Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Thoughts on ESPN's NBA Survey's Celtics' Assessment
With the start of training camp precisely a week away, ESPN polled 15 scouts, coaches, and executives from across the NBA in a survey on topics like who had the best and worst offseason, who is the favorite to capture the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the MVP award, who's the league's top player right now, and who will it be in five years.
To no surprise, the Celtics' decision to trade the heart and soul of the team, Marcus Smart, the nine-year veteran who was their longest-tenured active player, in a deal bringing Kristaps Porzingis to Boston was widely considered the most shocking move of the offseason.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
That gamble, primarily intended for its All-NBA wings to take more ownership of the team and to address what's plagued the franchise the most in recent playoff appearances, which also has the organization trying to patch up its relationship with Malcolm Brogdon, whom it agreed to trade to the Clippers before it fell through due to concerns about the reigning Sixth Man of the Year's forearm strain, another source of tension between the two sides, received seven votes.
The Warriors acquiring Chris Paul and the Rockets signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks tied for second with four votes.
And while nine panelists anticipate Nikola Jokic earning his third MVP award, Jayson Tatum tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for second, with each garnering two votes.
In a wide-ranging interview, Candace Parker told Inside the Celtics that Tatum is her pick for that prestigious honor.
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
However, the two-time All-NBA First Team selection only had one supporter from the survey forecast him being the NBA's best player in five years.
The four-time All-Star is just entering his prime, has already accomplished considerable individual success, and led Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals four times in six years, including coming within two wins of Banner 18.
While everyone's entitled to their opinion and the players referenced are superstars or projects to be, picking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Tatum caught this author's attention.
The same applies to Victor Wembanyama's receiving two votes. But it's reasonable to predict his offense will reach a level five years from now where, even if he's still better defensively, he's evolved into a two-way force.
The Spurs landing the first overall pick in the draft, allowing them to land another front-court prospect with the potential to be a generational talent, resulted in four of the survey's participants deeming San Antonio had the best offseason.
Boston tallied three votes, the second most, while two panelists went with Golden State, the Lakers, and the Bucks, respectively.
There was a ceiling with Marcus there, a West scout said, and Porzingis quietly had a great year last year.
Lastly, regarding who will finish first in the Eastern Conference, the C's received the most support, getting nine votes to Milwaukee's six.
The Nuggets were the overwhelming favorite to claim the best record in the Western Conference, with ten of the experts polled backing Denver to do so.
However, it's the Celtics who garnered the most votes to capture the NBA title, earning six votes to the Nuggets' five.
"This is their window," an executive in the West stated about Boston, noting Jaylen Brown's record-setting contract and Tatum's being eligible for a supermax extension next summer.
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
However, a scout in the Eastern Conference who believes Denver remains the championship favorite expressed, "They have the best player in the world, continuity, and their young guys will keep getting better," adding, "I don't see anyone beating them if healthy."
While this survey doesn't have the most inspiring track record when trying to predict who will claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy before the season starts, as it points out, the Celtics' reshaping their core and gaining better positional balance and the Nuggets' having the player widely considered the best in the NBA makes a Finals clash between these two as likely as any potential scenario for who's squaring off in June.
Further Reading
Here's What Jayson Tatum Told Celtics After Ime Udoka's Removal
Boston Celtics Emerge as Favorites to Acquire Damian Lillard
Details of Why Malcolm Brogdon's Upset with Celtics Revealed
Jayson Tatum Preparing for Point-Guard Role This Season
Brad Stevens Discusses Differences in Joe Mazzulla Entering Year 2 as Celtics' Head Coach
Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule
Examining How Celtics' Starting Lineup Might Shapeshift This Season
Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement
