As we all know Tatum will be in rehab for all of next season which essentially means it is a lost year in Celtics lore, or is it? For the first time since that ECF 2018 run we will be watching a Celtics team that's playing with no expectations, this could prove to be an invaluable year to them. Yes they could just run it back as this is still a very talented group who could very well still make a finals run if JB is able to step up as the 1st option, or they could do what the Grizzlies did last year which I liken them to do much more. This post season was a basketball nightmare top to bottom for them, but this offseason seems like a GM's dream to be honest. They could go make some roster changes this offseason then use next season to get the team to gel together.

Right now I keep hearing Derrick White to the Warriors and while I certainly don't think he's untouchable that trade doesn't really address the Warriors biggest issue, their center spot. Post tried, but he clearly isn't meant to start come playoff time, and it's not like starting level centers are easy to come by in free agency. However, a Porzingis to the Warriors trade fixes just that!

Now I know, I know, the dude has a 50/50 chance of being available any given day, maybe even 40/60, but think of the upside he would bring to them, a high IQ center who can stretch the floor and is tremendously versatile? Sounds like a damn fine addition to the lineup! And he's no slouch on defense either, actually he's really good on defense, an elite rim protector and intimidator which helps trailers behind the attacking ball handler catch up to block shots from behind. A real nice addition into the Golden State mix if I do say so myself. They do lose Podz, Moody and the occasional spurts from Buddy Hield, but even then I think they leave this trade as big winners in terms of fit and what they need from their players.

As for the Celtics I know what you're thinking, just what the f!@# am I thinking with this trade? Well like I've mentioned already, Tatum is out for the entirety of next season and by the time he comes back, if the roster is still the same, he'll be on an incredibly declining roster that'll probably only be able to produce at half of the rate they currently can. And that's assuming he even comes back the same player, an Achilles tear is no joke and he could very well come back as a good player but never again a superstar. The worst does come to mind, but it should be in the Celtics best interest to not look at this roster as a champion anymore and start looking at them as assets to continue building a damn good roster on the assumption that Tatum comes back as a superstar because who cares what production you'll get from them when it won't result in a championship and they get older with time. Start the "mini-build" by going young. Tingis Pingis is gonna be 31 when Tatum comes back and who knows what other injuries or illnesses he'll have accumulated by that time, Podz is just 22 and is already an elite starting level role player on the Warriors. Now I know he just had a disasterclass showing when Steph went down, but that's Steph Curry of all people, it's not easy to just step into running the offense when he goes down, and in the last game vs Minnesota he actually had a really impressive showing. Give him time to grow in this 1 year without Tatum and let him feel the game better. He's already a highly trusted player at just 22 in what is probably the hardest team to earn consistent minutes in, let him develop more and by the time Tatum comes back Podz will be 24 and highly experienced for his age. He's also a capable and willing defender who goes in to put the extra effort to make up for his deficiencies on that end, he'll only get better as time goes on and his role gets larger. Moody is also a great pick-up for them and he can be a really good bench player for any championship squad. Buddy is also a nice touch but I'm sure the Celtics would have already been happy with just receiving Podz and Moody, but for salary filler he's not half bad himself.

Oh and the Warriors trade up their draft slot in the 2nd round of the 2025 draft going from 41 to 32, not a huge leap but an important one for a team who is so reliant on finding role players out of nowhere.