The Boston Celtics, for the first time in five years, reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season but fell short against the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.
However, the Celtics made another move to bolster their roster by adding All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to the mix via free agency on a four-year, $128 million deal.
This has created a much greater sense of optimism around the organization about the team's title chances that were reverberated through All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas over this weekend, according to Stephen Hewitt of the Boston Herald.
“We never put a ceiling on what we want to do,” Thomas told the Herald yesterday at Boston University, where he hosted more than 400 campers on the first day of his annual basketball clinic. “The ultimate goal is to win a championship, and that’s the only goal. So, whatever we have to do to try to get to the Finals, and try to get a championship, is what we’re going to do. We definitely have a really good team. We know that, the world knows that, and we just have to back it up.”
The Celtics have pushed a wave of expectations upon themselves after the acquisition that makes them the clear-cut challengers to finally dethrone the Cavaliers in the East next season. Cleveland is still the favorite in their conference despite Kyrie Irving's recent trade request.
Boston has much potential to develop something special in over the next few years, and if Hayward can transition smoothly into the fold it brings an entirely different element to the team with another proven scorer.
It may take some time to begin the season for things to fall into place, but the Celtics are certainly on pace to make some noise next year in the Eastern and beyond that could see them finally break through.
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