Complete 2017 NBA offseason grades for all 30 teams
Boston Celtics
Key additions: Kyrie Irving (trade), Gordon Hayward (free agency), Jayson Tatum (draft), Marcus Morris (trade), Aron Baynes (free agency), Semi Ojeleye (draft), Shane Larkin (free agency), Daniel Theis (free agency), Kadeem Allen (draft/two-way contarct), Jabari Bird (draft/two-way contract)
Key subtractions: Isaiah Thomas (trade), Avery Bradley (trade), Jae Crowder (trade), Kelly Olynyk (free agency), Amir Johnson (free agency), Jonas Jerebko (free agency), Ante Zizic (trade), Gerald Green (free agency) Tyler Zeller (free agency), Demetrius Jackson (free agency), James Young (free agency), Jordan Mickey (free agency)
There are two ways to look at what the Boston Celtics did this summer. In the short-term, swapping Isaiah Thomas for Kyrie Irving doesn’t make the Celts more likely to win the East, unless IT is injured and serves as some unintended form of sabotage on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Losing Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley hurts the defense, while Boston also lost considerable frontcourt depth and failed to address its biggest weakness on the boards. Passing on Markelle Fultz could easily come back to haunt Danny Ainge too.
For the long-term though, the Celtics walk away from the 2017 offseason with the promising Jayson Tatum, expanded roles for Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, two extra first round picks, a younger Kyrie Irving, an in-his-prime Gordon Hayward and the luxury of not having to overpay to keep IT or Bradley. This team may contend for the East this year, but even if they don’t break through, they’re built for sustained success long after the King’s reign is done.
Bourguet Grade: A-