The Garden Report brings you a special free agency edition as the NBA world prepares for big moves across the league. Where will the big names end up? Will the Celtics bring in someone new? Who will they bring back?
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#Celtics #NBA #GardenReport #CLNS
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#Celtics #NBA #GardenReport #CLNS
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SportsTranscript
00:00:00Can you say hard hats, folks?
00:00:07Hard hats, munch pails, steel-toed boots.
00:00:09Anything short of a championship this year is a failure.
00:00:11Look at this boomer right here.
00:00:13You've just got so much talent here.
00:00:16Somebody said we need to apologize for Jalen.
00:00:18Can I pull the John?
00:00:19What are we apologizing for?
00:00:20What did we say?
00:00:21What did we do?
00:00:30What's going on?
00:00:31Bobby Manning, John Zanis.
00:00:32NBA free agency set to begin in less than half an hour.
00:00:35We figured, why not?
00:00:36Let's just chime in, do a little garden report,
00:00:38and talk about stuff.
00:00:40Normally, this time of year, Bobby,
00:00:42is when we're like, we need to get somebody.
00:00:45They need help.
00:00:48And they don't.
00:00:49It's less about what the Celtics do
00:00:52and more about the teams who are chasing them
00:00:54and what they do.
00:00:55Interesting development potentially going on in Philly.
00:00:57We obviously know what happened with the Knicks earlier
00:01:01this week and teams who are trying to load up and see
00:01:04if they can compete with the Celtics in the East.
00:01:06But Boston is relatively set as far as their roster goes
00:01:12and very few things that they need to do and to tweak.
00:01:16But doesn't mean they can't potentially add some pieces,
00:01:20retain some pieces, do some other things.
00:01:22I think most business regarding the Celtics
00:01:24is going to happen July 6 when a couple of their players
00:01:27are extension eligible.
00:01:28And we'll see what happens there.
00:01:29So we'll talk about all of it.
00:01:32And we'll follow the breaking news if there is any.
00:01:34Now again, the NBA teams, the way it goes, Bobby,
00:01:38they can begin negotiating.
00:01:40This is like legal tampering in the NFL.
00:01:43But you can't technically sign.
00:01:44That being said, there's a strong belief
00:01:47we might know some stuff before we go off the air here.
00:01:51So we'll see.
00:01:53Again, I don't think teams want to get hit
00:01:55with that collusion situation.
00:01:57But there's some strong indications
00:01:59about where things might go.
00:02:01And we'll see what happens here.
00:02:03And if anything obviously breaks, we'll stay with it
00:02:06and we'll move along.
00:02:07Celtics have a couple of deadlines today
00:02:10where we might know a little bit more
00:02:11about some of their internal guys.
00:02:13Bobby's stressing, and we'll talk about that for sure.
00:02:16Let you know real quick.
00:02:18Show, as always, Garden Report here
00:02:20powered by PrizePix, the number one fantasy app in America,
00:02:26fantasy sports app.
00:02:28Deposit match up to 100.
00:02:29When you deposit 100, that's all you have to do.
00:02:32Check out PrizePix.
00:02:34And where are we?
00:02:37Game time.
00:02:37Get in on the action with some tickets,
00:02:39your favorite tickets in town.
00:02:40Red Sox are getting hot.
00:02:43And they are a fun ticket.
00:02:44You might want to check that out.
00:02:45Also, terrific concerts coming your way.
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00:02:50You download the app, use the code CLNS.
00:02:52$20 off first deposit when you,
00:02:57when you, I mean, it's with your first purchase
00:02:59once you make it.
00:03:00So Bobby, let's get into it here in terms of the Celtics.
00:03:04Celtics, as we know, projected to be in that second apron,
00:03:07which means they're extremely limited
00:03:09in what they can and can't do.
00:03:11What are you specifically keeping your eye on today?
00:03:15It's all about the centers.
00:03:17The centers are going to be moving like crazy.
00:03:18There's a lot of centers out in the market.
00:03:21And right now, the Celtics, given Porzingis' injury,
00:03:25given Porzingis' injury,
00:03:26have one center on the roster right now.
00:03:29So they not only need a third center,
00:03:31they need a second one as well with Porzingis out.
00:03:34And, you know, I think we both tend to think, John,
00:03:37that Porzingis is probably going to be out longer
00:03:39rather than sooner,
00:03:41returning further in the future rather than sooner.
