Random Thoughts as we wait for the Preseason

Well, I figured it's about time to post a few random thoughts on he Celtics offseason as we wait for training camp to get here.  It won't be all that long now until we have actual Celtics basketball to talk about rather than just rumors and guesses and what ifs.  The Olympics were a nice diversion for a couple of weeks to pass the time but I'm ready for the Celtics season to start.



I've been enjoying Lee's Summer Quandaries so far.   There is so much in them to think about as we look back on last season and look forward to next season.  As I was reading one of them,  I started thinking about how possibly that Nets trade, which will go down in NBA history as one of the most lopsided trades, may be hindering Danny's efforts at making a trade now.

Danny is still reaping the rewards from that trade and will be for the near future.  At the same time, the Nets never did become contenders and are now providing the Celtics with high lottery picks.  If I was a GM, I'd look at that trade and how it makes Billy King look inept and unemployed and I'd be very careful not to end up in the same position.

Austin Ainge said in a recent interview that teams were asking way too much for their players in trade talks around the draft and so far in the offseason.   I just can't help but think that GM's have seen how much Danny fleeced the Nets and they are being very careful to ask for enough in a trade to be assured that they won't be put in the position of being on the short end of a lopsided trade.  Just my thoughts on the matter.

I love reading about how Jaylen Brown is working hard to be in the best shape possible mentally and physically.  I love that Rozier looked like he has already made a big leap going into his second season and Isaiah Thomas said that he is going to surprise a lot of people.  Marcus Smart has also been working hard according to reports.  I also love the pictures I've seen of the Celtics hanging out together this summer and also working out together in Boston.  That bodes well for chemistry and for each player coming back better this season.

I haven't posted much this summer but I was happy to see Danny sign Gerald Green.  He has grown quite a bit since the Celtics drafted him straight out of high school.   One of my guilty pleasures has been following Gerald and keeping up with him in the league.  I've even dusted off my Gerald Green Dunk Champion tee shirt for this season.   I'm pretty excited to see how Brad Stevens can energize Gerald's career in the same way he has done with veteran players like Jordan Crawford and Evan Turner.

There is a lot of excitement about the Celtics this summer.  The Celtics will have 22 national TV games this season, which is up from just 7 last year and 1 the year before.   They have been ranked 2nd in the East by most who are ranking the teams this summer.   Apparently adding Jaylen Brown and Al Horford more than offsets losing Sully and Evan Turner.  I still expect Danny to pull off a trade at some time this season but I'm not sure right now who I'd even want him to trade for other than DeMarcus Cousins.    

Training camp is just about a month away now. The Celtics have signed 19 of 20 possible players for training camp and that is a topic for another time as we take a look at who is coming to camp and what might become of them. September 28 is the first day that players who are not participating in Global Games to report to their teams and Training Camp officially opens on September 29. I can't wait.

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