Mannix: Celtics Should Trade for Lauri Markkanen | The Garden Report

Mannix: Celtics Should Trade for Lauri Markkanen | The Garden Report

Always has to be a shot at somebody. They’re never clean. They have to run. That’s the only shot they have. They do it for 82 games. We’re about to find out. He already has shown what he’s capable of. Did surprise me. I thought we were going to hang in there. This makes me think that we do need to be humble. I actually think you’re the only one who deserved that beat. Hey, Bobby Manning here and welcome to a weekend edition of the Garden Report. Chris Manx is here from Sports Illustrated back uh for another appearance. Welcome in, Chris. And it’s an interesting season, man. I don’t know what to make of it so far. It’s been a complete mixed bag for this team. And I guess that’s what it could potentially be all season. Yeah, I I think the ups and downs um are just going to be part of of of this team all year. I I do think they’re going to get better in some areas as some of these new guys get comfortable in the system. Some of these guys that haven’t played yet um get better in this system or haven’t played much in previous years anyway. Um but the you know they’re going to have some uneven nights. They’re going to have some nights where they are positively dreadful from beyond the three-point line. I mean, it’s just you just kind of stuck with the roller coaster ride given the personnel that they have. Yeah. And you were around the last couple games here. Um Utah obviously a brutal loss to that team that they probably even with the, you know, losses and, you know, Tatum being out, she had no business losing to, but lose on a putback. The rebounding issue comes back to haunt them there. And then the Wizards, who they blow out of the building there. And those were two interesting games because they had a relatively tough schedule off the bat and mixed results there. The Pelicans, they got on the board there against a bad team. Um beat the Cavs who weren’t quite themselves and Mitchell was, you know, questionable to even play in that one. And got a decent win um down in Philadelphia against what had been an undefeated Sixers team to that point. So you saw them, you know, playing up to the competition. But when they got to a team that you’re like, “All right, they should almost certainly beat this team in Utah, you know, create some separation. Are they capable of doing that there?” They weren’t. And then early in that Wizards game, too, you know, they go down by double digits and you’re like, “Oh, like is this what it’s going to be here?” But the Wizards finally were that team that they were able to create some separation from. So, I guess what we’ve learned so far is that they’re a little bit better than the Wizards for sure. Like, we we don’t really don’t know what this team is yet is my point. Yeah, I actually didn’t think the Jazz loss was as like shocking as as most people. I mean, the Jazz have not played bad this year. Like the two of their losses were by a total of three points. They’ve got some good wins. They had a couple of wins before they played Boston and they’ve got like Utah does have a level of connectivity that the Celtics are lacking right now. I mean, a lot of those guys there are young, but you know, a few of them been together for several years now. I mean, Markin’s been there since 22. Kee George’s got a few years now under his belt. Like, they they’ve they’ve been growing together. They’re not good by any stretch, but, you know, if they had lost the Wizards, I would probably would have been um a little more apoplelectic, but you you’ve kind of seen the the flaws exposed in some of these losses. Like, they they lost what, three or four of their top three-point shooters, but they’re continuing to shoot at the highest pace in the NBA. they uh don’t have size up front anymore with the guys they’ve lost, Porzingis, Horford, Cornet, but and and that’s caused them to be uh an anemic rebounding team this season. So, it’s it’s tough. Like, you know, I was saying this to somebody within the organization the other day, like, you know, you look at like say something Miami is doing like Miami, they’ve reinvented themselves this year. Like, they just threw out the playbook and said, “We’re going with something completely different.” Like, we no longer have Jimmy Butler. So, we are going to adopt this Noah Lar Ro free flowing, you know, no plays type of offense and that’s going to be our identity, you know, both this season, maybe moving forward. The Celtics can’t really do that because at some point they’re going to get Jason Tatum back and whether it’s this year, next year, wherever. and they they really can’t reinvent who they are because once Tatum comes back and and once they start to fill in around the the roster with, you know, more veteran players, which they’ll do, you know, whether it’s via trade or free agency this summer, like they’re going to go back to playing the way that they’re playing now. They’re going to be more effective because they’re going to be able to rebound a little bit better. They’re going to be able to shoot the three a lot better. So, they’re in kind of a tough spot where I think if Tatum was gone forever, like maybe Joe Missoula reinvents the way this team plays a little bit, but he’s not. He’s He’s going to be back. And you’ve kind of got to play the same kind of system that you’ve played for the last two or three years, just with personnel that is measurably worse than it’s been in recent years. So, you think that’s the reason we haven’t seen a drastic change in their play style is that they’re anticipating continuing that approach with Tatum when he gets back because they’re last in pace again? It’s a little surprising because they were they were, you know, talking a lot about pace this year, but I always said I said to somebody as well like anytime you hear a team talk about we’re going to play faster, it means they stink. Like every bad team I’ve I’ve ever covered has said in the preseason we’re going