00:03:44So they got to figure out what they're doing there.
00:03:47And I think the easiest answer would obviously just be
00:03:50bring Cornette back, bring Tillman back, bring Keita back.
00:03:55But especially after they declined Keita's option yesterday,
00:03:59which seemed like a slam dunk to pick up,
00:04:01I wonder if they're looking at all the options,
00:04:04all the ways those final four roster spots
00:04:07can come together and trying to say,
00:04:10is there any way we can figure out a way
00:04:12to bring in a spot starter?
00:04:14Because Cornette's a great backup, great third center.
00:04:18Is he a spot starter for a week or two
00:04:21if Horford has to miss some time while Porzingis is out?
00:04:24That's a tougher question.
00:04:25Tillman, same deal.
00:04:27And I think Tillman's a guy who could actually make
00:04:30some money out in this market
00:04:31given how many teams need centers.
00:04:34So-
00:04:34And this is Bobby Manning, I tweeted earlier,
00:04:36Bobby Manning sweating it out today
00:04:38as the Celtics are, you know,
00:04:40decision day potentially with Luke Cornette.
00:04:43Anything you want to send our way,
00:04:45you want to tweet us at Celtics CLNS,
00:04:47we'll share it with the crowd here.
00:04:48If you want to get involved in the action here,
00:04:50because again, this is interactive
00:04:52and we are curious your thoughts,
00:04:53obviously we will share your chat as well.
00:04:56And we do really want to know what you guys are into,
00:04:59players you want to add,
00:05:01feelings that you're feeling right now.
00:05:03Please, by all means, you know, get in on the action.
00:05:06You guys are as big a part of the show,
00:05:08obviously here as we are.
00:05:10Bobby, I didn't mean to cut you off here,
00:05:11but I wanted to get everybody involved,
00:05:14you know, from the chat as well, but yeah, go ahead.
00:05:16So my thinking going into today changed a little bit.
00:05:20I felt like given Horford's age,
00:05:23given the capital he gave up to get him
00:05:26and the fact that he showed well later in the season
00:05:30into the playoffs, that Tillman would be a priority here.
00:05:34He's on the younger side.
00:05:35He's still a guy you can maybe mold a little bit.
00:05:38And he's the most versatile defensive center by far
00:05:42among all the guys they have in there.
00:05:43He's not a situational guy.
00:05:45You can play him defense.
00:05:45And again, you see it up here.
00:05:48They do retain bird rights with Tillman,
00:05:50which means it doesn't matter
00:05:51even though they're in the second apron,
00:05:53which is punitive,
00:05:54they can still pay these guys whatever they want.
00:05:56O'Shea Brissett, I believe, can get 20% above, right?
00:06:00Above veteran minimum, if you were to get it.
00:06:03That's what goes on with there.
00:06:05Nemus Keita as well.
00:06:06You know, you're looking at someone
00:06:08who's not going to get a ton there anyway.
00:06:11So it's really, if they want him back or not,
00:06:12I wouldn't be surprised.
00:06:13Cornette, again, they retain bird rights.
00:06:15They can do whatever they want there with him
00:06:18if they wanna bring him back and fit him in whatever.
00:06:21It's just, everything is expensive at this point, Bobby.
00:06:24This is where you start nickel and diming, right?
00:06:26This is where that guy at 2 million,
00:06:29the $3 million deal costs you 7 million.
00:06:31So it's like, maybe I should just get a guy for even less.
00:06:34You know, every penny now is really, really magnified.
00:06:38Yeah, and the decision's important too here, right?
00:06:41These aren't just guys who it's like, whatever,
00:06:43they're never gonna play.
00:06:44You need these guys to get you through
00:06:46that first half of the season while Porzingis is out.
00:06:48Because obviously, John,
00:06:49the regular season's not everything.
00:06:52If they don't win the conference by 15 games
00:06:55this time around, it's not as big of a deal.
00:06:57But you don't wanna be going 500
00:06:59for the first 10, 20 games or so there
00:07:01coming off the championship
00:07:02because you can't figure it out at center
00:07:04or Al is out for a week or two
00:07:06or something just happens there.
00:07:08So this is an important decision.
00:07:10I tend to think, again, Tillman is gonna be a guy
00:07:14who gets some serious looks this summer from other teams.
00:07:17Cornette is probably gonna want a little bit of a bump,
00:07:20you know, maybe not a huge bump over the minimum,
00:07:22but a little bit of one.
