J-Speaks: Celtics Road Back to Title Contention

Just four seasons back, the now reigning defending Atlantic Division Champions and this past season’s No. 1 Eastern Conference Seeded Boston Celtics were going into rebuilding mode after trading future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. Entering this season, the C’s following a serious roster makeover which consisted signing and acquiring respectably two All-Stars, and drafting one of the best scorer in the draft this past June, they are poised to be a serious threat to the back-to-back-back Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The question is how did they get to this point?

General Manager Danny Ainge and Assistant GM Mike Zarren, started their reconstruction of the roster when they went outside the box to find their next head coach, and pinpointed undervalued players that formed the team’s chip-on-their shoulder core that turned the team into consistent playoff participants the last three seasons, which included their runner’s up in the East this past season. Along the way, they stockpiled future draft picks from other teams.

The head coach the Celtics chose to lead them into the future was Butler University head coach Brad Stevens, who they signed to a six-year $22 million contract on July 3, 2013.

Nine days later, the C’s pulled off a blockbuster trade sending Pierce, Garnett, Jason Terry, D.J. White, and a 2017 Second-Round pick to the Nets in exchange for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, and First-Round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018, and the Celtic’s option to swap 2017 First-Round picks with the Nets.

The initial reaction of saying goodbye to Pierce and Garnett was not a good one from the Celtic faithful because the players the team received back were nowhere near equal value and the future draft picks did not have the sparkle of a diamond in the ruff.

What seemed on the surface of the Nets getting the better end of the deal, they went from a title contender to now a team rebuilding themselves with a long road back to respectability, let alone making the playoffs.

That deal laid the foundation for them to snag Isaiah Thomas for basically peanuts and a note pad. Stevens squeezed every single drop out of each player that passed through the organization—and there were a high number, and that caught the eye of some big name free agents and without hesitation hightailed to join up.

While the Celtics won just 25 games in Stevens’ first season on the bench in 2013-14, he offered a glimpse of his ability to get the most out of the unit he had. One example of that how he turned guard at best in Jordan Crawford into the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in December 2013.

Even with the Celtics making the postseason the last three years in succession in Stevens first four seasons on the bench, Ainge was unsatisfied about the team’s prospect of winning a title and made the decision to strip the team down to were just four players will return from the roster this past season. Of the 11 new faces to join the squad will be new starting lead guard Kyrie Irving, who the team snagged in late August from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat them 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals this past season. Before that, they signed Gordon Hayward in free agency. More on these moves later.

In total, the Celtics dating back to the summer of 2013 made a total of 78 moves, which consisted of 22 trades, that netted 16 future draft picks.

The first of those draft picks came in 2014 when they C’s drafted guard James Young at No. 17 out of the University of Kentucky. The used their 2016 First-Round pick to select forward Jaylen Brown out of the University of California at No. 3 overall, and the Celtics traded their 2017 First-Round pick, which was the No. 1 overall pick they traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 3 pick, which they used to select talented scoring forward Jayson Tatum out of Duke University.

To put into context the reconstruction of the Celtics roster from the summer of 2013 to now, dealing this past season’s starting shooting guard Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for forward Marcus Morris, not one single player remains on the roster from the 2013-14 NBA campaign.

Despite Young not panning out from where he was drafted in 2014, the Celtics hope that Brown, and Tatum, who the Celtics traded down for the No. 1 overall pick that the Sixers used to select guard Markelle Fultz out of the University of Washington, guard Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier will become huge parts of their drive to win championships over the next few years.

Other notable transactions that took place during the Celtics remolding of their roster during 2013-14 consisted of them dealing Fab Melo to the Memphis Grizzlies for Donte Greene on Aug. 15, 2013. They traded guard Courtney Lee on Jan. 7, 2014 to the Grizzlies for guard Jerryd Bayless and forward Ryan Gomes. Eight days later, Crawford and Brooks were dealt as part of a three-way deal with the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors in exchange for center Joel Anthony and three future Second-Round picks, which ended up being center Jordan Mickey; forward Deyonta Davis, whose rights were dealt to the Grizzlies, and Ben Bentil. On June 26, 2014, the Celtics drafted Smart with the No. 6 overall pick out of Oklahoma State University and the previously mentioned Young at No. 17.

The last part of the Celtics championship team from the 2007-08 campaign was traded on Dec. 18, 2014 when All-Star lead guard Rajon Rondo and forward Dwight Powell were dealt to the Dallas Mavericks for forward Jae Crowder; center Brandan Wright, and guard Jameer Nelson. The C’s also garnered a Top 3 protected First-Round pick; another First-Rounder in the range No. 15-30 in 2015; Top-7 pick from 2016-20, and an unprotected pick in 2021. The Celtics used that 2016 pick, to selected at No. 16-Guerschon Yabusele.

The Celtics also received in the Rondo deal a $12.9 million trade exception, and a 2016 Second-Round pick, which they used to draft Demetrius Jackson at No. 45, who is now with the Houston Rockets.

While the blockbuster deal with the Nets is often referred to as the best of Ainge has made in this span, the 2014-15 campaign was a true art in reshaping an NBA roster.

