The 2018 playoff team full-time
Part of the root of the dissension between Irving and the fans was the assertion that the team was better without him after going on an epic playoff run through the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers before taking LeBron James and the 3x defending Eastern Conference champions to seven games.
It seems like Irving was always set to be a member of the Brooklyn Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie led recruitment efforts to lure the All-NBA guard away from the Boston Celtics after Irving promised he’d be back if Beantown’s faithful wanted him.
According to @TheSteinLine, Spencer Dinwiddie has played a significant role in recruiting Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn. On the HoopsHype Podcast during the season, @SDinwiddie_25 talked about doing anything he could to recruit stars to the Nets: https://t.co/g0th3R2WR8
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 19, 2019
Assuming Irving left, Danny Ainge could have ran back the 2018 playoff team–likely without Marcus Morris who also seemed to be on the way out no matter what. Apparently Ainge didn’t even offer him a contract:
Danny Ainge said on @Toucherandrich that the Celtics offered Marcus Morris a 3-year extension before the 18-19 season and he chose to play out the final year of his deal. Ainge said he talked to Morris after season but team didn’t make him an offer once they were locked on Kemba.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) November 7, 2019
In this alternate reality, Horford and fellow 2019 flight case Terry Rozier are retained by the team, giving them a Rozier-Brown-Hayward-Tatum-Horford starting five with Aron Baynes, Semi Ojeleye, Brad Wanamaker and Marcus Smart comprising the bench.
Who knows if Tatum and Brown still ascend with Rozier likely taking a lion’s share of shots. With Horford and Baynes retained, Daniel Theis likely never becomes a rotation player–let alone a starter.
With all of that said, this is still likely a #5 or #6 seed in the playoffs.