00:07:24And again, is he a guy who can spot start for you
00:07:27for two weeks if Porford misses some time?
00:07:29I think that's a real question.
00:07:31So do you go out there and bring back
00:07:34old friend Daniel Tice?
00:07:35Do you go back and get a Drummond
00:07:37or a guy who's been a starter in this league
00:07:40who's capable of starting for a couple of weeks
00:07:42if someone goes down?
00:07:43Those are the kind of questions
00:07:44they're gonna have to ask here.
00:07:45Are they more comfortable with the familiar guys
00:07:48who played their role well last year,
00:07:50which was three, four games at a time, back to backs?
00:07:53Even in the playoffs a little bit,
00:07:55those guys gave you a little something,
00:07:56but that was more just Horford playing 40 minutes.
00:07:59Or do you want someone who's gonna really eat some innings
00:08:01in the regular season?
00:08:02Drummond, Mason Plumlee.
00:08:06I don't look at Mo Bamba as much as that.
00:08:08Everyone loves that name.
00:08:09I don't know.
00:08:10They do not appeal to me.
00:08:12But yeah, that's the decision
00:08:13they're gonna have to make here.
00:08:14And they might not have a decision, John, right?
00:08:16If Cornette gets a mid-level, he's gone.
00:08:18If Tillman gets a mid-level, he's gone.
00:08:19They can't get those guys down.
00:08:21Come on, come on, come on.
00:08:22Cornette's not getting a mid-level.
00:08:23I mean, you got mid-level guys
00:08:25or guys who are brought in with the idea
00:08:27that they're going to contribute
00:08:30and not just be a backup to a backup.
00:08:32Like, I mean, you gotta be serious.
00:08:34It's just simply a matter of whether Luke wants
00:08:36more playing time elsewhere
00:08:37or the Celtics want an even cheaper option.
00:08:40It's not like Luke has that many options here
00:08:43in terms of what he's gonna be looking at.
00:08:45Nobody's signing him to anything real
00:08:48that's gonna be difficult to compete with.
00:08:50It's just simply whether you want it at that price or not.
00:08:53But he's not approaching mid-level money.
00:08:54Even five, six millions have to compete with.
00:08:57I know, but he's not approaching mid-level money.
00:08:59And you're right, five, six million
00:09:00is difficult to compete with.
00:09:02And veteran minimum is at what right now?
00:09:05Probably for a guy like him, two and a half.
00:09:08You know, some of the big veterans are three,
00:09:11but that gets prorated anyway down to like 2.4, 2.5.
00:09:146, 2, 7 last year.
00:09:16But yeah, somewhere in that range.
00:09:18Yeah.
00:09:19So, you know, if you bring in an old enough guy
00:09:23that can tick down a little bit.
00:09:24And again, I'm willing to hear any ideas.
00:09:28You know, these aren't names I love.
00:09:29Here's your ideas, Bobby.
00:09:31This is what you threw at us.
00:09:33And you don't love these guys,
00:09:34but you recognize they're a little stuck, right?
00:09:37And that's, there's not much you can do.
00:09:40It's pretty much who wants to take a minimum
00:09:42if anyone's coming from the outside.
00:09:44So Tice is certainly an intriguing option
00:09:46and they wanted to bring him back last year
00:09:49before he ended up choosing to quit.
00:09:50And he signed elsewhere.
00:09:50That was surprising that he didn't go there, yeah.
00:09:53Yeah, he didn't have minutes here.
00:09:55And so if you're sending out Cornett and Tillman,
00:09:59he suddenly has minutes here as that main backup.
00:10:00It'll be like 2019 all over again
00:10:02with Horford and Tice playing center for you.
00:10:05So I like that option a lot.
00:10:07How much has he declined in the time since he's gone?
00:10:09I actually thought he looked really good
00:10:11with the Clippers once he went over there last year.
00:10:14And he's just a reliable guy.
00:10:15And, you know, I think back to 2020,
00:10:17which is a long time ago now,
00:10:19but he got you through that bubble
00:10:20playing some serious minutes.
00:10:22So he can shoot a little bit, not much, but a little bit.
00:10:25He can hit free throws, which is important.
00:10:27And he can play a couple of different
00:10:29defensive coverages for you.
00:10:30So I really like it.
00:10:31You know, I think he's a guy
00:10:33that can actually eat some innings for you at center,
00:10:35but the real innings eater here at center
00:10:38would obviously be Drummond.
