So where do we go from here?

[PhoSita]

Agreed about  Cousins.  That was a time to take a chance and Danny chose not to, perhaps at Brad's behest.

Well, size and talent win in the playoffs.  Point blank.

[CelticSooner]

I don't know. This was the worst case scenario going into the season. I think you gotta go young once again. 

[Dino Pitino]

Fire sale of:

Isaiah
Bradley
Crowder
Horford

Trade them individually, or pair them off to two different teams, or trade them all to one team, whatever goodies (1sts and prospects) you can get for that, you add to:

Smart
Brown
Zizic

plus bring on:

Fultz/Jackson/Ball/Tatum
Brooklyn 2018 1st
Our own 2018 1st (lottery post-firesale)

not to mention:

Olynyk
Yabusele
Rozier
Jackson

Let's say we get lucky and draft Fultz

We start:

G Fultz
G Smart
F Brown
F Yabusele
C Zizic

What's the worst that could happen? Nothing (short of losing two more of the next five) sucks worse than going down 0-2 to an 8th seed. At least we've got the Nets picks, whew. Time to bail on playoff aspirations for one more year. Ditch the veterans. Reload with elite lottery talent and assorted other prospects, hit jackpot on half of them, and try to contend again in two more years while introducing another two top tier draftees. Re-roll, re-roll, re-roll...

[RockinRyA]

yeah. passing on cousins is looking pretty questionable right now. wow.

To me that is the most questionable move Ainge has made (or not make). When you get an opportunity to add an All-NBA talent that at the same time fills up a lot of your holes while not costing you much, you do it. This isnt Butler for Nets pick+Crowder etc, its Cousins for a whole lot less. I mean you still  have 2017 pick, you still have your core intact, you wont have the cap space, but Cousins is better than both hayward and Griffin anyway. Its not like if it doesnt work out you have no more outs, like the Butler trade will do.

I understand that Brad doesnt want to coach Cousins and that its a very risky move chemistry wise, but imho Id have done it regardless.

[RockinRyA]

Fire sale of:

Isaiah
Bradley
Crowder
Horford

Trade them individually, or pair them off to two different teams, or trade them all to one team, whatever goodies (1sts and prospects) you can get for that, you add to:

Smart
Brown
Zizic

plus bring on:

Fultz/Jackson/Ball/Tatum
Brooklyn 2018 1st
Our own 2018 1st (lottery post-firesale)

not to mention:

Olynyk
Yabusele
Jackson

Let's say we get lucky and draft Fultz

We start:

G Fultz
G Smart
F Brown
F Yabusele
C Zizic

What's the worst that could happen? Nothing (short of losing two more of the next five) sucks worse than going down 0-2 to an 8th seed. At least we've got the Nets picks, whew. Time to bail on playoff aspirations for one more year. Ditch the veterans. Reload with elite lottery talent and assorted other prospects, hit jackpot on half of them, and try to contend again in two more years while introducing another two top tier draftees. Re-roll, re-roll, re-roll...

You cant trade Horford, it will impact your ability to trade for FAs in the future.

I think the best way is to get hayward/Griffin, add Fultz hopefully and go from there.

[PhoSita]

Re-roll, re-roll, re-roll...

Heheh, as a D&D nerd I have to say I like this...

What to do when your character sucks?

Re-roll, re-roll, re-roll.

[celticinorlando]

The roster as it is constructed is not good enough. This is painfully obvious. Thomas cannot carry this team on offense. He needs help. Bradley is made of glass. Do not resign him

Crowder should have been dealt long ago for Butler.

They will draft another guard having to decide who goes and stays...cannot have a roster with IT, Rozier, Bradley, Smart and Fultz taking up half of the spots

[Ogaju]

Game 3 is in Chicago.

[jpotter33]

Gotta wait to see what happens.

But as of posting, the Celts are on their way to going down 0-2 to an eight seed in the 1st round.


I would say that would be a pretty clear sign that the current group is not as good as we thought they were.

In that case, I would say anybody not on a rookie contract is on the table as far as trades go, and management should shift their focus to maximizing the team around Smart, Jaylen, and the Nets picks.

This. We should have our sights on that Lakers pick (or Sixers if they lose that pick), too. I feel the Lakers would give up that pick to get someone like IT and/or Horford/Crowder/Bradley on their team. The Sixers would probably give up the lesser of the two picks for some combination of vets, too, since they don't want to add two other rookies to their team.

[Csfan1984]

Stick to the slow build plan. Target Griffin in FA. Draft better (no reaches like Rozier or Yab). Maybe flip AB for front court help or a pf/c prospect since he is likely gone after next season.

IT/Smart/Rozier
Brown/Fultz
Crowder/Nader
?/?/Yab/Mickey
Horford/Zizic

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Start Marcus Smart. That's where I would go.

[KGBirdBias]

Ainge will not be able to trade this guys now. They are losing value with each loss.

[RJ87]

Start Marcus Smart. That's where I would go.

Can't be choosey at this point. Throw him in there.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I don't wanna see another minute of Amir Johnson in a Celtics uniform, he's cooked

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Ainge will not be able to trade this guys now. They are losing value with each loss.

I think Crowder will still have value for a contending team that needs bench help. Avery Bradley is just losing value by the minute. The Brinks truck might not come to Isaiah after all.