to play faster because faster gives you more opportunities to get easy shots. I would definitely like to see the Celtics be better than last in pace. Like that’s like Utah was last in pace last year. Like that that’s they don’t want to play um that that type of of of offense. You got to try to get up and down, try to get some easy buckets. can’t just I mean like the first quarter of of the Wizards game like that could have I mean they they they managed to figure it out in the final three but that was like exactly what you kind of don’t want in what this team that was Jaylen Brown scoring like 16 points in the first quarter and if it wasn’t for like a Josh May not flurry you know it would have been like nobody else putting up points and you need to distribute the the the offense uh a lot better uh to to be successful but they’re they’re they’re in a they’re in a tough spot like this is you if Tatum was playing, they would be a lot better. Like they would the threes would be a lot better. The offense would would flow a lot better. Um and and like in anticipation of at some point returning. You don’t want to completely reinvent the offense and, you know, have to do it all again maybe next summer if that makes sense. Yeah. And that’s the hole they’re missing in that starting lineup is at that four spot, the rebounding that Tatum provided. And they tried Hower for the first three games there and it was a disaster on the boards. They were last in defensive rebounding by like four percentage points and then May not miraculously save that starting lineup and the numbers have been great with him in there. It’s been a bit of a revelation for them. Um a good find among a bunch of offseason additions like that that’s like that’s the kind of guy like look Celtics fans don’t want to hear it but you’re not going to do anything this year. Like like I don’t think this team is in the Eastern Conference is bad enough to fall out of the playoff mix. I just don’t think so. I think their their their wings are too good and they’re too mentally tough. Like they’ll wins they’ll tough out some games to that that maybe they shouldn’t win. Um but to me it’s like identifying a like if Josh like maybe Josh Min can be part of your rotation next year. Like that’s that’s a big win for this team. Like if it turns out like this is a guy that for four years, you know, couldn’t do anything. Wasn’t like in in a rotation on any of the teams that he played for. um you you give him 20 plus minutes with this team and all of a sudden he’s giving you six and a half rebounds a game. Like that’s like, hey, all right. Um if he can be a semi-reliable three-point shooter and one of the better at a better rebounding wing than some of the guys some of his peers across the league, that that’s a huge win for Boston. Like when I when I watch that guy start to make plays defensively and rebound the basketball, like I know there are people in the Celtics front office that are like, “All right, that’s good.” Like we can we’ll take something like that as a positive result from this season. Yeah, and he’s 22. It’s almost like a second draft guy. Didn’t work out in Minnesota. Didn’t get to play a ton in Minnesota. And that happens sometimes. And you get the opportunity elsewhere. And that’s where you actually start to flourish based off the development he did there. He’s 32% from three. Probably going to have to shoot a little bit better than that for it to work at the four. They tried him at the five a little bit last game, which is small. Like that’s going to be a challenge for them if they go with that often. And you just see it when they play like they’re trying to account for holes in almost every lineup that they have out there. And it has been shocking. They hit rock bottom um in that Utah game from three. Reached I think when they got to 19% in that game, they fell to last place in the league in three-point percentage and they settled in around 29th by the end of the night there. Bounced back a little bit with a 39% performance against the Wizards there. But that has shocked me more than anything else here is that they have struggled offensively and You understand that with some of the personnel they lost here, but there’s still a lot of shooting. You thought Derek White might make a leap this year and it looked like it for a quarter on opening night where he went crazy in transition and shooting threes and had this awesome performance and then completely tailed off shooting the ball. He he struggled immensely. Pritchard was in a massive slump to begin this season and um in that Utah game in particular, I think they were plus 21 with Jaylen on the floor and they end up losing the game. So that’s how reliant they’ve been on Jaylen Brown offensively to begin this year and he’s been outstanding. I think he had 35 in the Washington game. He’s top five in total scoring this season so far. So one of the questions we had coming in this year is can Jaylen lead this thing? And it’s been a resounding yes in that department so far. What’s around him still is a complete question mark here. Yeah. Um, I’m not surprised that Jaylen is busting out. Like that is exactly what I expected. And I think even though Jaylen wants to win and and that’s that’s a top priority for him. You saw him he he proved during that championship season he’s a winning player with the MVPs that he won in the playoffs. Um, I I do think he is relishing the opportunity to spread his wings a little bit and show that he’s an allNBA caliber talent. I thought going into the season he would take Jason Tatum’s place on one of the allNNBA teams and and do that. He he’s on track for that right now. But I do think what you are seeing is that as good as guys like White and Pritchard and Hower are, and I think they’re very good players, like they’re championship level players. when you ask them to to jump up a level to be to go from being the number three guy to the two guy, the four guy to the three guy, the five guy to the four guy, it’s difficult because you’re getting better