00:10:39I don't know how you feel about him, John, today.
00:10:42Historically, obviously, he has a million words.
00:10:46I'll tell you how I feel about him.
00:10:48He's actually been greater value
00:10:51than all of his recent contracts.
00:10:54For a guy who plays the way he plays,
00:10:56has an elite skill in terms of rebounding,
00:10:59as you said, can eat up innings,
00:11:02if we're gonna stay with that, you know,
00:11:04baseball analogy here.
00:11:05Absolutely, that guy coming in at cheap
00:11:10is a ridiculous, like, plug-and-play backfill
00:11:15just to simply throw a guy in there
00:11:17who can, you know, who can compete at that level.
00:11:21It's just simply the fit here.
00:11:23I think they're really, really, really, really hesitant
00:11:27to just have some big, chunky, steaky,
00:11:30sit-in-the-middle center that, like, clogs everything up
00:11:33and, like, plays significant minutes
00:11:36to the point that you can't run
00:11:39the type of offense you wanna run.
00:11:40The one plus with Luke was that he, you know,
00:11:46presented a bit of a, you know,
00:11:47he was their best lob threat, you know,
00:11:51and he was getting those putbacks
00:11:52and tap-ins and this and that.
00:11:54So he gave you a little something there.
00:11:57He wasn't great on the glass.
00:11:58He wasn't great defensively,
00:11:59but he was a decent help side shot blocker.
00:12:02But, you know, I don't know that they wanna
00:12:05just stick some guy in there
00:12:06who's just gonna bog it all down.
00:12:08Even with Tillman, they really wanted to see
00:12:10if they could get him to hit that corner three
00:12:12and be like a 75% of Al Horford type of replacement
00:12:17when he played at that spot.
00:12:18It didn't quite take in year one,
00:12:20but if you bring him back,
00:12:21I think that's what you'd be looking for there
00:12:23and play a little bit more small ball.
00:12:25You'll definitely get banged up on the glass.
00:12:27So I don't know.
00:12:28I don't know that they want a Drummond.
00:12:30That's what I'm not sure of here,
00:12:32whether the Celtics would want to make that fit.
00:12:35It feels like he's been available so many times
00:12:37and they just kind of balked at it.
00:12:40Yeah, and there's been some buzz around them
00:12:41with him in the past,
00:12:42but they've never gone and done it, like you said.
00:12:45So you wonder if there's some guys
00:12:46in the front office who like him
00:12:47and there's some guys in the front office
00:12:49who don't like him as much.
00:12:50Obviously, it's not just Brad making the calls
00:12:53on everything there.
00:12:54There's probably a little debate going on
00:12:56in terms of the options they have at the spot.
00:12:58I don't mind him as an innings eater,
00:13:00just because I don't think he'll play in the playoffs
00:13:03and I don't think any one of these guys,
00:13:04if Porzingis is healthy, will play in the playoffs.
00:13:06It also doesn't matter.
00:13:08It doesn't matter because you're really only talking about
00:13:11a couple of months.
00:13:12And so it doesn't matter, right?
00:13:15I mean, let's be realistic.
00:13:17Do you think the Celtics would have not won the title
00:13:22playing the same competition this year
00:13:24if they had to go on the road for one or two series?
00:13:27Like, what's the worst thing that happens?
00:13:29They slip to a two seed or a three seed.
00:13:33Like, I'm not that concerned with what happens
00:13:40in those first 20, 30 games without Porzingis.
00:13:42You just need warm bodies, really.
00:13:44The goal is to be healthy and have all of your guys
00:13:47in the second half of the season
00:13:48to try to make another run here.
00:13:50So yeah, let's just say through 30 games with Porzingis,
00:13:54if you're playing lights out and you're super, super healthy
00:13:57they go, what, 25 and five,
00:13:59if they played at the pace they played last year,
00:14:0124 and six.
00:14:02What's the worst?
00:14:03You start those 30 games without Porzingis
00:14:05and with Drummond playing 15 to 20 minutes a night.
00:14:0822 and eight, 21 and nine, big deal.
00:14:11Three game difference, something in that range.
00:14:13They can overcome that.
00:14:15I'm not ridiculously worried.
00:14:18Yeah, it's not ideal,
00:14:20but if you look at it over the span of it,
00:14:22what's Porzingis being out going to cost him
00:14:24in that first 30 games?
