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By Teddy Cutler
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The Cleveland Cavaliers' summer of uncertainty shows no sign, yet, of settling down.
Almost a week into free agency, the Cavaliers still lack a general manager. The latest news to worry the team's fans came from ESPN on Thursday. The network reported that Chauncey Billups had turned down the job David Griffin vacated after Cleveland offered him a below-average salary for a general manager in the NBA.
With LeBron James able to opt out of his contract in the summer of 2018, this should be an offseason where the Cavaliers make moves to try and bridge the gap between themselves and a Golden State Warriors team that will be bringing back all of its key pieces and most of its roleplayers, too.
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The Cavaliers may get Jamal Crawford and with the future of Carmelo Anthony unresolved, a big-name signing remains possible.
Crawford has reportedly been speaking with James, which suggests the future Hall of Famer is being forced to perform a negotiating role he didn't necessarily desire this offseason.
Meanwhile, the team that the Cavaliers beat to the Eastern Conference title this spring has just made one of the more significant moves of the summer.
In Gordon Hayward, the Celtics have a small forward in his prime, although they need to clear cap space before they can actually sign him.
Hayward joins All-Stars Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford on a team that already had 53 wins in 2016-17. The trade that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 has also given the Celtics depth in its prospects. Jaylen Brown made the NBA All-Rookie second team last year. How Guerschon Yabusele, the Celtics' other first-round pick from 2016, is going to develop remains to be seen.
Then, of course, there's Jayson Tatum. Tatum has looked impressive in Summer League exhibitions, although the Hayward signing may raise questions over whether a team can have too much depth at small forward. Not according to Brad Stevens. "Tatum will play wherever," the Celtics' head coach told the Associated Press. "He can handle the ball. He can move it... He's at least a wing because he can really handle the ball, too. And he can shoot it and do all those things. He's a very versatile player."
The 2017 Celtics will have positional versatility, youth, a star player entering his prime and an experienced, multiple All-Star. The Toronto Raptors will be good again in the Atlantic Division and the Washington Wizards could challenge in the East too. But the Celtics have at least made the moves to suggest they can improve upon the Eastern Conference finals hammering they took from the Cavaliers in the spring. As for even thinking about knocking off the Warriors? That may have to wait until Brown and Tatum develop.
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