Boston Celtics’ Championship Window Hasn’t Opened Yet

The Boston Celtics are getting a good picture as to why their championship window is still a few years away

The Boston Celtics are knocking on the door to be perennials contenders for the NBA Finals, but they’re not ready right now. The green team seems one or two years away from being perennial contenders. The next Celtics team that gets out of the Eastern Conference will likely have a very different makeup. Current starters might be on the bench, current bench players might be starters, and new assets will be injected into the rotation. Last, but not least, LeBron James will be older.

The first reason why the Celtics’ window hasn’t opened yet is because James is still the most dominant player in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors are currently showing the world exactly what it takes to keep a LeBron-led team at bay. Their solution? Create, arguably, one of the greatest super team in NBA history with two NBA MVPs leading the charge. Let’s not forget to mention a possible Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Draymond Green and All Star in Klay Thompson.

The Celtics do not have the as much talent as the Cleveland Cavaliers, nor can they defend the Cavaliers’ big three. It’s pretty clear Kevin Love is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ third best player and he had his best playoff series in the Eastern Conference Finals, shooting better than 50% in 3 of the 5 games.

If the Celtics can’t consistently stop Love or Kyrie Irving, James will continue to punish them in all phases of the game. The Warriors are proving if a team can force James to try to beat them himself, they will have a good chance to win against the Cavaliers.

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Second, Danny Ainge has stockpiled a lot of assets, draft picks and young talent. Yes, waiting for the James era to end will be a big help the Celtics’ NBA Finals’ fortunes, but smart drafting and free agent signings could speed up the process.

I believe the Celtics don’t have many options with number 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Many believe Markelle Fultz is a future superstar and franchise cornerstone. With the salary cap rising over $100 million for the 2017-18 season, it makes both financial and basketball sense to draft a player with the first pick.

Since teams can pay first round picks between 80% and 120% of the rookie scale’s fixed amount, the Celtics could pay Fultz 100% of the fixed salary, $5,855,200. That currently ranks as the 7th highest on the team. Plus, the Celtics would have control of Fultz for four years.

Contrast that with Jimmy Butler who is earning $18,696,918 next season. While he is under contract through the 2020 season, the Celtics would be paying him a similar figure in the high teens while worrying about a possible decline in performance at over 30 years old. Simply, it makes more sense to draft a potential franchise cornerstone (which Butler is not…sorry) due to the lower salary and team-friendly contracts in terms of years.

Lastly, if we look at the models of recent teams with dynastic potential, like the San Antonio Spurs or Warriors, they are all built through the draft and used free agency to fill out the roster. One reason why this model works is because of team-friendly rookie contracts and the amount of money teams with original draft rights can offer players for their second contracts. If the Celtics draft a player like Fultz with the first pick, they can also sign an impactful free agent such as Gordon Hayward. Trading the pick for a player and maybe lower pick leaves the Celtics with less money and talent.

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Of course, I’m following the rumor mill. I don’t believe Paul George or Butler are worth a number one pick. If Ainge could trade for a superstar like Anthony Davis then trade the pick. But, players like him don’t grow on trees. So, my advice to the Celtics, believe in the superstar potential of Fultz.