00:14:26Three games total, four, you know, more.
00:14:31They won the East by 15 games, 14 games.
00:14:34Yeah, again, it depends
00:14:35because let's say they can only keep Cornette.
00:14:38Tillman's gone, Keita's here.
00:14:40I don't know what to think of Keita at this point.
00:14:42Some people love him.
00:14:43Some people think he's just a G-league guy.
00:14:46So that one's tougher to call.
00:14:50Yeah, I don't even know
00:14:51if he's going to be back at this point.
00:14:53So that's another layer to this.
00:14:55Like who's actually there?
00:14:56Because I know you look at the record last year
00:14:58and say, oh, they were fine without Porzingis.
00:15:00They won all those games.
00:15:01That didn't hurt them.
00:15:03If you lose two out of the three guys
00:15:05who helped replace him night in and night out,
00:15:07it probably gets a little bit more impactful.
00:15:09Again, you don't want to,
00:15:11the difference is you won all those games
00:15:13by just throwing it on Horford's shoulders
00:15:15and saying Horford do everything.
00:15:18The thinking here is you don't want to do that,
00:15:20especially since he's not just gone for three or four games.
00:15:22He's gone for 30 games.
00:15:25So yes, you can just play Horford 35, 40 minutes
00:15:29to replace Porzingis here, but you don't want to do that.
00:15:32You actually want to rely on the compliment of guys
00:15:34who were here last year and put them in
00:15:37and actually commit to them,
00:15:39which Joe sometimes had a little trouble doing,
00:15:41especially in Tillman's case,
00:15:43or you actually want to go get a bonafide guy
00:15:45who can shave Horford's minutes down legitimately.
00:15:50Nice super chat right there.
00:15:52Look at that.
00:15:53Wow, Sean, out of nowhere, Sean.
00:15:55Thanks, Sean.
00:15:56Thank you.
00:15:57Thank you so much.
00:15:57We really do appreciate that.
00:15:58That was unexpected.
00:16:00Anyone sending in super chats, we do appreciate them.
00:16:03I always feel weird soliciting them,
00:16:05but they do help.
00:16:07We might have to go get dinner after this, Sean.
00:16:09They help us pump out more and more free content.
00:16:14The more we get, the better it is.
00:16:16But so we do appreciate anything from you guys,
00:16:19but we're here one way or the other.
00:16:22Yeah, I mean, somebody just put this up here
00:16:24and I want to throw it in there regarding Porzingis.
00:16:30Someone's mad Porzingis drinks soda before games.
00:16:35Yeah.
00:16:36I don't think that's the issue.
00:16:36DJ, loyal viewer and always active in the chat
00:16:42that he'll get hurt again.
00:16:44Maybe, but that's a bigger question, right?
00:16:47And it's a different question.
00:16:49It's not this question.
00:16:50Right now you're planning for what you know,
00:16:52which is an absence of 20 to 30 games to start a season,
00:16:57which you could live with if you had him back healthy.
00:17:01Porzingis being the injury risk that he is
00:17:04and that he might continue to be
00:17:05and that he's always been was baked into the cost.
00:17:09You know, I mean, you got him for Marcus Smart,
00:17:12you got him for money, Marcus Smart,
00:17:14and you got two first round draft picks in exchange.
00:17:17I mean, he was given to you because that was baked in.
00:17:20One team didn't want to pay an injury risk,
00:17:23you know, that was nowhere near contention anymore.
00:17:27$30 million a year in the Celtics said I do.
00:17:29So if you're worried about Porzingis long-term,
00:17:32it's a completely separate issue.
00:17:34And yes, you might, you know, Bobby, you've talked about it.
00:17:37You might have to get out of the Porzingis business
00:17:39at some point, if this is going to be a thing,
00:17:42which means-
00:17:43Would you consider it as soon as this summer?
00:17:46I mean, you'll dump not right now?
00:17:49Yes.
00:17:51No.
00:17:53By all accounts, there's no question this year,
00:17:57in my mind, they are running it back
00:17:59because there's no reason not to.
00:18:03You're the champs and you are,
00:18:06although you're going to be expensive,
00:18:09anything regarding second apron doesn't hurt you yet
00:18:13with this team because you can basically return it all
00:18:16just for money.
00:18:17So you can run it back and not have to worry at all.
00:18:20Everyone else has a lot of business to do.
