With Hayward, Celtics rebuild is over. Is it enough though?

Boston (sports media) got the player they wanted. For several years now, most of the Boston sports media were speculating and hypothesizing that the Celtics would sign Gordon Hayward, reuniting him with his college coach, Brad Stevens. Yesterday, they got their wish as Hayward signed a four year, $128 million contract with the team.

Hayward is an elite player in the NBA. After making his first all-star team last season, Hayward’s field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage and points per game have all gone up every year he has been in the league. Although Hayward now blocks players such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum from playing their true position, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens agree that this is a position-less league now. I believe that myself.

What this move indicates, however, is that the Celtics team you see today is the Celtics team for the future. After Ainge made the Pierce/Garnett trade, the build up was that the Celtics would have the number one overall pick in either or both of this year’s draft and next year’s draft. They would have cap space for two max contracts as well.

Well both of those things have come.

The team had the number one overall pick in this past draft—traded it—and took Jayson Tatum. They signed Al Horford and Hayward to max contracts.

So this is your team built for now and the future. There is no more building hold out on max contracts and waiting on draft picks. After next year’s draft where the Celtics have the Brooklyn first round pick and the potential Lakers’ pick, the rest of the picks Ainge has acquired are duds. They've basically maxed out their payroll. This is it Celtics fans. The rebuild is done.

Although I’m not sure if Isaiah Thomas factor into the Celtics’ future, I was surprised by his play during this year’s playoff run. Horford is a good player, probably not a max player, but since everyone gets a lucrative contract in today’s NBA, the Celtics had to give him that kind of money to lure him to Boston. Hayward is a solid all-around player that fits into today’s NBA. It isn’t a bad core to have if a team is trying to make it to the NBA finals, especially in the Eastern Conference.

But I don’t think this team is without its flaws. The team has no one that can rebound, a huge problem for a team that came in 26 out of 30 teams in rebounding last season. Teams are generally trying to copy how the Golden State Warriors play basketball and isn’t there something to be said about Draymond Green’s presence underneath the basket that helps create more scoring chances while also limiting opponent’s ability to get multiple shot attempts each drive? It’s extremely basic thinking and probably goes without say, but I think it’s a huge problem for this Celtics team. If you can’t limit your opponent, you can’t win big games.

Hayward is a step in the right direction for the Celtics. He’s a solid player for today’s NBA. But with the signing of Hayward, the Celtics’ rebuild is over. This is their team built for now and the future. They still need a rebounder. They still need to make a decision on Thomas. Can they beat Cleveland right now? Maybe three out of every 10 times. But can they beat Golden State? I’m not so sure about that one.