Celtics Don’t Need to Make Another Move This Offseason

Is making another move necessary for Boston?

Danny Ainge and the rest of the Boston Celtics front office have made one thing very clear this offseason: they believe they can and want to win next season. Following Boston’s 48-win season in which they tied for the third best record in the Eastern Conference, it’s safe to say that their rebuilding is over, especially once they landed star center Al Horford.

However, now with the rebuilding phase behind them, their focus has turned towards adding another player to help them get by the Cleveland Cavaliers. There’s little doubt that Cleveland is in its own tier when it comes to the Eastern Conference. It’ll be rare to find anyone picking against them next season when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoffs.

That’s why the Celtics have pushed towards trying to strike up a deal for Russell Westbrook or Blake Griffin. Although, reports constantly surface that Boston’s most likely trading partner isn’t with the Oklahoma City Thunder or Los Angeles Clippers, rather with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jahlil Okafor.

Ah, yes, back to the Okafor rumors. The rumors that will no longer include the third pick in the draft. Now, with Ainge unwilling to move the Brooklyn picks or any of their core for Okafor – which is a smart move for a player at Okafor’s caliber – it will become even harder to strike up a deal for the young big man.

It’s not all bad news though, as Boston doesn’t need to make another move this offseason, especially if it’s to add Okafor. I was all for adding Okafor before the draft. I felt he would turn out better than nearly anyone Boston could have selected with the third pick.

Also, assuming they would sign Horford or eventually sign a big name center, Okafor would thrive in a role in which he could focus on his offense and not have too much of a responsibility on defense. Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league when it comes to covering up player’s flaws, and there’s little doubt that he would have been able to do that with Okafor.

Although, the time when Boston had a pick worth the value of Jahlil Okafor is gone, and they should enter next season with their current roster. He would make the Celtics better and upgrade their front court miles ahead of where it was last season. But, when it comes down to it, unless Boston is only giving up a package of their bench players – R.J. Hunter, Kelly Olynyk, James Young, Jonas Jerebko, etc – it doesn’t seem worth it.

Okafor alone isn’t enough to move them ahead of Cleveland, therefore he’s not worth losing any major part of their rotation for when Boston could look at next summer to try to acquire someone more valuable than him. Acquiring Westbrook or Griffin might not be enough either, depending on what they would have to give up.

With the 2017 free agency class loaded, the Celtics will have an even bigger selection of players to choose from, including the two they’re eyeing this summer. Boston also wouldn’t have to potentially gut the young core that got them to this point, and ruin the depth that would make them so hard to beat if they were to attract another top-tier player via free agency.

Once again, money won’t be an issue for Boston next offseason. Kelly Olynyk is a restricted free agent and Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko will become unrestricted free agents. Not to mention that on top of three contracts worth a combined $20 million this season, Boston also still has $12 million in cap room remaining this summer prior to signing their second round picks.

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Pair the current roster, the potential top pick in two consecutive drafts and a max contract, the Celtics should once again be in the running for Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook or any free agent they choose. Of course, Griffin holds a player option, so he could always stay in Los Angeles for another season, and Oklahoma City owns Westbrook’s Bird Rights, so they can offer him a fifth year on a max contract, therefore the potential of them leaving decreases somewhat.

Although, with Chris Paul also a potential free agent next summer, the Clippers might have to choose between their two stars after being heavy spenders these past two summers. Also, Westbrook has given no indication whether he’s leaning towards staying with the Thunder past this year.

When it comes down to it, Boston can’t try to leapfrog over the Cavaliers in one summer. They got exceptional luck over the past three seasons that helped them get to this point – already out of the rebuilding phase – but they’re still a team who hasn’t gotten out of the first round under Brad Stevens. Continuing to build at a steady pace and going into next offseason with momentum is the right move. The last thing Boston wants is to gut their strong core, even if it does mean acquiring a star like Westbrook or Griffin.

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Boston isn’t going to find a LeBron James, but their unbelievable depth, paired with Isaiah Thomas, Horford and a third star might be enough to take down the Cavaliers in the future. Boston should continue to look and see if they can find an undervalued player, but the urgency to add another star this summer shouldn’t be high.