00:18:24And if, especially if they want to improve
00:18:26and they got to make some serious moves,
00:18:27the Celtics for one more year, do not.
00:18:29And that's the best thing they have going for this year.
00:18:31So the year after you're going to have
00:18:34to get really creative.
00:18:36And if you believe Brad is a forward thinker
00:18:40and ahead of the curve,
00:18:42they're not just, they're going to do something
00:18:46in a year that's going to blow people's minds
00:18:49and shock you in terms of a move that they're going to make.
00:18:52Because if Brad's here for the long haul,
00:18:54I don't believe they're just going to handcuff themselves
00:18:57and just be in jail for the rest of existence,
00:19:00but they're absolutely for next year,
00:19:02I think just going to eat it and run it back
00:19:04and be in that second apron.
00:19:05And then they're going to start to maneuver
00:19:07and that's going to put legit everyone on the table,
00:19:10but it's not a concern for now.
00:19:12That's the way I view it.
00:19:14Yeah, absolutely.
00:19:15And obviously everything is going to happen
00:19:18around the league right at six and five minutes.
00:19:22Not a ton in terms of impacting the Celtics,
00:19:25but the big one that looks like
00:19:26it's probably going to come down right at six
00:19:27is George going to Philly.
00:19:30I did want to get into that.
00:19:32Yeah, I want to get into that.
00:19:33So that's clearly the news of the day.
00:19:35And thank you, Juni, we think you're great.
00:19:40That's exactly it.
00:19:42That's the news of the day.
00:19:44The growing optimism Philadelphia 76ers
00:19:47will land Paul George in free agency,
00:19:49in my mind is basically wink, wink, this deal is done.
00:19:53And I think that that's,
00:19:54if you read between the lines on the reporting,
00:19:58that's what I see.
00:20:00Yeah, and the Clippers team does.
00:20:02That's how you read it, right?
00:20:03Like he's going to meet with multiple teams in free agency,
00:20:07but it's like Orlando.
00:20:09And I mean, it's Philly.
00:20:11Utah was poking their head in.
00:20:13Yeah.
00:20:15So it seems done.
00:20:17Maybe it's a last ditch effort to scare the Clippers
00:20:20and saying it's really going to happen.
00:20:21I'm really leaving.
00:20:22Cause man, I don't know what the Clippers are going to do,
00:20:24but more importantly for Philly.
00:20:25Breaking Clippers news,
00:20:27Harden returning a two year, $70 million deal.
00:20:30So that just happened as well.
00:20:33Other news since we've been on the air here,
00:20:36Chris Paul waved by the Golden State Warriors as well.
00:20:39That was something that was potentially being discussed
00:20:42that would happen.
00:20:43So there's that, but this is the biggest move by far.
00:20:47And now you're talking about two teams, Bobby,
00:20:49between the Sixers and the Knicks that are coming at you,
00:20:53recognizing they're woefully short
00:20:55as currently constructed.
00:20:57And they made their move on the Celtics here.
00:21:00And I believe that the George thing is,
00:21:03now you've got a new big three out there
00:21:05with Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George
00:21:08that seems formidable.
00:21:11He's a great fit too.
00:21:12I think his role in LA stunted who he is
00:21:17in terms of a ball handler,
00:21:18in terms of a guy who can create offense.
00:21:20Second units will certainly be intriguing
00:21:22with him out there and Embiid off the floor.
00:21:25It just doesn't have to be the Embiid show now.
00:21:26And that's obviously gonna be a little bit
00:21:28of an adjustment for Embiid, I'm sure.
00:21:30But this is a formidable group.
00:21:32This is a really good coach and nurse
00:21:33who I thought the Sixers played you tough
00:21:36when they were healthy early in the season.
00:21:38That was probably one of the more difficult opponents
00:21:41you had to play across the league.
00:21:42Those first two games in Philly out there
00:21:44were pretty memorable to me.
00:21:46And obviously one of them was that loss
00:21:47where Joe went at Gary.
00:21:48So that's another reason I remember one of those games,
00:21:51but this is a really good team, great depth.
00:21:55We'll see how their depth would actually fill out
00:21:57around that big three, given the money there.
00:22:00And Embiid certainly has to make it to the playoffs healthy,
00:22:02which he never seems to do.
00:22:04But it's a team to watch.
00:22:06Is it a team that's gonna topple you?
