Boston Celtics: 3 Cs who might have played their final game in Beantown
Following a disappointing Game 6 performance, the Boston Celtics are now focusing on 2020-21. Before any additions are discussed, we must first discuss the subtractions.
What a ride. The 2019-20 Boston Celtics took many steps in the right direction for a franchise that had just gone all in and failed to reach its potential. Following the 2018-19 season, Danny Ainge tore down many of the pillars that made up the team’s roster.
Kyrie Irving turned out to be the biggest addition-by-subtraction, but even smaller moves like letting Al Horford walk and avoiding overpays for Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier allowed the team to refocus on who they planned on building around.
After arguably overachieving as a No. 3 seed and reaching the Eastern Conference finals, the Cs imploded somewhat in what was a very winnable series. This may turn out to be the best chance they have had in years to reach and win the NBA Finals, given the impending formation of a superteam in Brooklyn and potential improvements to perennial contenders like Milwaukee and Toronto.
The Houdini isn’t alone with that thought process:
Celtics will be fine, but this did feel like a rare opportunity for them. Warriors sitting it out, Giannis cleared out of the way, and a path with no homecourt disadvantage.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) September 28, 2020
Either way, the focus needs to pivot to the future. Who is in the plans for the 2020-21 season and beyond?
Time will answer that question, but what’s more answerable is the question of who will won’t be in uniform: