Some of the glow of this NBA transaction cycle is starting to wear off a bit, and aside from one massive LeBron James decision, it feels like most of the important business is largely settled. Still, with the moves the Celtics made, it’s hard not to feel antsy for another move. But as much as fans may want that, it frankly doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The team is extremely well-positioned currently, sitting just below the luxury tax line with 14 players on the roster and considerable depth at every position. It might not be a realistic expectation, but they have 14 players who all expect to compete for minutes this season.
And that’s why the Celtics shouldn’t feel the need to act with any urgency. They should go through training camp and preseason and see how things shake out. Let the regular season begin, take stock of what you’ve got, and go from there.
Celtics' opening day roster can be far from finalized
When last season began, it looked like Chris Boucher and Josh Minott were going to be big parts of the rotation. Things can change. And there’s no reason to make changes before we see how it looks. Maybe the Celtics will realize the team is complete and there are no moves to be made. Maybe they’ll find a glaring hole that needs fixing. Or maybe something in between. Either way, they’ve got time to figure it out.
Boston has gained a surplus of draft picks and that much-desired optionality going forward, but their assets needn’t be burning a hole in their pocket. Right now, there are no obvious targets on the market, so the team can afford to be patient.
They should be well equipped for the regular season, and then Brad Stevens and company can reassess the situation before the NBA trade deadline in February. The landscape of the league will surely have changed a lot by then, and it’s anyone’s guess what new talent might be available on the market.
Celtics can afford to be patient and act from position of power
If the right deal pops up, Brad and the Celtics will be ready to strike. And if not, there’s no problem at all with riding it out and waiting until next summer. Staying under the tax would allow Boston to reset the repeater tax and make it much easier to splurge on the team for the next few years. They’ll also have Paul George’s expiring contract and even more draft picks to play with.
Furthermore, they’ll have a much better read on their young, in-house talent. If guys like Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and others take meaningful leaps, then maybe the Celtics won’t even need to make moves and can just keep developing their own players.
But the only way to find out is by riding with those guys and letting them play. It feels like that’s the plan this season, and that’s why I’d guess they are basically done making moves this offseason. Again, if opportunity arises, they’ll be primed to pounce, but staying the course feels like the best option right now.
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