I requested for mailbag questions and as traditional you guys delivered. Listed below are your questions and my solutions. (As traditional, outcomes could range)
ezwind
With so few roster modifications, it doesn’t look like there are various, if any, main questions on this workforce. However there are a number of minor ones:
1) With KP out for some time, has there been any indication that Luke is engaged on bringing again his lengthy misplaced 3pt shot in order that we will nonetheless play 5 out at instances?
2) Similar query for Tillman. Can we anticipate him to shoot extra from the perimeter?
3) Are Springer and Walker an both/or state of affairs or is there any likelihood that each make the roster?
4) Barring an damage state of affairs, what are the possibilities that Scheierman performs common and even semi-regular minutes exterior of blowouts?
I don’t assume that Kornet goes to show again right into a quantity 3 level shooter. It looks like he’s content material to deal with what bought him again within the league and right into a rotation position on the workforce. I do see Tillman working to enhance his jumper. He’s at the least prepared to take them and if he can enhance his effectivity from the corners he may have some success there.
I may see each Springer and Walker making the workforce, relying on how they deal with the 2-way guys. After all I nonetheless assume that Springer is the almost definitely piece that might be traded for a really minor piece (or in the event that they needed to shave a tiny little bit of wage).
I feel Scheierman has an out of doors shot at spot minutes this yr. He’s an older rookie and he can shoot. We simply need to see if he can maintain up defensively. The Celtics are going to want wing depth and we’ll see how prepared Walsh is to play minutes.
Charlie-two-protons
Marcus Sensible is the plain reply, however which former Celtic would you wish to see again on the squad?
I miss the vibes from the Timelord. I actually need to see him string collectively some wholesome seasons however that’s all the time going to be a fear and it’s potential that we bought excessive on him final yr. Nonetheless, he was a number of enjoyable to look at on the courtroom and seemingly a chill man off it.
It’s most likely too late now, however I might have nonetheless welcomed a return of Isaiah Thomas, even when it was a deep bench vet position.
Lastly, it may be enjoyable sometime to see Terry Rozier make a return to Boston. He left on form of a bitter observe, however that was a really odd season and I might hope there’s no lingering unhealthy emotions.
pdelevett
If Scheierman has an excellent camp, does Boston lower Walker unfastened to avoid wasting the luxurious tax? Or is having a confirmed scorer on our deep bench well worth the monetary hit? (Associated query: Even when he takes the $75K bonus to report back to Maine, how massive is the danger one other workforce indicators Walker out of the G-League if he performs nicely there?)
If Walker sticks round, will probably be on a minimal deal. If Stevens decides to chop him and preserve solely 14 gamers they might nonetheless have a cap maintain so I’m unsure if they might save any cash (sorry, I’m not as a lot of a cap wiz as our outdated good friend Keith). It could principally be about protecting roster flexibility (and even then, as a 2nd apron workforce, Boston wouldn’t have the ability to out-bid anybody). Appears to me they need to trip with 15 gamers if solely to have stay our bodies to make use of throughout blowouts and for deep bench choices.
Dont miss that free throw
What do you concentrate on Al Horford enjoying past 24-25? Does Brad provide him an extension mid-season if he desires to proceed to play or will they take a wait and see how he performs this season strategy?
That is robust. Al was nonetheless very beneficial this previous yr and my coronary heart believes he will likely be once more this coming yr (if his minutes are managed nicely). With that mentioned, time runs out on everybody and that clock is ticking. I wouldn’t rule out retirement on the finish of the yr, relying on how he feels each bodily and mentally at that time. From a wage cap perspective, the workforce may be relying on his $9.5M coming off the books anyway.
ACEarl
What’s your learn on the emotional vitality that the Celtics will assault the season with?
Tatum tends to be fairly aloof, Jaylen focuses his anger, and the remainder of the highest 6 are inclined to play regular veteran.
However within the title celebrations, it was clear that these guys felt the monkey off their again (“What they gonna say now?!?!”).
