season and how to react. They are not crippled by bad contracts (w/Gordon healing), have talented young players and have plenty of draft picks. Lots of positives, I see a glass half full with this team.
As far as the other EC teams, they all have their own issues (Kawhi walking, Lowry aging, Embiid injury prone, Simmons shooting, Oladipo coming back from a major injury, Bucks being dependent on one player, Nets overachieving one year, Heat bad contracts galore). Let's see what happens over the next 6 months before we start seeding the 2020 EC playoffs.