The Celtics hold the second spot in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, with a roster full of players with All-Star potential and as many as three extra first-round picks coming their way next June, as Kevin Pelton details. One of those picks will be Sacramento’s unless it lands at No. 1.
However, the franchise could take a long-term hit this offseason should Kyrie Irving depart in free agency. The Celtics will be capped out and won’t have the ability to sign a major replacement should Irving leave the New England area. If the point guard does stick around, the team will face luxury-tax concerns, though Pelton is confident in GM Danny Ainge’s ability to properly navigate through the potential woes.
Here’s more from Boston:
- We have yet another indicator that Irving should be healthy heading into the Celtics‘ training camp with the point guard playing fullcourt basketball over the weekend, as Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe passes along. Irving was on the court in Miami playing alongside Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kelly Olynyk among others.
- The Celtics will continue to give Al Horford some run at the four, pairing him with Aron Baynes on the court, and A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports believes the duo will provide elite defense in the paint. Baynes and Horford played 13.3 minutes per game together last season and they had the best defensive rating (95.0) among all of Boston’s pairings with at least 10 minutes per game together.
- The Horford-Baynes pairing also provides the team with top 3-point range, as Blakely notes in the same piece. The Celtics shot 44.4% from downtown when the two bigs were on the floor, the best among all the team’s two-man combinations.
Horford is so much better playing at the 4, Boston will make a mistake if they don’t play him a lot in there. Right now he is the best player in the team, though he is a hard-working team first type of guy, the team should try to get the best out of him. For me the starting line up should be, Kyrie, JB, JT, Horford & Baynes. I would put Hayward from the bench for 2 reasons, the progression of JT & also because I think it might take him until March/April to be back were he was with his game. Remember he has been 1 year without playing, that takes time to get the rust off & get back the confidence & the rhythm of play. I am a huge fan of Horford, always been, like him more at the 4.
Golden State is no. 1 and Boston is no. 2. What have I been saying Laker fans @Kenleyfornia @senior editor? Kevin Durant isn’t going anywhere, neither is Klay Thompson, neither is Kyrie Irving. Dream on Lakers. For LeBron fans, see Amico Hoops, Jones: Cavs Koby Altman gets rid of trash. It says everything I’ve been saying. Check oddssharks.com and other betting sites for Golden State and Boston too. And so on.
Make that Jones: Kudos to Koby for getting rid of dead weight @Amico Hoops. Dear cesc, dream big, Hayward came to Boston because Brad Stevens was his coach at Butler, and they made the NCAA championship game 2 years in a row. First it’s Tatum is Boston’s best player, now it’s Horford. “Everybody” knows Kyrie and Hayward are their best players. You obviously don’t know squat about the Celtics. You are out of your mind!
Your life must really stink to try and police basketball boards on people who have a diffrent opinion as you. Funny thing is i have not once discussed the actual teams outlook with you.
My life looks great. I’m a Warriors and Boston fan. They’ll be in the Finals the next 4 years. Kevin Durant is going to tie LeBron in championships next season, and pass him in their new arena the year after. Steph and Klay will retire together. LeBron has seen his last Final. I’ve seen your junk. Let’s hear what the Lakers will do. They can’t get their hometown guys in Paul George and DeMar Derozan, and the marquee free agents don’t want to be 2nd option to LeBron. Talk it up. We’ll see what happens.
Yeah! I’m a bandwagoner too! My current favorite team’s success is my own success! Also because my current favorite teams is doing well I must be sure to squash any potential uprising from the lesser fan bases. I am KING OF THE WOOOOOORLD!
No one knows what they will do because its not up to us. Your the one acting like you have all the answers and its pathetic. 1 year ago if you said Lebron would be a Laker people would think your crazy.
Colton jones is a cavs homer that deep down knows cavs are in for a long term suckage and he’s just venting ! His trade deadline moves sucked he traded all expiring contracts and took back the awful Jordan Clarkson contract! Clarkson isn’t worth playing or having neither really is hood nance is nice but not for whatever extension he’s about to get for them ! Cavs are doomed for a long time and they owe some 1st rd picks! They are protected but they can’t trade any until they convey
Wade and Isaiah Thomas did do Kevin love wrong. I hope Love does well this year.
He might put up Kevin love in Minnesota numbers and they will still likely miss the playoffs or if they are lucky and it actually matters to them a 8th seed and s first rd sweep at the hands of Celtics raptors or Sixers! Long term they are screwed nobody will wanna trade stars or cap space for any of the junk cavs will have to offer ! By this time next year sexton will be the only player on the cavs other teams value