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Boston Celtics: No overhaul needed as team builds for 2020-21

By Jason Haskins

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 11: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high five during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 11: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high five during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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A jam-packed week of the NBA draft, free agency, and trades has the Boston Celtics in full-on prep mode for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

By the time you’re reading this, who knows what will have transpired for the Boston Celtics. A flurry of activity has taken place this week, between watching rumors fly, soaking in the NBA draft, discussions between fans, and actual transactions going through.

Building a dynasty with a franchise — contrary to what a gamer can do with a video game — is no easy feat. James Harden is not the answer, if that’s what one is thinking, in taking Boston to the next level. It’s an enticing thought to entertain, but it would also mean mortgaging the future and exchanging short-term success for long-term possibilities.

The Celtics are on the cusp of building something great with the core they already have and it’s only a matter of time before that hurdle of getting past the Eastern Conference Finals is eclipsed.

What do we know now? Jayson Tatum is likely to sign a max extension with Boston. Enes Kanter is gone, traded back to the Portland Trail Blazers. Traded as well was Vincent Poirier, sent in a separate transaction to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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It was also reported the Celtics did not issue a qualifying offer to Brad Wanamaker.

By declining his option for this season, Gordon Hayward has thrown some uncertainty Boston’s way as the week ends. There’s a chance he can still come back but reports seem to indicate he wants to play for the Indiana Pacers, whether via free agency or a sign-and-trade. And while having him in Boston makes the Celtics better, losing him isn’t the end of the world, though getting a player in return would be nice.

Filling Boston’s needs

After days of reportedly trying to move up in the draft, general manager Danny Ainge may have found two gems in the first-round and filled two of Boston’s needs at the same time.

Heading into offseason activity, the Celtics needed a big man who could effectively patrol the middle (something they have needed for multiple seasons now). Boston was also in need of a scoring point guard off the bench and a knockdown shooter who strikes fear into opponents in the vein of Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro (just some recent examples of those who have helped put a dagger into Boston’s title hopes).

By drafting Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith, Boston selected two options to fill that void.  I don’t want to jump the gun — like I did with thinking Carsen Edwards could in his rookie season — but Nesmith, at glance, appears to be the sharpshooter the team so desperately needed.

Pritchard is a fantastic scoring guard and could find time right away as a backup point guard.

Jaylen Brown, by the way, could very well be on his way to being that sharpshooter, too. He’s consistently improved with the deep ball each year and emitted the same “I’ll drain this every time” feeling other great shooters have displayed.

This leaves the team in search of big man, though it’s not wise to sleep on Robert Williams. Tapping into that potential Williams displayed in the bubble is an encouraging sign as his career progresses. It would be hopeful for him to build off that performance and become dominant in the middle.

Myles Turner has been the most-discussed player in the rumored “Hayward-to-Indiana” discussions. His ability to protect the rim is desired — which he does well — though by pulling down just over six rebounds per game, it doesn’t exactly validate this desire by many to acquire him.

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Banner 18 may be closer than we think as Tatum and Brown remain the cornerstone of this team, along with Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker. Finding that defensive whiz of a big man to pair with Daniel Theis — whether it be Williams, Turner, or even Grant Williams — is the next step. Throw in some consistent bench scoring, and come next summer, the Celtics will celebrating their first championship in over a decade.

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