Jon Duke talks about the NBA Finals and notes how the Cavaliers left the Celtics plenty of open shots in their series. Boston simply missed. Those shots were all too easy for elite shooters like Curry, Thompson and Durant. Despite the dominance of Golden State, Jon says you never know what can happen in the NBA. We’ve seen plenty of instances when It appeared a team was set to win for years.
Jon Duke is “nutty on the Hayward love”. Jon Duke has been doing some investigative work on Gordon Hayward. He Mentions Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder stating Hayward could leave for reasons that are not basketball related. Does this mean Miami? Jon also reminds us that Hayward’s agent and his clients have an extensive history with Danny Ainge.
Ainge has shown confidence in the cap space he owns and has held on to it tightly. Has he heard something through back channels? What about Blake Griffin? Jon Duke says, if it’s between the two, you take Gordon Hayward if you can get him. He’s on an upward trajectory without the injury history. You need versatility and Hayward brings that. Meanwhile, Griffin has slowed down. He can still rebound and pass, but he isn’t as versatile or athletic any longer.
Are the Celtics going to draft Markelle Fultz? Fultz is a cut above. Is he a shorter Tracy McGrady? Jon Duke says it was clear during the playoff that Boston need someone who could create and score for them. The Celtics need great players, and Markelle Fultz is a great player.
Imagine the scoring load Fultz and Hayward could take off of Isaiah Thomas? Justin Poulin imagines Fultz leading the second unit. Justin notes how much less attention Fultz will receive from defenders than he is used to on a bad college team. Given the spacing the Celtics can provide, things could get much easier for Fultz. Justin and Jon both see Fultz getting twenty minutes a game.
If Fultz and Hayward come, minutes will be tight. Would this mean an Avery Bradley trade? What could Bradley net them? Perhaps a veteran at a different position? The guys discuss various paths the team could take moving forward in trying to manage the salary cap as core players come up in free agency.
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