My guess is that you did... because it is on every mock draft, Celtics message board, rumor website, basketball podcast, blog, and I'm pretty sure it's been graffiti'd onto multiple walls in the Boston Garden.
Yes, the team has 4 draft picks (including their second rounder), and yes, the roster is incredibly full already, meaning that something has to give.
We've alread covered what the team needs, and in truth, it isn't hard to break it down to one type of player (a stretch 4) as the main target.
Walker, Smart, Brown as guards, Hayward and Tatum as forwards, Theiss and the Williams(es) is a pretty compelling 8 man roster... throw in Jeff Green and it's a heck of a lineup.
Noticeable absent are Carsen Edwards, Brad Wannameker, Semi Ojeleye, Tremont Waters, Enes Kanter, Javonte Green, Voncent Poirier, etc.
My feeling is that there should be an opportunity to consolidate some of these guys, and also to start to load up the cupboard with extra picks moving forward. Dallas is said to be looking for 3 and D players... would they kick a 2nd round pick in a couple years over for Semi? Can we connect with someone who was super high on Langford last year at the draft and try to deal him, maybe even along with a lower first round pick this year, for a future 1st rounder (or maybe packaging Langford with a pick to move up a few slots)?
I've been writing this series so far with the idea of an 8 man roation, but in truth, given the injury histories of Hayward and Walker, it's probably better to roll 9 or 10 deep, though it's hard to get to 9 or 10 deep with talented players (and again, limited roster slots). This breaks out to 3 bigs, 3 wings, and 3 guards (which means we can always play some combination of 1-2 guards, 1-2 wings, and 1-2 bigs, depending on matchups). The idea of adding Green (a 3rd 'big' to go with Theis and Grant Williams) leaves the team short one guard, especially given Walker's knee (let's assume that Boston press gets to spend next season talking about 'maintenence days' with Kemba). Wanamaker or a better combo guard can fit in here pretty easily... but again, it's a full roster already. This also leaves means when Theis is in foul trouble (or the Celtics are playing against a team with a strong big), there isn't a real backup center as part of this 9 man approach.
So, we look at consolidating. Dealing up in the draft or dealing out of the draft (Langford plus the 30th pick for a first rounder next year, or 3 years out?) both work. A draft and stash move with Bolmero could also be good.
The other issue at hand here is where we can find a player who might help immediately, to serve as a sort of bridge between the aging guys (Kemba and Hayward) and the Core 4.
All this was a very rambling, stream of conscience way of saying that this offseason will be complicated. The Celtics can look for teams that had a belief in a younger player, and try to trade for future assets. Or they can try to find teams that have seen the best in one of these young guys and hope there's some institutional memory (maybe the Cavs remember Carsen Edwards having a hot few minutes?).
In thinking this post through, I realize I'll need to expand my possible trade targets/lists in an actual shadow offseason, since trades that send 2-3 players out and get one back could (will?) be the best way to truly improve this roster and get the Celtics ready for banner number 18.
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