defenders on you. You’re going higher up on the scouting report. Like I think Jaylen’s done a remarkable job of, you know, absorbing, you know, number one wing defenders and the entire, you know, team defensive philosophies being steered toward him and still being able to have success, still being able to break those defense. I think some of the other guys, particularly White, who’s not shooting well so far, is having a little more trouble, you know, dealing with those, you know, that being more everybody’s fullcourt pressing around the league right now. It’s crazy. Yeah, I I think he’s they’re they’re having some trouble with with that with the with the defensive intensity being ratcheted up a little bit more. And that’s I heard that a lot from, you know, Derek White’s got a lot of fans around the league, but he’s got a lot of fans from people that that love him as a third or fourth option, but not so much at at two or three. So, he he’s, you know, the second he got to Boston, he was cast perfectly in that role. Um, and I think he’s still trying to figure out, you know, how to get his points and how to make his shots um with with better defenders on it. Yeah. So, you said this is a playoff team. Uh, it’s hard to imagine them, barring injuries, falling out of that mix in the East here. And it’s been a mixed bag for a lot of the teams so far. Indiana obviously decimated at 1 and seven to begin this year. The tanking teams by and large have been that to this point. Uh the Magic a little disappointing to begin the season who are up next over this weekend in a miniseries against Boston. And obviously the most surprising team in the East so far is the six and one Bulls. So not surprising, right? We’re nine games in. It’s we don’t have a clear view of what the East looks like. The Sixers look a little bit better than I expected. The Bucks look solid. um the Heat Magic. Uh a couple other teams, Hawks, who have had injuries look like they’re going to be on the disappointing side, at least from what we’ve seen so far, but I still don’t have a great feel for where Boston’s going to finish here. Where did you have them going into this year? And has the start of the year altered that at all based off what they’ve done or what anyone else has done around the East? I had them getting into the playoffs via the playin coming into the season. I still look at them in that range. I think based on the things you said, you know, these these teams out there have been very disappointing. Um I could they get to six? Probably. I mean, I I just I haven’t quite figured out what’s sustainable. You know, Miami started the season off great. They go out west, they get clobbered. You know, now they’re they’re back to kind of looking more vulnerable. Orlando’s been I think the biggest disappointment to anybody. Like Orlando is I thought they could make the finals this year. I did too. I did too. Like I had them to go to the conference finals. I picked them to go to the conference finals. Um, but they seem to be suffering from an identity crisis where, you know, they’re trying to play too fast, I think. Like they’ve they won a lot of their games last year. They won half their games last year with all the injuries, grinding out offense and and just beating the crap out of you defensively. I thought that at Des Desmond Bane, they’d go from like 27th in offensive efficiency to like 19th and that would be enough for them to to still win games in like 1990s style 95 92 types of wins. But they’re they’re they’re playing too fast for my taste. I think they’re they’re lacking they’re lacking a true point guard down there, too. Jaylen Sugg’s a good player, but I think they’re lacking, you know, a real point guard on that team. The Bulls, I don’t know if that’s sustainable. like they’re playing like 10 deep and their bench has been phenomenal this year, but is that going to hold up uh over the course of the season? Philly like I I’m is MB are his minutes going to go up as the season progresses that’s going to make them better defensively because right now they’ve been horrible on that end of the floor. There’s just there’s no certainty like even Cleveland, you know, I thought they’d cruise to like a great start, like an Oklahoma City type start to the season. Yeah, they’ve had some injuries, but and and Darius Garland coming back now. Maybe that changes thing, but they’ve been uneven. There there’s just so much turbulence right now in in the Eastern Conference, even Milwaukee. Like, you’re going to sit there and tell me like I believe that Giannis is going to do this all season long. I believe that Miles Turner is going to be fine, but you’re telling me like Ryan Rollins, who I couldn’t pick out of a photo array coming into this season, like is gonna be like he’s gonna be playing like the most improved player at all-star level all season long. Kyle Kosma was gonna be the six man of the year. Like I there’s there’s just so much that I didn’t see coming coming into this year. And I’m curious to see as we get into November, December, you know, after Christmas, like how does this all level off? Like what do teams look like when they start to settle in? Yeah, and that’s one thing the Celtics do have going for them, Tatum aside, obviously, is they’re healthy. Jaylen tweaked the hamstring in the final preseason game there, but he’s played every game since and has looked outstanding as we’ve talked about. But in Philly, you do have that Embiid question. Trey Young’s already down in Atlanta. Uh Bam got banged up. I don’t think it’s serious, but he uh went down in the last Miami game and might miss sometime here. Cavs started the year without Garland. He’s going to be back soon, but they’re missing Strus. All the way down the line, the Knicks are dealing with this weird Josh Hart thing and Mitchell Robinson missed the start of the year and Indiana is missing pretty much the whole roster right now. So regardless of what the Celtics do and who they are, their outcome could be swung by how healthy other teams are in the East. And if we