Let’s Talk Celtics

The NBA season is around the corner! The excitement of the off-season has begun. Rumors, trades, signings, the works. Every team is trying to improve to lift the championship trophy at the end of the season. Bucks trading for Jrue Holiday, other teams like Jazz, Kings, and Celtics are locking up their franchise players. Lakers signing Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and even Wesley Mathews is a great signing. It seems everyone is making moves, but the Celtics. At least, that’s how some people view it. Celtics fans, and even some Boston radio people, believe that Danny Ainge should be on the hot seat. However, I don’t believe that to be true. Let’s look at some of the Celtics’ early moves.

Locking Up Jayson Tatum

The biggest move so far, and probably this season, is locking up Jayson Tatum to a 5 year $195 million max contract. As Celtics fans, we love our guys. Jayson Tatum has Paul Pierce type love already, and with good reason. In 3 short years, JT has emerged as one of the next superstars of the NBA. Along with Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have secured two young, promising studs for the next couple of years. These two are the future of the Celtics. Not a bad duo to build around.

Signing Jeff Teague

This move caught a lot of heat, but I have no idea why. Most of the complaints I heard last year were: no bench help, needed a back-up guard, and people hated Wanamaker. Personally, I didn’t think he was all that bad. Also, Jeff Teague is such an upgrade. Averaged 10.9 points and 5.2 assists, and just under 25 min a game. He’s still balling! He is exactly what the Cs need, in my opinion. He’s not going to do too much. He’ll play his role, make smart plays, and be that vet we need off the bench—great signing number 1.

Tristan Thompson

Another underrated singing. Thompson averaged a double-double the last two seasons and averaged 12 points per game last season, which was a career-high. He also gives more veteran presence and depth on the bench. Not only depth but depth at the Center position. It’s going to be nice to have someone on the floor to grab a rebound at all times. With Theis, Thompson, and the Time Lord, we should see the Celtics’ second chance opportunities shoot up. Two needs of the Celtics needed, they fulfilled. Check it off.

Gordon Hayward

This is the one I really want to talk about. People are livid that the Cs just let Hayward walk. However, how do you let a man walk that bamboozled his way into a better contract? My first point I like to make: how the hell did Gordon Hayward make this much money playing basketball. His time with the Celtics was cut in half due to injury, he never got out of the first round in Utah, and they became a contender right after he left. I don’t see it. This year was the first year he’s played to his potential, or at least close to it since he came to Boston. We all heard the rumors about a Sign-and-Trade with the Pacers, how Gordon and Robyn wanted to return home, and I’m sure Danny did everything he could, but when MJ calls and says he’ll give you 20 extra million — you take it. People really want Ainge on the hot seat, but why? The Celtics didn’t adore Hayward for his play. He was seen as a nuisance to some. People are mad because the Celtics didn’t get anything for him, but the dude made more money than he should. How is that Danny’s fault? I see some rumors about a possible S&T still a possibility, but I don’t even know who the Hornets could even give up for it to be worth it. Unless they added a third team, anyway, it sucks we couldn’t take advantage, but to blame Danny for CHA swooping in last minute and offering more is a wild move.

In the End

Two veteran signings, two drafted shooters, signing Tatum to an extension, and the offseason just started. Hot Take: this may be the best offseason Danny has had. I love the direction of the team. It feels like they are finally building a real team. The Cs have made the Eastern Conference Finals 3 out of the last 4 years, and this is the best team put together by far. Danny knows what he is doing, and everyone needs to calm down. The Cs will be right back in contention this year. I’d also like to leave this here:

If you're mad at Danny cause MJ agreed to wildly overpay Gordo take a deep breath and fall in love with him all over again for making sure he signed Jaylen to that extension last year at that money!

— james beard (@beardjam) November 21, 2020

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