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Imagining two alternate universe scenarios for the Boston Celtics in 2019-20

By Andrew Hughes

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 10: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans talk after the game between the Celtics and Pelicans at TD Garden on December 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 10: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans talk after the game between the Celtics and Pelicans at TD Garden on December 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Jaylen Brown #7, Al Horford #42, Terry Rozier #12 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics walk back on the court after a timeout against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 13, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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.

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:

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.

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