Boston Celtics Are Still Chasing a Star This Offseason
LAS VEGAS — The Boston Celtics’ rebuild appeared to take another important step forward this summer when the team lured All-Star center Al Horford away from the conference-rival Atlanta Hawks.
The acquisition of a second All-Star to pair with standout point guard Isaiah Thomas should produce immediate dividends, but Thomas, who also doubles as Boston’s top player recruiter, isn’t satisfied with President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge bringing just one major name into the fold this offseason.
“We need more,” Thomas declared earlier this week in Las Vegas. “I'm definitely comfortable with the moves [Danny’s] made. I mean, everyone knew we were trying to get Durant. We came up short, but we got another All-Star in Al Horford, and I know Danny's not done. Hopefully we get a few more pieces to the puzzle, and that'll be a successful summer.”
That assessment may seem greedy on the surface for a 48-win team that added one of the most sought-after players on the free-agent market, but Ainge has made it clear that he agrees with his point guard’s assessment.
“We’re not done,” Ainge declared in Utah last week when asked about the roster. “We have the same plans. If you don’t get what you want, you have to keep fighting and make the best of it. Everybody wants Kevin Durant on your team, and not everyone gets him.”
So what exactly are the Celtics’ plans after standing pat on draft night with the No. 3 pick?
Let’s examine a few areas of the roster that could use some major upgrades and how the team could improve those holes.
Searching for a Shooter
Brad Stevens has not had reliable outside shooting during his three years as head coach. Boston has finished 27th or worse in the league from three-point range over that stretch, and opponents have exposed this weakness in the first round of the postseason two years in a row.
Horford will provide an upgrade over Jared Sullinger in the frontcourt rotation with his three-point range, but Ainge has not addressed the team’s shooting issues on the wings.
Rookie (and No. 3 pick) Jaylen Brown can’t be counted on after hitting just 29 percent of his three-point attempts in his freshman season. While remaining free-agent options market are limited, Thomas is still hungry for a player who could create more space for him on the floor.
“I don't know who would help, but anybody that can put the ball in the basket from three would definitely help us and our spacing,” Thomas said. “I know there's some shooters out there that can put the ball in the basket, and hopefully we can get our hands on them.”
Thomas vows to remain helpful on the free-agent market as the options dwindle.
“I'm trying to see who's out there, man,” he said. “I'm trying, I'm trying to get some guys out there. I know a few guys out there that want to play with Boston. If those guys need me to call anybody or reach out to anybody, I'm all ears and a helping hand.”
Part of the problem is simply a lack of space on the Celtics roster. Stevens acknowledged that the team has a number of young backcourt players who could help with shooting (R.J. Hunter, James Young), but those names can no longer feel secure about their spots on a crowded depth chart.
“Listen, you have to earn a roster spot,” Ainge agreed. “There are some exceptions, like James Young is an exception. He was drafted at 18 years old, and we have to be patient with him [at first], but now it’s time. But competition is a good thing. It brings out the best in these guys.”
"Whether it’s by development, whether it’s by addition, whatever the case may be, shooting is going to be the primary need,” Stevens added. “We’ll see how that develops.”
Shoring up the Paint
Horford will provide a major boost to Boston’s frontcourt thanks to his size (6’10’’) and shooting ability. However, his declining rebounding rates are a potential issue.
Despite having a top-five defense last season, the Celtics were still one of the NBA's five worst defensive rebounding teams. With the team’s top rebounder (Jared Sullinger) agreeing to terms with the Toronto Raptors on Monday, Ainge will have to seek outside options to protect the defensive glass.
“We have some guys who are versatile and can play center and 4,” he said. “We can use a stronger center, and those are the two biggest things.”
The remaining pool of applicable options (Kevin Seraphin, Miles Plumlee, Tyler Zeller) aren’t exactly appealing for Boston’s pace-and-space offense. Ainge may be better off consolidating some of his assets to address this via trade.
The Waiting Game Should End
The Celtics have done a masterful job of staying patient during the rebuild over the past three seasons while stockpiling assets, but the clock is ticking on the team’s ability to maximize those resources.
Horford, 30, is a win-now type veteran and is teaming up with a number of players (Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley) on phenomenally team-friendly contracts for the next two seasons. Beyond those key pieces, half of the team’s roster is on cheap rookie deals.
That smart team-building strategy should bode well for Boston when it comes to making deals. The potential remains that some teams could be ready to take a step back and hit the reset button in the wake of the Kevin Durant-to-Golden State move and a stacked 2017 draft class.
Western Conference contenders could also be looking for more defensive-minded players to have a chance at slowing down the Warriors, an area in which the Celtics have enough attractive pieces (Crowder, Bradley, Smart) to put together the right package.
Whatever route Ainge intends to take, don’t mistake Boston as a team that’s ready to sit back and remain patient while watching the Warriors dominate the NBA for the next few seasons.
"Listen, [the Warriors] are an outstanding team. And nobody can deny the great talent that they have," Ainge said. "But we’re not going to just lay down and die, I’ll tell you that."
Boston still has a treasure chest of assets in draft picks and desirable players to force its way into the conversation for any big name that hits the market without tearing apart the team’s current core.
Look for Ainge to be active in the coming weeks if All-Stars like DeMarcus Cousins or Blake Griffin are on the table for a potential deal. Both of those big men would provide another potent go-to scoring option while addressing one of the team’s glaring weaknesses (rebounding).
With one big chip already added, it’s time for Boston to aggressively finish the job in the coming months. The team is not set up to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference just yet, but one more major addition could leave the Celtics as the clear-cut No. 2 in the East for years to come.
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