were going to rank how healthy everybody is in the East right now, they’re probably in the top three, four, five at this point just based off some of the attrition that we’ve seen already. And then obviously you got your tanking teams like Brooklyn and Washington who Boston just saw here. They got a lot of easy games coming up here. And that was what why I was interested to see like are they going to blow by those kind of teams this year because you have to take every one of those games that you can get if you’re going to exceed expectations this year. And um we’re about to see that. It’s another tough stretch this weekend with Orlando and uh Philadelphia coming up on Tuesday. I think Wednesday’s Memphis. But after that, it’s a lot of Brooklyn and those kind of teams after a tough start here for Boston. So four and five. I mean they had a chance to win it on opening night at the buzzer. They blew the Utah game obviously. There’s a couple spots here that they probably should have won and didn’t. Even the Detroit game, I mean, they’re in a great position late in that one and gave up four straight offensive rebounds against a team that’s now six and two. So, they’re competitive. It’s going to be tough for them every single night this year. They can’t have injuries, but it looks like they could rise above that playin line in a certain scenario here. Now, here’s the question every fan’s asking. Should they? Or is this a year where you want to be outside of the playoffs, you want to be in prime draft position, and that’s the better long-term play for this team? Yeah, I mean, look, you good luck getting Joe Missoula to tank. Like, that’s never going to happen. And good luck getting these guys so much pride to not scrap out um as many wins as they can. Look, if you’re asking like what is in the best long-term interest of the Celtics, it’s to get a lottery pick. Like, it’s that simple. Like, because the lottery pick is either a young player on a cheap contract, which we know they need, or a trade asset that you can package with some salary to get back, you know, the the next Derek White or the next guy that you’re that makes sense with that rotation. I just think they’re going to have a hard time, you know, unless there’s an injury to jail, unless like there’s a hamstring strain that that costs him a chunk of games. To your point, they’re going to be really competitive. I I think, you know, they believe that their defense is going to get better as guys get comfortable playing with each other. They’re going to get better. Are they going to be an elite three-point shooting team? No. But they believe they’re better than a bottom five three-point shooting team. So, those if they improve in those areas, they’re going to be 500 or better this season. and in the Eastern Conference that might be like the five seed given what we’ve seen uh you know from from some of the teams that are out there. So while I I think like Brad Stevens is probably sitting there saying if I could just close my eyes and get through this season you give me a lottery pick that would be great for how I’m trying to to build this team out. I don’t think they’re I don’t think they’re going to get there. What I am interested in seeing is like like I I think this team’s in a in a interesting position before the trade deadline because like I I would like to see this team be aggressive. Like I would like them to see them be buyers. Buyers buyers like I know everybody’s I know there’s the Anthony Simons can get out his contract, get into the tax, all the reasons you want to do. There’s all sorts of of mechanics there. I get all that. But like if you can find someone that makes sense for the team in 26 27, I’m not even talking about this season. I want somebody under contract for the next like three years that can replace Porzingis, replace Horford, somebody especially in the front court. We know they need that help. there’s somebody out there like I mean a guy like Markin man I would take him in a hot minute in a that is that is porzingis but younger and probably better like honestly like that guy that guy can play let me tell you like that guy just badly needs to be when you when he’s in winning situations he is so much better like like this team this Jazz team like they’re competitive now and that sparked him like to play the way he’s averaging 30 and six right now on the season could you imagine marketing who’s under contract for like the next what four years like this is the first year of that long-term extension. Can you imagine marketin playing alongside Tatum and Brown for the next three years? Like that’s your guy. Like that’s the guy. Like so if I’m the Celtics, I know it’s pricey. I know the the the mechanics are hard. Markin makes like $46 million. You got you gotta do some tricky things to make it work. But like if if you watch He didn’t have a great game against the Celtics, but he was fine. But like watch him this season. watch how he he would and think about how he would fit opposite Tatum and Brown. That’s the guy I absolutely positively love for the Celtics. And that’s a guy that you know will probably be available at some point. Like he doesn’t really fit in what the Jazz are trying to do long term. And you got Austin A there, Danny A there. Let’s let’s play. Let’s make a deal. Let’s you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. You get some some some freedom from flexibility and some flexibility. You get some draft capital and we get a player that can help us win a championship for the next three or four years. I love it. I love the ideas. Uh trying to get back to contention because it’s going to be a tricky road to do that coming out of this year regardless of what happens this season. Um before we talk a little bit more about that, I want to give a quick shout out here to prize picks. Check them out every football weekend and it is Thursday as we record this. So the football weekend’s getting started here and you know how it goes with fantasy. By this team, by this time of year, a lot of your teams are off the rails. injuries or just you made some bad decisions throughout the year. So, build a new team every weekend over on prize picks. Uh you and I make decisions every day, but on prize picks, being right can get you paid. Don’t miss any of the excitement this season on prize picks where it’s good to be right. You got basketball going on right now as well. Hockey as well as football of course and all you have to do to build your team and you can mix and match players. Two to six player staff projections. 