What team should one hope has a disappointing season, giving the Celtics a chance to make a sweet mid-season trade? – The Florida Man
It’s interesting to think about that exercise. There are questions regarding who should be the fifth player in the Celtics’ closing lineup, along with White, Tatum, Brown, and possibly Porzingis, in my opinion. Will this squad go double bigs with Rob Williams or Horford in those crucial situations? Keep your size down with Malcolm Brogdon? Finding other elite players for Boston’s closing lineup would be a goal if those options don’t work out because it’s probable that neither of those potential solutions on the team’s current roster are ideal choices for a team with title hopes.
I believe there are a few middle-of-the-road teams that could try to blow it up this year if things don’t go well when it comes to choosing a team to fill that hole. There would be a ton of intriguing components in Toronto (OG Anunoby?). The same is true of groups like the Bulls, Nets, or any average Western Conference group. Since the Celtics have a ton of draft assets and some movable contracts, they are well-positioned to participate in trade negotiations. Many of these clubs are in win-now mode, but that may change quickly. How this new roster comes together, particularly in crucial situations, will determine who the Celtics should specifically target.
Good day, Brian. Why couldn’t a journalist like you contact Brogdon’s representatives for an interview to clarify things up? Which would you rather start after KP, Rob or Al? Do they start the season with a 10- or 12-player bench, or is it determined by the bench players’ preseason performance? (Eddy FB)
There are other routes Brogdon could have taken if he wanted to clear the air. He has every right to choose not to speak on the record just yet, so it’s likely that we will have to wait until Celtics Media Day to get his opinion on the matter.
I go back and forth on the starting lineup with Porzingis. My gut says Rob but I honestly want to see what it looks like during the preseason. They may stick with Horford in there to begin since he’s a prideful guy and will likely be resting back-to-backs anyway (giving Rob a chance to start those). In all honesty, how it looks during the first few weeks of camp will likely lead to the answer. Joe Mazzulla may have an idea of how he wants to start games but he needs to be open to pivoting if there is a certain grouping that looks better together/maximizes the strengths of the entire starting five. As far as rotation depth goes, it’s all dependent on how the preseason goes. Presumably, Pritchard, Brogdon, Al/Rob and Hauser are all safe bets to play off the bench. If others push their way into that mix, all the better.
