Apr 26, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger (7) reacts after making a basket during the second half in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics – What’s Next?
I told you before that you’d be seeing this storyline again, especially when we’re talking about teams in the Atlantic. The Celtics have seemingly gone the opposite route of the division rival 76ers, and no I don’t mean record wise (sure they made the playoffs last season but they did so with a sub-.500 record in a sub-par Eastern Conference). The Celtics have been stockpiling young assets in the backcourt with stunning regularity.
Over the course of the past two seasons, they’ve brought in Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Evan Turner, and James Young. Add in the fact that they already had the promising defensive stand-out, Avery Bradley, and you have yourself a potentially potent (or flammable) mix of contrasting styles and levels of experience.
The Celtics have no shortage of capable young(ish) bigs. They brought in the offensively capable David Lee, who is fresh off of an NBA Finals win. Amir Johnson, who has been a tride-and-true starter for the defending Atlantic Division Champions, and former Thunder rotational forward, Perry Jones, both join the big man rotation as well. This means the already formidable and youthful front-court duo of Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger get some more help and strength down low, and I didn’t even add in the skilled MMA fighter known as Kelly Olynyk, who rounds out the roster.
The reason I’m confused about the Celtics’ future (as so many other are) is because there’s been no indication that any of their above mentioned young-guns will necessarily be built as THE GUY in Boston.
They haven’t established that superstar talent that has become a crucial necessity if a team hopes to even be in contention within their own division. This has to make you wonder if their plan is to keep searching for a future stud in coming draft classes, or if some of their young assets might be on the move in an effort to bring in an already established star.
Next: Clippers: Now or Never