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So, h how does this team get back to contention here? And it does start this year. The deadline’s going to be interesting because they’re a team that’s over the tax. I don’t know if there’s an imperative for them to get below because I think that’s going to lead to some awkward moves just to try to get off some money here. You might have to send out some picks to do that kind of stuff. The Simons contract’s going to be interesting here because it’s a big one. And uh they obviously looked at that over the summer and just couldn’t do anything there. So what is this next couple months stretch here leading up to that deadline going to look like then from a you know trade transaction perspective here as they try to position themselves for the future? Well, Simons is still the the most interesting guy to watch because you’re right, they they did explore trying to do like a porzingis nyang type of deal where you’re sending out more salary than you’re getting back. But from what I was told, everything that they were were hearing was like you got to attach draft capital to Simons to get teams interested. Um they’re not just looking to absorb uh and Simon’s a good player, but like on a in a contract year, probably looking for real money next time around. Like there really wasn’t any kind of interest. Now, could that change as we get closer to the trade deadline? Could a team look at Simons’s offensive, you know, abilities and say we could use a guy like that as our, you know, seventh or eighth man off the bench? Maybe. I mean, I think they he’ll be somebody teams are are are looking at, but for the Celtics, I think they just have to decide like what direction do you want to go? How aggressive do you want to be? I mean, I I prefer them to be a buyer, but I think they just as easily could turn into a seller and and just try to offload even more stuff. Not the core guys. Like, they’ve shown that Hower, Pritchard, White, those guys they want around. They could have moved Sam Hower anytime this past offseason. That’s a great contract he’s under. Half the teams in the league would have loved to have had Sam. They obviously want him around for the next couple of years. like do they look to to really get under that tax number or do they start thinking about you know what can what can we get what can help us get better when Jason Tatum gets back in the lineup. So you think White’s solidly part of the mix into the future here. I do I do I do I don’t I think he’s there. I think he’s there. Yeah. Because he’s going to be in there. So there was a lot of talk over the summer, right? Do you move Brown? That’s tough. He makes 50 million. He’s part of your, you know, core here. he won the championship, the MVP. I I couldn’t have seen that ever happening. And, you know, if you’re taking him in, like, you’re building everything around him as whatever team that would be. And I think, you know, you didn’t see or know whether he could lead a team prior to this year and when we’re going to see it. White fits anywhere. And obviously, they got some offers over the summer, I’m sure, that were enticing and anyone would want that guy. I think um I’d heard over the summer that um Toronto floated like RJ Barrett and draft picks and you know they were an aggressive team trying to go for him and Golden State I’m sure he’d be a great fit there and what I’m thinking now after the Fred Van Fleet injury is Houston and Eay like that is exactly what they’re missing right now. They wouldn’t do it though. They wouldn’t they would Houston like Houston I mean would they like him? Sure. But Houston’s got Houston feels like they have Well, they have a couple things. One, they believe that AM Thompson can be a point guard. Like they think he’s he’s and it’s working. They’re number one in Austin. Yeah. I thought I I said soon as Fred Van Blake down, one of the thing first things I wrote about was like Amen’s fine. Like he’s gonna he’s gonna be fine. Yeah. And well, yeah, I’m saying more of the point guard spot, but it’s like right um they’ve got in Houston, they’ve got enough picks. They’ve got the Phoenix Capital and some other ones to make one more really big swing. Like they can do do something big. Like if Giannis becomes they’re thinking bigger than white. They’re thinking way bigger than white. Like they’re not going to blow the rest of their draft capital on on a Derek White. They’re just not going to do it. They’re going to wait and see who becomes available either before the trade dled line or this summer specifically with Giannis because Giannis is going to be able to control where he wants to go. Um and they’re going to see if they’re in play for something like that. So there’s that. Um I think that makes sense because White and Tatum are so good playing off each other, too. I just wonder what do you have as trade assets? You know, if you’re this team and you’re keeping Brown, you’re keeping Tatum, you’re keeping white. That’s going to be the question here cuz beyond that, it’s not a lot left in terms of money like matching salary or assets. You know, it’s a lot of minimum guys. It’s Hower. It’s your draft pick this year. How how good’s that going to be? That’s where, you know, the question pops into my mind like Tatum’s going to be back next year, but how do you make this roster better around the core four of Tatum Brown, White, and um, you know, Hower, whoever that fourth guy up is there. Yeah. I mean, it I I don’t think it needs a ton to get them back to the