Trading Rondo, the 15^th team captain in franchise history, brought them Crowder, who blossomed into a primetime perimeter defender; a fabulous three-point shooter, which earned him a team-friendly contract five-year $35 million deal on July 27, 2015.

The 2017-18 Celtics roster will feature two rookies from this deal in Yabusele, and forward Semi Ojeleye, who was selected at No. 37 overall in June.  

In a seven-month span, the C’s made 11 trades, which included in one stretch in January that year of making four swaps in the span of seven days. The team carried a remarkable 41 different players during that regular season, but emerged from all that wheeling and dealing with Crowder who solidified himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in “The Association,” as well as one of the best three-point marksman, and earned himself a new five-year, $35 million deal.

On Feb. 19, 2015, the Celtics made a trade that eventually turned them into a major player in the East, when they acquired guard Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns for guard Marcus Thornton, and a 2016 First-Round pick, which was Skal Labissiere at No. 28 out of Kentucky, whose draft rights were traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Thomas went from the No. 60 and last pick in the 2011 draft into a two-time All-Star, who finished fifth in MVP voting in 2016-17, while also earning first All-NBA selection.

He was a big part of getting them to the playoffs as the No. 7 Seed, but they were swept in the opening round by the Cavs 4-0.

Thomas endeared himself to the fans of “Beantown” this past postseason when he played exceptional throughout the 2017 NBA playoffs in memory of the sudden passing of his 22-year-old sister Chyna’s passing from a car accident prior to beginning of this past postseason.

Even with all that, Ainge made him the centerpiece of a jaw-dropping trade with the Cavs who sent them home in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals that netted them the much younger Irving, who is just 25 years of age, and with two years left on his contract.

The notable transactions for the Celtics made during the 2014-15 season consisted of them dealing a conditional 2015 Second-Round pick, that was not exercised to the Cavs for center Tyler Zeller; Thornton, a the 2016 First-Round pick, which turned out to be Labissiere.

On July 15, 2014, Bradley signed a new four-year $32 million deal. Four days later, Humphries was dealt to the Washington Wizards for a conditional 2015 Second-Round pick, that also was not exercised.

On Sept. 25, 2014, Bogans, and two conditional future Second-Round picks, that were not exercised were dealt to the Cavs for Powell, Erik Murphy, Malcolm Thomas, John Lucas III, a 2016 Second-Round pick, where the C’s selected at No. 58 forward Abdel Nader, and a 2017 Second-Round pick, which turned into Kadeem Allen at No. 53.

On Sept. 29, 2014, the Celtics signed now Portland Trail Blazers swingman Evan Turner to a two-year $6.7 million deal.

Jan. 9, 2015, the team deals Wright to the Suns for two future Second-Round picks, that turned into Rade Zagorac at No. 35 overall, and Ojeleye. Three days later, they sent now Cavs forward Jeff Green as part of a three-way deal with the Grizzlies and the Pelicans for forward the now retired Tayshaun Prince; now Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers; newest Chicago Bulls’ swingman Quincy Pondexter, and a future First-Round pick.

Jan 15, 2015, C’s dealt Rivers as part of a three-way deal with the Clippers, and Suns in exchange for guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, forward Shavlik Randolph, and a 2017 Second-Round pick, that turned into Jabari Bird at No. 56 overall.

On Feb. 19, 2015, the team dealt Prince to the Pistons for now Utah Jazz forward Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome.

In the 2015 draft that June, the Celtics selected Rozier at No. 16 out of Louisville; guard R.J. Hunter at No. 28 out of Georgia State; Mickey at No. 33 out of Louisiana State University (LSU) and Thornton at No. 45.

Coming into the 2015-16 season, Stevens craved for continuity with the roster. The C’s front office as a result were quiet at the trade deadline in Feb. 2016. The team won 48 games that season, but in a mind-blowing four-way tiebreaker knocked the Celtics out of having home court in the opening round against the No. 4 Seeded Atlanta Hawks. The No. 5 Seeded C’s put up a good fight in the series, but fell in six games.

They did make enough of an impression on their opponent where in that off-season the Celtics the Hawks All-Star forward/center Al Horford signed a four-year $113 million deal two months later.

In free agency, the C’s on July 9, 2015 they signed forward/center Amir Johnson and forward Jonas Jerebko to two-year deals worth $24 and $10 million respectably.

On July 27, 2015, the team dealt Wallace and Chris Babb to the Golden State Warriors for All-Star forward David Lee.

The summer of 2016 was the first time in nearly 20 years that the Celtics had cap space to sign two max players to long term deals.

Ainge made a swing for the fences in trying to lure prized free agent that summer in 2014 league MVP and perennial All-Star Kevin Durant to the 17-time champions, but he decided to sign with the Warriors, who he helped lead to their second title in the last three seasons back on June 12 when they beat the Cavs in Game 5, to win the series 4-1.

In the 2016 draft, the Celtics used their three First-Round picks turning the Nets pick at No. 3 into the previously mentioned Brown out of University of California; the previously mentioned Yabusele at No. 16, and Ante Zizic at No. 23, who both played overseas. In that same draft, the C’s selected Jackson at No. 45; Bentil at No. 51, and Nader at No. 58. In that same draft, the C’s traded the draft rights of Davis and Zagorac to the Grizzlies for a future First-Round pick.

