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The Boston Celtics surprised a lot of folks last season and snuck into the postseason as the seventh seed in the East. Once there, they ran into the powerhouse Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept them out of the first round. So wait, why will a team floating in NBA mediocrity, all of the sudden make a push for the top 10 in just three to five years?
Boston has built a competitive roster around one of the best coaches in the NBA in Brad Stevens, and has done so in a cost effect and efficient manner. Sure, they’ll be over the cap this season by trading for David Lee, but his deal expires next season and Boston will have loads of cap space. They also have draft picks. A lot of draft picks. Which they wanted to give away to get Justise Winslow in the 2015 draft, but some of the best trades are the ones that aren’t made. This is one of those cases.
With a possible six future firsts and eight future seconds coming in, Boston has a lot of different options. As the Celtics are currently constructed, they have a role players surrounded by more role players. They need a superstar that will really vault them into elite company. They could look to draft their superstar one with one of the potential picks they have in future drafts, or they can ship some of them along with an expiring or two, and end up getting, let’s go with, DeMarcus Cousins in two seasons. And here’s the scary part, what if they somehow manage to draft a star and get Boogie?
Regardless of whether they are able to bring Bill Simmons’ dream to reality, they have assets, and a young roster who should only improve in the coming seasons. Expect the one of a kind Boston Celtics tradition and mystique to continue deep into the playoffs, year after year.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, ESPN.com
Salary cap and contract information courtesy of Spotrac.com, Hoopshype.com, Basketballinsiders.com
Future draft commitments and rosters information courtesy of RealGM.com