top of the Eastern Conference. Like, it beating Oklahoma City in the finals or Denver in the finals for the next five years is going to be a real challenge. Like you watch how the Thunder are playing this year without Jaylen Williams and part-time Chad Holgrren. And as we record this, they’ve got one loss. It’s it’s unbelievable how deep that team is. They’re going to be the front runner for years to come. But in the East, like the Tatum Brown combo with Pritchard who’s still in his prime, White who’s still got good years left. To me, you just really need to nibble around the fringes there. Like you need to find the next Al Horford. you need to find, you know, another 3 and D type of wing. And you can you can find those guys like you you like, especially in the front court, you’re going to be able to get guys on discount salaries that want big roles on winning teams. Like, you know, that’s why Horford went to Golden State, not for the money, for the chance to play a significant role on a potential winning team. Like when Tatum’s back, you’re going to have those guys sniffing around the Celtics wondering if it makes sense for them to ring chase uh over the Earth. So, I I’m just looking at that front court, whether it’s, you know, maybe there’s somebody in the draft that they can use that pick on that’s NBA ready right in year one. Uh maybe they can use that pick, package it with a small salary to get somebody that makes sense to them. But if they can just find one more front court player, one more reliable 30 minute per game front court player with Tatum, that’s going to be enough to win the East. I’m telling you, Tatum and Brown alone are going to be that’s just enough to win the East. Are we gonna see Tatum this year? I don’t know. Like I, you know, nobody will say anything to me or anybody else, but like I think I think it’s like look, and this is just my opinion, like to me, they’re they’re kind of nodding their heads and what it’s saying. Whatever whatever Jason wants. Like you want to put an X on a calendar and say that’s the date you’re going to come back, go for it, man. We want you motivated to go and work. But I I know that there are people in in Tatum circle that want him to sit out the year. I know there are people in Boston that would prefer him to sit out the year. It’s just such even though he’s made remarkable a remarkable recovery and and his doctors saying all this stuff, but I’ve never seen anything like this. What is the upside? Like what what is the upside for dropping him into a playoff race um with with a body he’s still not entirely comfortable in? Like you can be, you know, cleared to play basketball, but not ready to be playing 30 plus minutes at an intense level. Like that is still even in this age where every injury now is overcomeable. Like whether it’s a foot injury, an ACL injury, this is the one injury that’s still the trickiest, that still requires the most time to recover from and the most time to get all the way back from. It’s it’s much more accomplishable now than it has been in the past, but it’s still really a year-long injury. So, I I I just I don’t see the upside. I think there are people in Tatum’s team that don’t see the upside. I think there are people in Boston that don’t see the upside, but right now they’re marching the beat of Jason Tatum’s drum. Like, how whatever gets him out of bed, gets him into the gym, gets him working uh towards that that eventual recovery, they’re going to they’re going to abide by. Yeah. A couple of the other guys have ruled themselves out obviously Hallebertton, Lillard, similar time frame for those guys. So, we’ll see what happens with Dejante Murray here, too, who’s kind of that next guy up in terms of coming back. New Year’s Eve seems to be New Year’s Day seems to be the target there and we’ll see if that comes around with that New Orleans team. Yeah. So, yeah, and that’s what it, you know, 11 12 months like 11 months for Tatum would be the end of this regular season. So, you know, do you bring him back for a playoff series? Probably not. But we’ll see. It’s gonna be one of the more interesting. If they brought him back, if they brought him back for a playoff series, everybody I mean insane. That would be completely insane to drop a guy back into a playoff series. Yeah. So, I think that by that point he’ll have been ruled out. Last question I got for you. Um, I know you’ve done some reporting on the ownership transition going on here and it is interesting to see Bill Chisum courtside pumping up the crowd and you know they had this press conference where they, you know, Wick and Bill are side by side and you do see Wick underneath the basket on the other side. Like there is like a two owner thing going on here right now that like maybe fans don’t find to be the most interesting thing in the world. But I do wonder what this dynamic is going to be like for this team going into the future now cuz Chisum did take control of the team here. It it seems to be like this massive at least compared to what they had before body of just an assortment of uh you know financial people and all these new names and a few old names mixed in too. And of course, Wick bought back in at I think 13% I I want to say or something to that effect. Uh what is this going to be like? Are we just going to wait and see what what this ends up looking like here? Because obviously the the two big questions or I guess there’s three are how much are they going to spend? Who’s actually in charge of this thing here? Is it going to be like a bunch of different voices in charge of this thing alongside Bill? And uh of course further down the line, are they going to keep playing at TD Garden? Yeah. Um, I would say first that I think that Wick Grouse’s ownership run was one of the greatest in Boston history. Like two decades plus of success, you know, two championships, two different eras exiting with this team set up for long-term success with two 20some stars in place. He he he is right up there with some of the great owners in Boston sports. um