Celtics in no position to get the star who belongs in Boston
The Boston Celtics are set with their roster for the near and somewhat distant future. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are locked into Supermax deals, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are on four-year deals, and Kristaps Porzingis's two-year extension is kicking in during the 2024-25 season.
There's no room for another star. At least not in 2025.
That's what makes the tale of Cooper Flagg and the Celtics so tragic. As the presumed No. 1 overall pick next year, Flagg is going to end up with one of the worst teams in the league. Not the defending champions that have a chance at repeating with most of the roster returning outside of a player or two from the pro roster.
What makes it tragic? The Celtics are the team Flagg and his family grew up loving.
"We'd have a couple-hour drive for AAU tournaments and our little Chrysler van had a movie projector that would come down the middle and we'd pop in 85-86 Celtics the whole championship run and watch game by game, playing the whole thing over and over again," Flagg told CBS Sports. "I think the way they played, the way they got the ball out quickly, moved it down the court, the selflessness and unselfishness on that team of just accepting a role, doing the right things, putting your body on the line, it kind of embodies what a good team has to have. Everyone has to sacrifice something. Playing the game the right way will get you a lot farther than trying to do things you can't or don't help your team win. That type of influence has been invaluable to me."
Cooper Flagg not ending up with the Boston Celtics for at least several years
Flagg likely isn't looking past his one year in college and the first few years of his NBA career, so trying to figure out a way for the Newport, Maine native to end up in green is a fool's errand.
Still, there's so many connections that are undeniable beyond the home-region angle. Flagg, like Tatum, will be a Blue Devil when his college career is said and done. If there is a position that'll be available in the Celtics' lineup, it is the 5. Porzingis isn't signed for the long-haul and Al Horford is in the twilight of his career.
Flagg is small for the pivot position right now but in time, he can bulk up and become a monster at center. Along with Brown, Tatum, and perhaps White down the road, this team would be dynastic.
But there's a good chance it never happens, even though Flagg and the Celtics belong together. Call it them the Romeo and Juliet of basketball.