The Boston Celtics fell short of reaching their ultimate goal this season. However, there are a lot of positives to take from their performance. Boston edged out the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they pulled off the greatest single-game upset in conference finals history with a Game 3 win over the Cavaliers without their best player in Isaiah Thomas. Ultimately, Boston didn’t have what it takes to go all the way but there is a strong foundation in place for this franchise to build off what they have accomplished to this point. Here is a look at the Celtics offseason plan.
3 Things The Celtics Have To Work On
1. Draft Markelle Fultz First-Overall
There has been quite a bit of pressure on Boston to trade some of its picks in order to acquire a legitimate superstar. However, after failing to land one of the NBA’s top players via free agency over the past couple of years the smart move now might actually be to stick with their picks. The Celtics lucked out when they won the first-overall pick and the right to select Washington point guard Markelle Fultz. Fultz has the potential to be a superstar at the NBA level and he has the potential to contribute right away while co-existing with the guards that are already on the Boston roster. The Celtics will have plenty of options with the first-overall pick. The smart move is to keep the pick and select Fultz in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Lonzo Ball-LaVar Ball team seems like they’ll be a headache.
2. Sign Gordon Hayward & Serge Ibaka
It’s no secret that Boston has been after a superstar player for some time now. The likelihood of signing Kevin Durant is slim. Blake Griffin is a more likely free agent option but the Celtics might be smart to pass on handing him a max contract. The best fit for Boston might very well be the tandem of Gordon Hayward and Serge Ibaka. Hayward would give the Celtics a legitimate shooting guard capable of averaging more than 20 points per game and entering his prime years. Ibaka would give Boston a perennial Defensive Player of the Year contender that can also stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. The Celtics have the money to take a run at some of the top free agents on the open market. It makes a lot of sense for them to make Hayward and Ibaka primary targets.
3. Make A Decision On Isaiah Thomas
The Celtics have to make a decision on Isaiah Thomas. He played like a superstar this season and is coming off a campaign where some might have had him in the MVP conversation. However, we know that he’s the type of player that’s hard to build around. He’s a scorer first and foremost, and he’s undersized. He was exposed at times in the playoffs and it didn’t go unnoticed that the Celtics didn’t look much worse for wear when he was lost for the playoffs in the Conference Finals.
The other issue is that the Celtics have already spent a high draft pick on Marcus Smart and they’ll be drafting either Fultz or Ball. In other words, a point guard. Where does that leave IT2? Thomas will be commanding a contract extension in the $130 million range next season. If the Celtics don’t want to commit to that, they better think about trading him this offseason.
Key Free Agents
Kelly Olynyk will be the priority free agent for the Celtics to deal with in-house. However, Boston needs to find a price that works for them. If the Celtics can’t come to terms with a deal that works for them then they could entertain moving Olynyk via trade. Meanwhile, Boston will also have to make a decision when it comes to Amir Johnson. The Celtics could use Olynyk back in the fold but only if it makes sense from a financial perspective. There is no doubt that Boston will make a run at some priority unrestricted free agents. It only makes sense to bring back Olynyk and Johnson at the right price.
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