he’s around as long as he agrees with what Bill Chisum is doing. Like it’s it’s Bill Chisum’s money. It’s Bill Chisum’s team. Um you know, I I think some of these ownership deals, Boston, the Lakers, I think some of the outgoing owners have gotten a little cute with some of the the language there. they’ve, you know, basically written in in or at least or tried to write in that they would maintain a level of power, but the reality is like just like with Mark Cuban in Dallas, when you’re out, you’re out. You can still be nominally in Cuban still keeps his seat on the baseline by the Maverick’s bench, but he has no basketball operations power. Similarly, you know, Wick Grc is the alternate governor, but he doesn’t have basketball operations power. you know, Bill Chisum. Uh, maybe he consults with them, maybe he doesn’t. I don’t know how how close they are on on that front, but it’s Bill Chisum, it’s Brad Stevens, it’s Mike Xarin, it’s Dave Leuen, it’s those guys that are running basketball ops now. It’s going to be the same thing with Jeannie Bus in LA. You know, Mark Walter, Jeannie Bus is still there. The bus family is still part of it, but Mark, it’s Mark Walter’s show, man. He’s running things out there. It’s kind of kind of the way it is. So, I I think it’s it’s a dynamic that that these two can coexist as long as they’re in lock step on decisions, but you know, the moment that they disagree, you know, I don’t know. You could, you know, Cuban’s still around, but Cuban’s sort of just sort of like the most well- paid fan there with with the Mavericks. You could sort of see something like that uh happening to Wick. I I don’t blame Wick for kind of wanting to have his cake and eat it too. If I was him, I would have done the exact same thing. I would have I would have tried to be the governor for the next five years while while this team was in the middle of what he expected to be a multi- championship run. But, you know, that’s that’s just not the way it goes. The guy that puts up the money is the guy that’s that’s making all the calls. And and I I would expect at some point year from now, two years from now, three years from now, there’s going to be a difference of opinion that’s going to lead to to a divide potentially between um between the two owners. Yeah, for sure. There’ll be a lot of tough decisions too here on spending in the in the near term. It’s still an expensive roster. Uh you know how they get back to contention status, all of that. And I know it’s been pretty stable for a long time now. So when that news dropped after the finals there and relative unknown and and Chisum emerged as that buyer there, a lot of questions raised and a lot of it’s just going to be decided by what they do here, what their actions are from this point on. And and I don’t think you me you mentioned the building the the build the the garden. I I haven’t heard a lot about new sites, new buildings, things like that. Like the most I’ve heard is is a stronger likelihood of buying out the Bruins and and taking over that building than anything else. I just That’s what Chisum gleaned at the presser. He was like the Bruins and the Celtics belonging together. People like the Garden. I thought those two things stood out there. Now would the Bruins sell? I don’t know. There there are there are locations I mean the the usual suspects like the the stuff in Everett I think is they would love to get you know the Celtics over there I think there’s a lot of challenges not the least of which is public transportation to make that work. Um, yeah, I think, you know, there’s there’s a more of a likelihood, I think, that as this Chisum regime goes forward that the Celtics wind up buying, you know, Delaware North company out of of the Garden and taking control of that because I do think if you’re paying $6 billion, whatever it is for a team, you got to own the building, too, man. Like, you you got to be able to collect revenue from the building as well. You can’t just rely on the the money coming from the team. For sure. And TD Garden just turned 30 this month, I believe. I was a ball boy there when it was the Fleet Center. My first year as a ball boy when the first year of the Fleet Center was my first year over there. I remember I remember it fondly those first days. I love it. Fans do love it. Um a lot of memories there. A couple championships now for this team in this building. So as long as they continue their run there, I think a lot of fans will be happy. And you know, we’ll see what happens this year. You were in town. You got anything cooking? Any stories coming uh from your time here? Yeah, I’ll write about the Celtics at some point. I they’re so kind of bipolar now that I’m still not sure what I’m what I’m seeing. Like, you know, I was after that first quarter against Washington, I’m like, man, that’s what what what’s going on here? I’ll tell you what impressed me. They’ve concocted a really interesting defense so far. And I think what they’ve done with that has gone a little bit under the radar of like I think they’re first in fewest turnovers committed and first in total turnovers forced. And of course like I think it’s like tied for fourth in per game, but they are wreaking havoc on that end. And I thought they would struggle on that end with some of the rim protection that they lost and some of the you know Drew Holidays of the world obviously but they’re 12th in defense with a pretty rag tag group here. So I think one of the interesting stories this year is going to be Joe’s had this super team right for a couple years here where they’ve been expected to win and you know he hasn’t gotten a lot of credit for that. If this team is great, like you know, top of the east great, this will be the year where he and his system and the stuff he does actually starts to get legitimate credit for, you know, part of the team success here. Cuz of course, this wasn’t a team expected to do much more than finish 500. So, we haven’t seen that yet, but I think there’s shades at least of his imprint leading to more success