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2015 NBA Free Agency: The Big Question For Every Team

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 4, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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2015 NBA free agency
Apr 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches from the sideline as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half at TD Garden. The Bucks defeated the Celtics 110 to 101. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics

How far along in the rebuilding process are we?

Consider the 2014-15 Boston Celtics the Eastern Conference version of the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns. Their long-term rebuild was rapidly accelerated by a head coach who did a much better job than expected with a roster of role players, turning what was supposed to be a tank season into a playoff appearance. (The Suns didn’t make the playoffs in 2013-14, but they would have if they played in the East. Either way, you get the point.)

Now the Celts are in the uncomfortable position of being too good to tank for a top-notch draft selection but not good enough to contend…all while sitting on a mountain of future draft picks and young assets that might not be sexy enough to trade for a star. Like Phoenix, Boston now has the unenviable task of trying to build a championship caliber-team from the middle up.

In this year’s draft, GM Danny Ainge got a late first-round steal in R.J. Hunter (No. 28), added some much-needed rim protection in Jordan Mickey (No. 33), took a chance on a great shooter in Marcus Thornton (No. 45) and completely blew the team’s first round pick on Terry Rozier (No. 16), whose skill set overlaps with that of Marcus Smart.

There have been talks about Kevin Love and Paul Millsap in free agency and there were whispers about moving Smart, but most importantly, the Celts were prepared to offer up six(!!!) draft picks to move up to No. 9 in this year’s draft. They didn’t get a star in this year’s draft, just another batch of role players, and that might be the same case in free agency as well. What good are all these stockpiled assets if you can’t turn the pumpkin into a carriage leading back to the Finals?

Next: Brooklyn Nets