Boston and Atlanta Offseason guides

To begin we will discuss one of the more interesting teams of the offseason the Atlanta Hawks. How Atlanta got into this position is interesting. They were seemingly the team who ended Ben Simmons run in Philadelphia, saw Trae Young go ballistic during that 2021 playoff run, and gave them the confidence that they were starting to rebound back into the first seeded team they were in 2015. However, they have only gone backwards since then. Two first round exits against the Heat and then Celtics have put into question the all star backcourt pairing they traded for two years ago. Before getting to their draft assets, Let's talk about the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray pairing. To begin Atlanta had a decision to make after their beat down against the first seeded Miami Heat in the 2022 NBA playoffs. The team that went to the conference finals the year prior was gone. They needed to improve to compete with the rest of the eastern conference. They were faced with two options to try and improve their defense by trading for another guard or acquire a center. The two options were Dejounte Murray and Rudy Gobert and given the circumstances they felt Murray was the better choice. However, they've been unable to create any type of momentum towards improving. Fast forward two years, now, after the trade, they are not any closer to getting back to the conference finals. Atlanta's season did not improve at all compared to the last two years finishing with a 36-46 record however they were able to improve to the number 1 pick in this years NBA draft through the lottery. With that being said, they have an interesting amount of options to entertain this offseason. A couple of choices include trading Trae Young for future assets, trading Dejounte Murray to retool the team around Young, or trade the No. 1 overall pick and retool the roster around both. My initial thoughts on this situation is keep the draft pick and try to get younger. I honestly think you they should trade Young and potentially Murray. I think the Hawks currently have a lot of younger player that are exciting and can improve together by playing in a different system. Kobe Bufkin is 20 years old, AJ Griffin is 20 years old, Jalen Johnson, who was in the conversation for most improved throughout the season is 22 years old, and Onyeka Okongwu is 23 years old. This is a solid core that deserves a chance to grow into their own. Add in the No. 1 overall pick this year, which is an unfortunate weak draft class at the top, and the Hawks have five players under 23 who can become really solid players and create real momentum for the the franchise. I understand that Trae Young is only 25 years old, but I feel as though both sides could enjoy a fresh start elsewhere. On top of that they can regain assets lost to in the Dejounte Murray trade if Young is traded. 

Now let's dig into the weeds of their offseason decisions. The Hawks if they make a trade could potentially trigger the first apron tax. For those who do not know what the first apron, or second apron are I will explain. The NBA uses a soft salary cap that can be crossed however teams will need to pay a luxury tax in order to justify there moves. Previously successful teams could spend as much money to try and keep their teams together now more strategy is involved to try and piece together championship teams. The NFL is a league that uses a 'hard' cap that prevents teams from going over. Example, the Warriors have always been in the luxury tax to keep their team together however, now they have less financial flexibility to improve the roster. The first apron doesn't limit teams as much as the second apron does. The second apron is roughly 17.5 million above the tax line and here is where the limitations for teams come into play. Teams in the second apron can't sign players to the mid-level exemption in free agency, they can't take in more salary during trades, they cannot trade first round picks 7 years out, and these teams cannot sign player in the buyout market during the season. The first apron is roughly 6 million above the tax line. The first apron does not have many important restrictions for teams as the second apron does, it serves more as a warning for teams approaching the second apron. The first apron is roughly 172 million dollars and the second apron is roughly 182.5 million dollars.  Now some extension eligible players for them are Young, which he will get, Jalen Johnson, he should get and will be surprised if he doesn't, Clint Capela, which I think they should depending on the money, however if they don't it will give Okongwu an opportunity to play more minutes which will be key for his development. Among other important decisions for the front office is that Saddiq Bey is a restricted free agent. Quick sidebar, restricted free agent means other team can offer the player a contract, however the previous team can match any offer presented to the player. If the team does not match the offer then the other team signs the player. Bey is 25 years old and is an intriguing player that I believe his market can fluctuate depending on how teams view his value. However, he is coming off an ACL tear and will more than likely miss the beginning third of the NBA season next year.  Bey is a more than capable shooter and helps provide much needed spacing on the floor. He shot 31.6% from three this year, but was above 34.5% in every season since he's been in the league. Overall, the Hawks offseason will help determine which way the front office views taking the team. Their only future draft assets are 2024 first round pick and six second round picks available. Their 2025 and 2027 picks will go to San Antonio as part of the Dejounte Murray trade. The Spurs also have the right to swap firsts in 2026. Hawks have needs that are sometimes hard to fill in the NBA also. They need defensive perimeter depth, as well as shooting with Bey recovering from his ACL tear. Having Deandre Hunter available would help fill holes in a majority of these categories. Atlanta is currently in the spot where their big home run trade didn't work out and that leads to needing to create the possibility of generating some younger talent. However this team getting healthy and revamping the roster a little bit could help lead to a promising future for this franchise. Any news that comes out after this post is released will be updated prior to the season starting. 

