The Boston Celtics could be on the verge of something big in the Eastern Conference. While it is no secret LeBron James has owned the conference for years on end, Boston was able to secure the first seed this past season and now they hold the number 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Even though the Celtics ended up getting embarrassed in the Conference Finals against LeBron and company, the season should still be considered a successful one for the C’s. However, President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge isn’t going to get complacent.
While Ainge recognizes the accomplishments the Celtics racked up this season, he knows the city of Boston expects championships, not Conference Finals appearances. Reportedly, Ainge isn’t going to sit back and be content with this current Celtics roster, as he recently told Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett that the Celtics need to add talent and there could potentially be some big changes coming in Beantown:
“Just because you’re one piece away doesn’t mean you can get it. And if you force yourself to get it, and if you force a deal or force yourself to get the second-best available or the third- or fourth-best available player at that position that you need, then it might not make you that much better or make you still not good enough, and you’re stuck. So, yeah, we’re not that far away, but we’re still a ways away. We still know we need to get better. Everybody in our organization knows we need to get better. We need to add.”
“We have a lot of good players,” he said, “but we need some great ones.”
“…There is a potential for there to be some significant change,” said Ainge. “But maybe less change. Maybe more change; maybe not. A lot will be dependent on what we’re able to pull off in the draft and in deals leading up to free agency and then what happens in free agency. There’s just so much unknown right now. Right now it’s all talk and pipe dreams and planning. But there’s no certainty. It’s an exciting time for us, and it’s a very busy time for us.”
Based on Ainge’s comments, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Celtics underwent some major changes sooner rather than later. This process could potentially start with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, with which Boston is expected to either select a guard such as Markelle Fultz or deal the pick for a proven veteran such as a Paul George or a Jimmy Butler.
Not only could that be a route Danny Ainge decides to take, but the C’s have also been rumored to be interested in players hitting the free agent market such as Gordon Hayward.
Then of course, we have the highly discussed dilemma surrounding star guard Isaiah Thomas and his future with the club. While the 5’9″ dynamo pushed scoring 30 a night this season, his defense is a glaring liability and many around the league believe it’d be in Boston’s best interest to deal him and give the keys to the projected draft pick Fultz.
With so many different ways Danny Ainge and the Celtics can go about their offseason, this summer should be one of the busiest we’ve seen in a while in Boston.
