You're right people can dream. I'm just the type of person who's more realistic. I can't think of a time when a top notch free agent chose to come to Boston. Even with the big 3. Only reason we were able to pull that off (it was a trade not free agent signing with Garnett) was because fortunately Seattle wanted to move forward with their future and blew that team up and gave Ray Allen away for mediocre talent. Dream all you want but give me an example in the last 30 + years when a top notch free agent was like "I'm taking my talents to the Celtics" .. Maybe Nique although he was at the tail end of his career.
My question is Who's a better alternative? Evan turner is on his way out. Sorry to be negative nancy but Brown is only 19. If he does pan out , I think it'll be 3-4 years down the road. What puts me at odds with many on this forum is the fact i've always been an advocate of getting Veterans. A harmonious blend of good young players and Solid Vets is what constitutes a winning organization. I fail to understand this love affair people (not just C's fans) have with Puppy squads. They don't win. I think we got wayyyy too many "he'll be great in the future" prospects. We need to be veteran minded at this point. I think signing a player like stephenson who is in search for a new home and new start is a step in the right direction.
Believe it or no. I like Stephenson. I always wanted a guard rotation of Rondo, Bradley, Stephenson, and Courtney Lee. Small ball lineups of Lee and Stephenson at the 3 and 4 from Doc Rivers lol.
But I see where you're going with Brown. But I think the problem is, we give young players so much scrutiny for not performing well at the age of 19, but Brown to me, along with Simmons and Ingram seem like the most NBA ready. Hield, Murray, and Dunn in my eyes will struggle.
We gotta like the 76ers, trust the process. I think Ainge drafted the highest upside in players while trying to maintain flexbility. Plus we still have assets. There was a chance we weren't going to do anything, and just draft players, and some people here had miscontrued that entirely. You gotta be patient. Ainge even said it took 3 years for the Celtics to get Garnett. We may or may not get Durant, but we'll maybe at least get a chance too. And a chance I'll take over a obvious no, which dubiously the Knicks, Nets, and the Wizards are getting from him right now lol.
I'm pretty much on an island by myself because NONE of these draft picks excite me unless somehow we can get some vets as a result. Bottomline , I think we're 2 more solid scoring options away from being taken seriously in the eastern conference. Obviously Butler would be a better pick but if the top Free agents are unwilling to come to Boston I think we need to pick up some "Bad news bears" type players. Talented but being snubbed because of alleged bad attitudes. Actually Lance played pretty well with memphis. Just a thought. I don't think teams are beating down the door for him and I believe someone like him is realistically a person we get as opposed to these ridiculous pipe dreams many of you have thinking we can land Top notch Free agent. Please not going to happen.
When you're pessimistic, and negative toward other users on this board for having hopes of actually obtaining a high level free agent, then of course you're going to be on an 'island,' by yourself.
Sorry people can dream.
Also Stephenson is the last player Stevens would want to bring in. Sure he played well in Memphis, but he is what he is. A solid two way shooting guard with decent handles, that can't shoot consistently, and is lackadaisical on both ends of the floor at times. Plus annoying Lebron with his antics were cute, but definitely not the smartest thing to do.
Stephenson isn't a true leader, no matter how 'born,' ready he is. George or Granger were always the clear cut leaders or go to guys in the clutch of the Pacers team, and Stephenson couldn't accept that fact. You don't ever want to bring in players where their poisonous, or have anger issues. (Cousins has never explicitly beaten or fought a teammate, except for being frustrated or lashing out verbally, and who hasn't done that at times in a competitive game/sport?)
Agree with Monks statements...although, I wonder with so many roster spots taken up with rookie type players if this limits the possibility of bringing in multiple mid-salary impact players. Ideally, Danny signs 2 max salary players. If that doesn't work out does he have the roster flexibility to sign multiple Stevenson-type players?
I think Ainge's mindset was maintaining flexbility cap wise, and the fact 16/23 are all draft and stash players. He may or may not need to trade some players, but there are going to be some roster spaces, because I don't see Sullinger, Zeller, or Turner coming back to be honest.
Think Turner is going to end up on the Knicks, and I think Sullinger is bound to be a Nets along with Stephenson lol.