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Boston Celtics
2010-11 Record: 56-26
Key Free Agents: Jeff Green (restricted), Glen Davis (unrestricted), Delonte West (unrestricted)
Team Needs: frontcourt depth, perimeter defense, athleticism, creative scorers
1. What are your team's biggest needs this offseason?
Primarily the Celtics need to address their issues in the frontcourt. The retirement of Shaquille O’Neal along with the departure Nenad Krstic has left the Celts very thin at the center position. Jermaine O’Neal is the only remaining center, and his injury history at this stage of his career does not make him a great candidate to play the majority of the minutes in the middle. Aside from Kevin Garnett, there is no other power forward currently on the roster.
Because the Celtics don’t have much money for free agents, bringing back Big Baby Davis could become a priority. No matter how frustrated fans may be with the undersized forward, he knows the system and is most likely a better value than what is available elsewhere.
The second round exit against the Heat showed that this team could use another solid perimeter defender at the 2 or 3 behind Paul Pierce. After Wade and LeBron took turns torching the Celts, it will be a need for years to come. This upgrade in defense and athleticism could create more fast break opportunities.
It has also become apparent that Pierce is the only player left on the roster that can consistently create his own shot. Another capable isolation scorer or even a decent post presence would diversify the offense.
2. What are the team’s biggest strengths & weaknesses? (so far)
At this point, Boston’s biggest strength is its continuity at the 1-4 positions. These guys will be entering their 5th season together (if the 11-12 season ever begins). Few teams can boast that type of consistency within their starting lineup, and it is that familiarity that allows them to communicate and employ one of the league’s top defenses.
On the other hand it is those same players as well as the supporting cast that display a great weakness. Over the past three seasons, this squad has gone through extended stretches of ugly offense. Aside from Pierce, this team lacks a player that can consistently create his own shot. Both KG and Ray rely heavily on the playmaking ability of Rondo or perfect execution of the offense. If this team can bring in a solid scorer to lead their second unit (Jeff Green, where are you?), it would only make things easier on the aging C’s.
3. If there is no season in 2011-12, how is your team set up for 2012?
Once 2012 arrives the contracts of both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett will end. That will put the Celtics in a great position to snag a top level free agent or two (Dwight Howard anybody?). The only significant players signed through that time are Pierce and Rondo, and that’s not a terrible situation for any player to step into. The team is currently set up to completely transform in the summer of 2012. With the way Danny Ainge has cleared cap room for next year, the Celtics could potentially skip the post-Big 3 swoon that many thought was inevitable.
4. If you could make one change to the NBA's new CBA, what would it be?
I would shorten the length of player contracts. Players yearn for security, but it’s hard to convince the general public that millions of dollars of over several years won’t keep one financially secure.
I have no issue with the amount that players earn annually, but it can be irritating to see one team hampered for years because they are stuck with an underachieving player on a 5-6 year contract. The list of overpaid players is painful, and what hurts more is seeing at team that can’t contend because of one bad contract.
I would limit contracts to four years as suggested by Bill Simmons. That would create a situation where only the best players are even considered for deals of this length. Hopefully, owners would take more responsibility when handing out guaranteed deals.
5. Is the Celtics’ championship window closed?
Boston’s window is about as narrow as it can possibly be. At times it seems that Rondo’s masterful playmaking is the only factor keeping things that way.
Many think that the Celtics players have made significant declines, although their current situation has less to do with their performance than the improvement of the competition around them.
When the Celtics won in ’08, the East was a much weaker conference. Suddenly the Bulls and Heat look poised to clash for years to come. An Atlantic division win isn’t even guaranteed if Melo and Amare ever figure things out in New York.
What should worry Celtics fans most is that in order for Boston to even reach the Finals, they would need a variety of factors to work in their favor. They would need home court advantage and favorable match-ups throughout the playoffs to even sniff the Eastern Conference Finals. Much like last year, the C’s should hope that Chicago and Miami destroy one another in a tough second round match-up, and limp into the next round.
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