The season isn't over yet, but a lot of discussion has been centered around what the Celtics can, cannot, and should do in the upcoming summer. It's an important one, since they need to get the team right around the Jays and finalize that transition.
It would be good if people can give their backup plans and overall strategies, rather than just "get rid of Kemba at all costs" or "acquire X player". Sometimes specific moves aren't feasible, for whatever reason.
My thoughts below.
Core:
Tatum (likely $28M)
Brown ($25M)
Extend/Re-sign
TL, probably ends up at 4/70ish, kicking in the next year
Fournier, also likely 4/70ish
Young Guys I Keep
PP
Romeo
Nesmith
(The above is barring a trade where they have a bit of value; none of them are close to untouchable)
Young Guys I Only Keep if There's a Free Roster Spot
Grant
Carsen
Try to Trade
Kemba. Ideally you can move him at least partially into cap space. If you can't, there's some case for keeping him, since replacing him with expirings isn't that attractive when he might opt out the following summer, or at least could be moved a lot more cheaply.
Rest of the TPE
Look to acquire a mediocre vet wing in a low-cost trade.
The Smart Situation
I'm pretty concerned about Marcus's defense going forward--that's something that's far less dependent on sample size, and it hasn't been good. He still seems to have positive value as an asset, so I'd try to move him to a team like Atlanta for an asset to use later, or directly to a team like NO in a S&T for Lonzo.
The other direction is if an established guy comes on the market. At that point, you combine Smart, TT and filler to match salaries, and do a deal based on lots of future picks, where the other team's value is mostly realized if Brown/Tatum sign elsewhere down the road.
End State
The ideal result of this is a core of Brown/Tatum/TL + a wing or big guard acquisition, with Fournier as the vet scoring wing, Kemba's salary off the books, and hoping for one of Romeo or AN to become decent.
The less ideal outcome is to have contract-year Smart, unless you're really high on his post age-28 years.
More nuance can be added, but this is how I'm currently thinking about it.
It would be good if people can give their backup plans and overall strategies, rather than just "get rid of Kemba at all costs" or "acquire X player". Sometimes specific moves aren't feasible, for whatever reason.
My thoughts below.
Core:
Tatum (likely $28M)
Brown ($25M)
Extend/Re-sign
TL, probably ends up at 4/70ish, kicking in the next year
Fournier, also likely 4/70ish
Young Guys I Keep
PP
Romeo
Nesmith
(The above is barring a trade where they have a bit of value; none of them are close to untouchable)
Young Guys I Only Keep if There's a Free Roster Spot
Grant
Carsen
Try to Trade
Kemba. Ideally you can move him at least partially into cap space. If you can't, there's some case for keeping him, since replacing him with expirings isn't that attractive when he might opt out the following summer, or at least could be moved a lot more cheaply.
Rest of the TPE
Look to acquire a mediocre vet wing in a low-cost trade.
The Smart Situation
I'm pretty concerned about Marcus's defense going forward--that's something that's far less dependent on sample size, and it hasn't been good. He still seems to have positive value as an asset, so I'd try to move him to a team like Atlanta for an asset to use later, or directly to a team like NO in a S&T for Lonzo.
The other direction is if an established guy comes on the market. At that point, you combine Smart, TT and filler to match salaries, and do a deal based on lots of future picks, where the other team's value is mostly realized if Brown/Tatum sign elsewhere down the road.
End State
The ideal result of this is a core of Brown/Tatum/TL + a wing or big guard acquisition, with Fournier as the vet scoring wing, Kemba's salary off the books, and hoping for one of Romeo or AN to become decent.
The less ideal outcome is to have contract-year Smart, unless you're really high on his post age-28 years.
More nuance can be added, but this is how I'm currently thinking about it.