In free agency, the C’s signed forward Gerald Green to a one-year $1.3 million deal, and re-signed Zeller to a two-year $16 million deal.

The team limited their trade activities again, and were well rewarded as Thomas and Horford led them to 53 wins, their first 50-plus win season since 2010-11; captured their first Atlantic Division title, and landed the No. 1 Seed in the East for the first time since 2007-08.

In the 2017 Playoffs, the Celtics defeated the No. 8 Seeded Chicago Bulls in six games. Defeated the Wizards in the Semifinals, in a classic seven-game series with both teams winning every home game, but their magical carpet ride ended at the hands of the Cavs in five games in the Conference Finals.

Their chances really took a dive when Thomas forced out after succumbing to a nagging hip injury in the second half of Game 2.

After what just took place in the Conference Finals, Ainge, and the Celtics organization new that if they were going to give themselves any kind of a chance to dethrone the Cavs for supremacy in the East, they were going to have to make some major moves this off-season.

That began in this past June’s draft as the Celtics on June 19 traded the No. 1 overall pick and a future First-Round pick to the Sixers for the No. 3 overall pick. They selected the previously mentioned Tatum at No. 3; Ojeleye at No. 37, Allen at No. 53, and Bird at No. 56.

In free agency, they signed Hayward to a four-year $128 million deal, reuniting him with coach Stevens, who he played for as a collegiate at Butler.

The signing of Hayward meant that the Celtics needed to say goodbye to some key players that got them to the point of being a threat to the Cavs supremacy in the East.

They waived Zeller on July 2. Sent the previously mentioned Bradley, and a 2019 Second-Round pick to the Pistons for Morris one day earlier.

On July 19, they signed in free agent center Aron Baynes to a one-year $4.3 million deal, and to close the month on July 31 signed guard Shane Larkin to a one-year $1.5 million deal.

When asked in the aftermath of taking a sledge hammer to the Celtics roster that if the team was finished making moves, Ainge said that he would not conclude in searching for making the roster better.  

That was no joke as when on Aug 22 came the surprise, but long awaited big fish that the organization had been waiting to catch as the acquired Irving from the Conference rival Cavs for Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, who signed a five-year, $15.4 million deal back on July 1, and the Nets’ 2018 First-Round pick.

The deal was somewhat in jeopardy when Thomas injured hip was shown not to have completely healed when he took his physical. So, to make the deal over the finish line, the Celtics included the 2020 Second-Round pick via the Miami Heat on Aug. 30, and the deal went through.

When the Celtics begin the 2017-18 season, they will only be bringing back just Horford, Brown, Rozier, and Smart from last season’s squad.

Even with the talented roster that they have, Ainge has not hinted at adding more top-notch depth to the Celtics’ roster as they have positioned themselves to garner title No. 18 in franchise history.

Those hopes hinge on Irving, who asked to be moved out of the shadow in impending free agent and four-time league MVP in LeBron James earlier this off-season, can emerge as a clear-cut elite player in the NBA this year.

He showed a major flash of it in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals at the Warriors where he sank the game-winning triple that gave the Cavs a 93-92 victory and earning Northeast Ohio’s first pro sports title in 52 years.

If Irving, who as mentioned earlier has two years left on his five-year $90 million deal that he signed in 2014 can be every bit of the guys that in the past six seasons according to NBA.com is No. 1 in field goal percentage and three-point percentage respectably in the fourth quarter/overtime with the score within three points, those dreams of bringing title No. 18 can become a reality.  

The Celtics entered this summer armed with the No. 1 overall pick thanks to the fortuitous option of swapping picks with the Nets in the 2013 K.G./Pierce trade that seemed to get better and better for them; a treasure chest of picks and solid amount of salary cap space.

The turned that No. 1 pick into Tatum, who displayed an NBA-ready offensive arsenal in summer league. Signed the best available free agent in Hayward. Acquired one of the most talented guards in the league in Irving, whose is motivated to show he was more than just a Robin to LBJ’s Batman.

Even more remarkable is that the Celtics treasure chest of assets is far from empty. They will still have as many as five First-Round picks over the next two drafts, including a Top-5 pick from the Los Angeles Lakers, and possibly 13 First-Round picks in the next five drafts combined.

Top level organizations in pro sports have a plan for success. They know how to take a plan and execute it. The Celtics have had plan and have executed very well and find themselves with an opportunity to contend for championships for the next several years. They stayed patient, received short term rewards, and have a chance to be rewarded big time for a long period of time.

Information, and statistics are courtesy of 8/16/17 ESPN.com article, “The Four-Year Rebuilding Project That Has Transformed the Celtics,” by Chris Forsberg, and Luke Knox; the 8/30/17 NBA.com article, “Boston Celtics Include Second-Round Pick To Complete Trade With Cleveland Cavaliers,” by Tom Withers of “The Associated Press;” www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/bos/boston-celtics; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059273; and http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boston_Celtics_seasons.