00:22:08No, but as you start to stack things up, John,
00:22:12if Porzingis has some issues,
00:22:14if you have some injuries, if they're healthy,
00:22:18you just start to throw in a lot of ifs
00:22:19that bring you just a little bit closer to you.
00:22:21That's gonna be the thing, right?
00:22:22If the Celtics are healthy
00:22:24and all is equal, they're gonna rule the East.
00:22:28If they have a bump or bruise, a guy's out,
00:22:31two guys are out, these teams stay healthy,
00:22:34like Philly and New York,
00:22:35that's where you run into trouble.
00:22:37So that's basically the deal here
00:22:38is these teams aren't building rosters
00:22:40that really threaten you,
00:22:42but they lower the margin for error a little bit.
00:22:46Yeah, I mean, so much was made, Bobby,
00:22:51about the Celtics' luck in terms of opponents.
00:22:56The greatest luck they had,
00:22:57at least throughout the course of the season,
00:22:58was their injury luck.
00:22:59Now, it's hard to say that they had good injury luck
00:23:02when they lost their second or third best
00:23:06or most impactful player for the season
00:23:09throughout the majority of the playoffs.
00:23:11That's not great luck.
00:23:12And they were able to win the title regardless.
00:23:15Now, you wonder if on the flip side,
00:23:17every other team they played
00:23:18did not have those types of injuries.
00:23:21How much more challenging that might've been
00:23:22given the Celtics were without Porzingis.
00:23:24But honestly, being without him
00:23:27and being able to win those two series,
00:23:28and honestly, the majority of the Mav series without him,
00:23:31he played basically an actual effective game and a half
00:23:34in that series,
00:23:36shows how far head and shoulders above everyone they were.
00:23:39If you do the numbers on every single player on the team,
00:23:42their record without any single player was ridiculous.
00:23:46It was about the same as it was with those players.
00:23:48You know, their record without Porzingis,
00:23:50without Brown,
00:23:51the few games where they played without Tatum,
00:23:53without all of them.
00:23:54Derek White is actually the only one
00:23:55where I think they had a lower winning percentage
00:23:57than their overall.
00:23:58So when he was out of action.
00:24:01So they were that far ahead of everybody.
00:24:03Why do you think that was?
00:24:05Just interchangeability?
00:24:08There's randomness involved to it.
00:24:10But you overstate the glue guy type of thing.
00:24:16I think Derek White is just one of those guys
00:24:18that just makes everything all right.
00:24:20You know what I mean?
00:24:22He's the guy you miss most when he was out.
00:24:24He was, it's amazing how noticeable it was.
00:24:27You know what?
00:24:28Oh, we have breaking news.
00:24:28Hold on.
00:24:29What do we got?
00:24:31Luke Cornett is back on a one year deal
00:24:35with the Boston Celtics.
00:24:37Bobby, I'm so glad I got to share this with you.
00:24:42Let's go, right on the buzzer.
00:24:45They didn't waste any time, John.
00:24:47They had Luke sitting there with a pen ready.
00:24:50He was their priority.
00:24:51If we don't have, if we are not given B roll
00:24:54of Luke signing that deal, then I want my money back.
00:24:58That's terrific.
00:24:59So we do, we have it.
00:25:00We've got the first one.
00:25:02There's your second center for now.
00:25:04He's your second center.
00:25:08He is.
00:25:10We'll get that graphic up in a second.
00:25:11But yes, Luke Cornett returns.
00:25:13All I wanna know is why did Woj get that news
00:25:17and not me?
00:25:20He should have broken it on this show, to be honest, Bobby.
00:25:23I think that's a fail by us.
00:25:25Yeah.
00:25:26Oh, well, as long as he's back.
00:25:29There you go.
00:25:31I'd imagine it's a league minimum, John,
00:25:33or maybe like a bump over it.
00:25:35One year deal.
00:25:37So it didn't take much to keep him, which was good.
00:25:40And now you wonder, does that mean Tillman's gone?
00:25:43Is that it in the front court?
00:25:45Are you just gonna keep everybody here?
00:25:47Is everyone just gonna be happy to come back
00:25:48and run it back?
00:25:48I would imagine he's here and Tillman's gone,
00:25:52but we'll see.
00:25:55Yeah, I would think so.
00:25:57Hold on.
00:26:03Okay.
00:26:04Sorry, just sending notes out to our guys.
00:26:06Luke Cornett, there it is,
00:26:08re-signing Luke Cornett to a one-year deal.
00:26:12So that's good.