So what’s your learn on the group getting into the subsequent season? Do you assume they arrive on the yr enjoying free and simple just like the ‘10’s Warriors as soon as they bought one? Are they enraged in any respect the million slights which have occurred for the reason that title— Tatum and Brown’s Olympic therapy, the center finger of the 2k rankings, and many others.— inflicting them to return out firing like John Wick? Are they pissed off and tight, or drained, or too relaxed? Or regular sufficient to roll it again and get proper again to work with the identical regular demeanor? What do you assume?
My glass half full principle is that they will get pleasure from having that monkey off their backs and play looser and thus extra assured and free. Plus, Joe Mazzulla isn’t going to allow them to loosen up an excessive amount of. The instance I all the time go to is the 2008-09 Celtics who had been even higher than the earlier yr (proper up till KG bought damage).
I admit I’m nonetheless a bit “as soon as bitten, twice shy” with this group. I nonetheless keep in mind how a lot they might take two steps ahead and one step again in previous years. Seemingly letting go of the rope after they gave the impression to be up or enjoying a workforce down a key participant. They exercised a number of these daemons final yr however human nature is what it’s and it’s arduous to be centered each second of each recreation.
I’m nonetheless seeing that tumbler half full, however I don’t rule out an occasional crack or leak.
CelticsWest
Let’s see what I’ve bought…
What’s one factor you’d wish to see faraway from the Cs offensive and defensive recreation plan? Underneath what circumstances would Joe run a double-big tandem of Luke and Nemi?Which two-way or exhibit 10 participant will make the largest impression? What Celtic will present up at media day with the very best hair?
This may increasingly sound a bit odd, however I don’t need something faraway from the C’s offense. Sure, I do know which means we’ve to stay with an occasional “stand round for an iso step again” that can have me pulling out the little hair I’ve left. However what? Typically within the playoffs that’s actually all you may get in a particular state of affairs. So that you would possibly as nicely get some recreation observe with it throughout the season.
I’ve an identical reply on protection however for a barely totally different cause. With how superior offenses are today, I don’t assume you’ll be able to depend on anybody, two, or three totally different schemes. You need to layer them in, combine them up, and do the whole lot you’ll be able to to maintain opponents off stability. I say play extra zone (particularly with Jrue enjoying rover). Throw in an occasional full courtroom blitz. Shock them by leaving a shooter ridiculously vast open simply to mess with their heads. Have the entire workforce do the Kornet Kontest on the identical time to distract the shooter. Double bigs. All wings. JT at point-center. Kitchen sink; all in. Strive the whole lot.
Peter White
The Celtics can not carry all these massive contracts after the 2024-25 season, so apart from Al Horford which massive contract will likely be traded first?
Ideally we’ll simply preserve profitable titles and the brand new homeowners will preserve throwing cash on the roster and we solely have to fret in regards to the again half of the roster. After all we don’t stay in a really perfect world.
Observe that I don’t assume anybody is moved this season. So all the next is my greatest guess about future offseasons (maybe even past subsequent summer season).
The unhappy fact is that this can most likely come all the way down to accidents and age. Porzingis goes to earn near $31M in 2025-26. If he has a setback or one other main damage within the subsequent yr or two, he might be a wage dump sooner or later. Likewise, it’s value noting that Jrue Vacation is 34 years outdated. He’s nonetheless very productive and in a seemingly good state of affairs. If and when he begins to indicate his age, his contract goes to really feel heavier on the books earlier than it’s over.
Theoretically the workforce may get extra in return for Derrick White, however I don’t actually like to consider a world with out him on the Celtics, so I’m going to faux I didn’t simply carry that up.
The one different wildcard to say is Jaylen Brown. He appears comfortable sufficient in Boston (Championships are inclined to have that impact). But when he had a sudden urge to play in his hometown of Atlanta (or no matter) and requests a commerce (maybe to a workforce the place he might be THE star) then I may see him shifting on.
This isn’t a enjoyable matter, however realistically all nice groups get damaged up sooner or later. However hey, by that time we’ll have 3 or 4 extra banners, so it gained’t be so unhealthy, proper?
Thanks once more everybody for the questions!