Now Moving on to a team that is where everyone else wants to be, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics went 64-18 during the regular and cruised to the number 1 seed in the eastern conference, then went an even more impressive 16-3 in the playoffs that ended with them hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy after beating the Dallas Mavericks in 5 games. Jaylen Brown was named both eastern conference finals MVP and finals MVP after being left off the all-NBA roster. Jayson Tatum did something five other player have ever done in the playoff in leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists on the way to a title. Many fans will say they didn't deserve this title given the injury riddled east they played. However, available is an ability in the NBA and teams who are healthy aren't going to apologize for it. So call it whatever you want, but this Celtics team dismantled the entire NBA this year in historic fashion. Now time to move on where Brad Stevens has absolutely dominated for the Celtics, the offseason. Last year it was highlighted by trading beloved Marcus Smart in a three team trade that saw him go to the Grizzlies and the Celtics landing Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards. Stevens then turned around and was able to acquire Jrue Holiday from the Trailblazers after the they made the Damian Lillard trade. Oh and they somehow got two first round picks in this entire sequence, FREAKING GENIUS. Now it is time for Boston to retool and make a charge in defending their crown. This Celtics title comes after years of falling short multiple times. In 2013 they made the blockbuster trade sending Paul Piece and Kevin Garnett to the Nets in exchange for what essentially became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. In 2018 they lost to the Cavs after running into Lebron, who completely took over game 7, and sent them packing, and a year before they acquired Kyrie and signed Gordan Hayward in 2019 to create a deep roster, however Hayward quite literally snapped his leg 6 minutes into the season and they eventual flamed out in the second round in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 they received their wake up call after they were hovering around .500 the entire year and ran into a supercharged offense in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. Finally, they were healthy and retooled the roster that made the finals in 2022 only to run into the Warriors dynasty and then in 2023 suffered their most embarrassing yet  self defining series loss to the 8th seeded Heat in the eastern conference finals in 7 games after being down 3-0. Now they are on top of the NBA world with one question left, How to do it again? To start Tatum is now eligible for a 5 year 315 million supermax that would kick in 2025-2026, they also can extend Derrick white, who was arguably their best player in the beginning of the postseason this year, and they have a decision to make with Sam Hauser. With many of these contracts coming into play for them, they will almost definitely be over the second apron, however they're projected better than any team because they drafted and developed a majority of their team, which is what the NBA wants. They own a majority of their  first round picks up to 2031 which gives them the opportunity to draft rookies on cheaper deals or they can trade for other players. They also own the 30th pick this year and the 54th pick in this years draft. Overall, there is not a better team suited to operate near or over the second apron than Boston. However, they won't be able to be on the buyout market and if they want to make a trade they have to match salaries with any team they trade with. They as any team does has needs to fill on the roster. The Injury to Porzingis in the postseason opened the door to other front court players that will need to develop. Xavier Tillman, who played well in the postseason, and Luke Kornet who sputtered out of the rotation later into the playoffs. On top of that bench depth is needed along with a point guard to help run the second unit. I understand they have the best top 6 in the league, but having a veteran on a cheap deal, or Pritchard and a rookie,  to help them run the second unit. The development of Pritchard can also help fill some holes on roster too. His development is important for their bench going forward. Hauser will be extension eligible after having an up and down postseason that ended on a high note. I think the Celtics would be foolish to let him walk considering his value as a shooter and how the Celtics like to play 5 out on offense. 

Finally I'd like to give some flowers to Joe Mazzulla. He was ridiculed throughout last season after being thrusted into the position unexpectedly at the beginning of the year.  Him along with Brad Stevens piecing the roster together finally achieved what the James Harden Rockets were after, playing 5 out basketball. The 5 out concept is difficult to play because everyone needs to be a good shooter and be able to switch on defense with nay offensive player. The Celtics dominated this philosophy this year. Mazzulla always wanted 5 shooter on the floor and developed an offense that was the most efficient in NBA history. He made every right adjustment throughout the playoffs and finally figured out when to call his timeouts. Overall, Mazzulla is a young coach and elite at that. Him spearheading this teams mentality is something that is underrated nowadays, he's a sicko simply put. The Celtics have, in my opinion, the easier offseason of the teams at the top and barring a championship hangover they will be potent to repeat. Any news that comes out after this article will be updated before the season begins.