than expected on one side of the floor. The offense has been rough. Yeah, they’ve um they’ve they’ve utili they’ve played to their strengths, right? Like you mentioned like kind of the causing chaos like their strengths are in their on the wing position. They’ve got guys that are athletic like May not’s one of them that can play multiple positions and and be a defensive presence. It’s just that when they go up against bigger, stronger teams and rebounding becomes a variable, they just they just don’t have an answer. And I don’t know what that answer is like on the roster. There’s no like name Ke has been good. Like he he’s he’s serviceable there, man. like he’s solid in that middle, but beyond him, you’re just not getting there’s not much bulk up front. And you’re seeing now, it’s not it’s not everywhere, but teams are are trending big like you saw. I mean, that that the Houston game like that’s the biggest team in the NBA in Houston. Like that’s you walked into the building that night, especially fifth game in seven nights, and said, “This team has zero chance tonight.” Zero chance against I mean against a team that just beats the Jesus out of you every single possession. like that’s like that’s where the team’s going to be able to grind them down. So, the Celtics they’re going to have to get be as creative as they’ve been this year defensively in in terms of wreaking havoc to give themselves a chance on that end. Uh is it the Thunder and everybody else? Is that still how you’re looking at right now after their 8 and0 start here or you know there’s some teams you think could get in the title mix alongside them based off of what we’ve seen so far? Yeah, I was in Oklahoma City for about a week early in the season. went to the opener and a couple other games and like what struck me about them, you know, there there wasn’t like they didn’t celebrate anything like and that’s that’s not like hyperbole because you saw the the locker room celebration after they didn’t really celebrate that either. Like they’re just like they just like are so hyperfocused on getting better and doing this again. And one thing Mark Dagnel told me out there was like look he was worried like anybody else like did would they overindulge this off seasonason? But they come in like in, you know, a rag tag bunch. He’s like first day like everybody was in shape. Everybody one through one through 10 was in shape and and ready to go. And and you’ve seen that they picked up right where they left off. I mean, they’ve got like AJ Mitchell is going to be the most improved player. Like the guy that was the second round pick a year and a half ago on a two-way contract. They have a dirt cheap deal and he’s looking like a fringy all-star. Like he looks like the next Derek White. Like this, you know, this combo guard that they’ve got. they just keep mining these talents that that you deep in the roster and make them better. So, that’s a long way of saying like I look, the West is tough. Um, Denver is going to be a tough out for them. No question. The Lakers like Luca kicks the crap out of the Thunder every time he plays them regardless of uniform. So, that’s that’s not going to be an easy matchup if they wind up there. But, right now, they are the class of the NBA by by a wide margin. Celtics don’t get to see them till March, but they’re fun. And anytime you can catch them, they they’re out of this world. It’s another level that they’re on right now. Uh Celtics have the Magic a couple games this weekend. Then they’re in Philly to cap off that road trip. Uh playing them for a third time to begin this season here. Uh he is Chris Manx. Check out his work over on Sports Illustrated. Find him over on Twitter at SI Chris Manx. Appreciate you as always, Chris. And uh thanks for stopping by. Anytime, Bobby. All right, and for all of you remaining here, check out omaha stakes. We’ve been telling you about them. Use the code Patriots at checkout to get $35 off your order at omahastak.com. Terms apply. Head over there before the holidays start here and get yourself some good stuff. Uh there’s some sitewide discounts going on right now as well, but use the code Patriots to let them know we sent you at checkout and get $35 off your order at Omaha Stakes. And of course, head over to prize pick. Use the code sealing us to get $50 lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Uh we got post games coming up after these Magic games and the Sixers game on Tuesday that I’ll be in Philadelphia for. Uh but we’ll continue to have shows throughout the weekend here. A lot of interviews coming up uh while uh the team is away. So stay tuned for those here on Sinus Media. Celtics all access. Check out all of our coverage over on Bruins rink side. Patriots press pass as uh Pats Bucks comes up this weekend. Toughest game of the season probably for New England to this point aside from the Buffalo one. So, good test for them down south. Uh shootout potential there in that one. And uh for the Celtics schedule rolls on postgame shows after every game and uh I will be on pretty much all of them. So, catch you on one of those soon. Thanks again to Chris and we will talk to you after the next Celtics game. Peace.

On this episode of The Garden Report Bobby Manning is joined by SI’s Chris Mannix. The guys discussed the Celtics start to the season and discuss the impact play of Josh Minott and Jaylen Brown. They also hit on what the Celtics should do this season in which Chris suggests the Celtics should make a move for Jazz Forward Lauri Markkanen.

0:00 – ⏰️EPISODE TIMELINE⏰️
0:23 – Celtics begin season 4-5, 10th in the Eastern Conference
7:01 – Josh Minott Impact this season
9:35 – Jaylen Brown Level of play this season
12:05 – Will the Celtics make the playoffs?
19:47 – Celtics should trade of Lauri Markkanen
21:27 – Prizepicks
22:54 – What moves will the Celtics make into 2026?
29:28 – Will Jayson Tatum play in 2025-26?
31:53 – What will Bill Chisholm be like as an NBA owner?
42:03 – Wrapping up

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