00:26:14Hold on one second.
00:26:17Excellent.
00:26:19That's good, Bobby.
00:26:19So you got that.
00:26:20It's checking another box,
00:26:22and we'll update our thing here.
00:26:27I got Noah, by the way, chiming in, texting.
00:26:30We were having a side conversation saying she's bummed
00:26:33she's not on this show
00:26:34to get your live reaction to this news.
00:26:35So.
00:26:36Um.
00:26:37That's amazing.
00:26:40Six o'clock on the dot.
00:26:42Yeah.
00:26:43Six o'clock on the dot.
00:26:46Yeah.
00:26:47Yeah.
00:26:48Hey, he was great for them last year.
00:26:49Now, is he a spot starter for you?
00:26:53Is it just him and Horford there?
00:26:56I don't think so.
00:26:56I think you need one more body in there.
00:26:58And maybe if you really believe in Kada, it's him.
00:27:02If Tillman's willing to take a small bump or the minimum.
00:27:05Perfect.
00:27:06You're all set.
00:27:07You have all of the options you need
00:27:08at center while Porzingis is out.
00:27:09You know what I forgot to do?
00:27:10I forgot to do one of my effects here
00:27:12to give you like the fireworks.
00:27:13Is it two thumbs up for fireworks?
00:27:15I always forget.
00:27:16I wanted to give you balloons, balloons, balloons.
00:27:19Give you some effects for the cornet there.
00:27:21It only works when you don't want it.
00:27:23I know, I know.
00:27:24It's so funny.
00:27:25Every time I do my wind horse,
00:27:26I feel like I frigging throw one out there by accident.
00:27:30But anyway, cornet re-signs
00:27:33and Kevin Love returning to the heat.
00:27:35That's some other one.
00:27:36This isn't updated yet,
00:27:37but I just throwing it back up there.
00:27:40You add now cornet to this mix.
00:27:44Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12.
00:27:48That's 12 guys you have coming back again.
00:27:50You know, no matter what.
00:27:52Yes, you have three rusty spots right now.
00:27:54There's so little to be done here with this team.
00:28:00It's, you know, it really is like, it's actually great.
00:28:06It's a great position to be in if you're the Celtics.
00:28:08Is it not?
00:28:08Like to be boring?
00:28:11Like, this is, you prefer this, right?
00:28:16Versus like, they usually enter these off seasons
00:28:20with limited room.
00:28:22You know, really just mid-levels
00:28:24and veteran minimums to play with.
00:28:25And then hoping that guys want to come play with you.
00:28:28But you know, all those veteran minimum
00:28:30and all those mid-level guys want to go to LA
00:28:33and New York and Miami and destination cities
00:28:36and not necessarily to the,
00:28:38well, we've got a chance to win type of team.
00:28:40This year, knowing you have almost nothing that you can do.
00:28:43And again, second apron, just throwing it out there.
00:28:46Here's what you can't do.
00:28:49You can't aggregate contracts.
00:28:51You can't acquire players and sign in trades.
00:28:54You can't use the 5.2 million taxpayer
00:28:56mid-level and mid-level exception.
00:28:59You can't take back more money in a trade.
00:29:01You can't send out cash, pre-existing trade exceptions.
00:29:04You can basically sign guys for veteran minimums.
00:29:06That's what you can do here, right?
00:29:09Or trade one for one, straight up salary for salary.
00:29:12Or you can trade one for two, but you can't send out,
00:29:15you can't aggregate your own contract.
00:29:17So you really have next to zero flexibility
00:29:21in terms of what you can do.
00:29:22The best thing that you can do is resign all of your guys,
00:29:25make them assets, and then trade them down the road
00:29:27if that's what you want to do, right, Bobby?
00:29:28I mean, what else can you do?
00:29:29What else can you do with what you've got?
00:29:31Yeah, and that seems like the plan here.
00:29:33It's amazing to hear they're going to extend wide
00:29:35and they're going to extend Hauser
00:29:37and they're just keeping all these guys,
00:29:38but that might be the best strategy.
00:29:40And then you figure out which contracts are most valuable,
00:29:44which can you send out
00:29:45and get some stuff forward down the line
00:29:46if you're going to break them up into smaller pieces,
00:29:49or just keep it rolling
00:29:52if you're able to financially do that.
00:29:54Now, again, I did the math, John,
00:29:57and it was some rough math, so I'll throw it out there.