Boston Celtics 2011-2012 Season Thread

[ellsburyforMVP]

Can only imagine how good this team might of been with Jeff green,Avery Bradley,oneal,Wilcox and a healthy Allen .... Been a great run.... Just now watching kg hug Russell asking " I hope we made you proud" .... Sure did guys,sure did...

 

Would love to see kg and Allen back next yr ( albeit at a reduced salary ) and get healthy.....1 more run!!!!

[seabeachfred]

Can only imagine how good this team might of been with Jeff green,Avery Bradley,oneal,Wilcox and a healthy Allen .... Been a great run.... Just now watching kg hug Russell asking " I hope we made you proud" .... Sure did guys,sure did...

 

Would love to see kg and Allen back next yr ( albeit at a reduced salary ) and get healthy.....1 more run!!!!

 

I don't know the Celtics are going to do this off season. You keep hearing out here in California that they are going to finally break up their old gang and get younger, but I heard the same song after the 2010 finals when my Lakers were able to prevail. The difference this year, though, between your team and mine was like two different worlds. We sucked and played like a pack of turds while your guys overachieved and went much farther than most people thought they would. You also have one of the two or three best coaches in the game, and dont think that didn't have something to do with it.

 

My gut feeling is that Allen will be gone but Pierce and Rondo will most certainly be back. As for Kevin Garnett, if you don't want him back send him out here. We could use a tough cookie with the balls to go all out on every play and take no prisoners.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

KG's a free agent and word is its Celtics or bust for him. I think he retires.

 

Here's my course of action: Blow it up. Go for a high pick in 2013 (strong draft class), and use what trade assets we do have to gather more picks.

 

-The only guys under contract next season are Rondo, Bradley, and Pierce, plus Brandon Bass has a player option. Everyone else is a free agent. I say let them all walk (or retire), except for Steimsma. He can be a good defensive big man for a while.

 

-Trade Rondo to some team in possession of another team's high draft pick (can't do it with a team dealing their own pick, since he'll keep them just good enough to make the pick relatively worthless). Utah's a good option, they're a playoff caliber team on the way up, they need a point guard, and they have Golden State's 2013 pick, top six protected then and in 2014. The Warriors aren't gonna be good for a while but their roster isn't bottom six bad either. Might be able to snag some extra goodies in that deal too, like one of their bigs. The Bobcats (with Portland's pick, albeit heavily protected until 2016) are another possibility, depending on what Portland does with their two picks this year.

 

-Maybe Chicago would want Pierce for the Charlotte pick (also heavily protected till 2016)? It would kill me to trade Pierce at this point though. If he's still on the roster come October, let him play till MLK day, then inform that he has a debilitating leg injury and should probably take a three month vacation to the Bahamas to nurse it.

 

-Not sure what to do with this year's first rounders (#21 and #22), or what their value is. Would one of them plus Bradley be enough to make a meaningful move up? If we end up keeping them it wouldn't be the end of the world though, since it is a fairly deep draft. Just don't miss.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

KG's a free agent and word is its Celtics or bust for him. I think he retires.

 

Here's my course of action: Blow it up. Go for a high pick in 2013 (strong draft class), and use what trade assets we do have to gather more picks.

 

-The only guys under contract next season are Rondo, Bradley, and Pierce, plus Brandon Bass has a player option. Everyone else is a free agent. I say let them all walk (or retire), except for Steimsma. He can be a good defensive big man for a while.

 

-Trade Rondo to some team in possession of another team's high draft pick (can't do it with a team dealing their own pick, since he'll keep them just good enough to make the pick relatively worthless). Utah's a good option, they're a playoff caliber team on the way up, they need a point guard, and they have Golden State's 2013 pick, top six protected then and in 2014. The Warriors aren't gonna be good for a while but their roster isn't bottom six bad either. Getting Derrick Favors in the deal would be cool too. The Bobcats (with Portland's pick, albeit heavily protected until 2016) are another possibility, depending on what Portland does with their two picks this year.

 

-Maybe Chicago would want Pierce for the Charlotte pick (also heavily protected till 2016)? It would kill me to trade Pierce at this point though. If he's still on the roster come October, let him play till MLK day, then inform that he has a debilitating leg injury and should probably take a three month vacation to the Bahamas to nurse it.

 

-Not sure what to do with this year's first rounders (#21 and #22), or what their value is. Would one of them plus Bradley be enough to make a meaningful move up? If we end up keeping them it wouldn't be the end of the world though, since it is a fairly deep draft. Just don't miss.

[redsoxrules]

Pierce is retiring as a Celtic , I HIGHLY doubt they trade him .

 

And why would you trade Rondo ?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Because he's not a franchise player you can build around, unless you're satisfied with being a 35 win team every year (at best). If we keep him not only will he keep us just good enough to where we can't get a great draft pick, but his trade value will tumble. Right now his stock is as high it'll ever be on the heels on these playoff triple-doubles. Cash him in and start over.

[ellsburyforMVP]

Because he's not a franchise player you can build around' date=' unless you're satisfied with being a 35 win team every year (at best). If we keep him not only will he keep us just good enough to where we can't get a great draft pick, but his trade value will tumble. Right now his stock is as high it'll ever be on the heels on these playoff triple-doubles. Cash him in and start over.[/quote']

 

Your right that rondo is not a "franchise type " player that can do it by himself.....but he will make anybody we pick up better, and I think rondo is only one full off-season of working hard ( ray Allen type dedication ) on his jump shot from being an elite player.... If rondo can get to the point where defenders have to play up on him, you'll see a completely different player...

 

Pierce is retiring a Celtic , unless ainge wants to be fired??

I would love to see Garnett retire a Celtic and I think he wants the same thing, hopefully he'll take a drastic pay cut?

Why trade Bradley? You say to " blow it up" to get some good young players? Your wanting to package Bradley and draft picks to maybe get someone a little better than Bradley?? Rondo and Bradley are 27 and 22 and can be a great backcourt for yrs to come, why break it up?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Best thing Garnett could do, from the team's perspective, is retire this summer. If you let him walk in free agency you'll probably irritate the fanbase. If you re-sign him for a year you're just delaying the inevitable and f***ing yourself in a strong draft year. If he retires then he forces Boston's hand, and that provides some built-in sympathy the team can surf on for a couple of years so they can rebuild without backlash.

 

Bradley's never going to be anything more than a role player. I already went over why Rondo has to go, he'll keep the team just good enough to where we won't get high draft picks, which will just delay the rebuild and keep us in limbo. Don't know about you but I'd much rather stink for a few years while building through the draft than be mediocre-bad for a decade.

 

I'm not demanding that we trade Pierce, I said that I would hate to part with him at this point, but if someone offers up something good, you gotta do it.

[seabeachfred]

Best thing Garnett could do, from the team's perspective, is retire this summer. If you let him walk in free agency you'll probably irritate the fanbase. If you re-sign him for a year you're just delaying the inevitable and f***ing yourself in a strong draft year. If he retires then he forces Boston's hand, and that provides some built-in sympathy the team can surf on for a couple of years so they can rebuild without backlash.

 

Bradley's never going to be anything more than a role player. I already went over why Rondo has to go, he'll keep the team just good enough to where we won't get high draft picks, which will just delay the rebuild and keep us in limbo. Don't know about you but I'd much rather stink for a few years while building through the draft than be mediocre-bad for a decade.

 

I'm not demanding that we trade Pierce, I said that I would hate to part with him at this point, but if someone offers up something good, you gotta do it.

 

Jacoby, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Boston Celtics fans would stand a minute for their team to be completely broken up, and further more your team does not have that high a draft choice to begin with. It is also hard to pry a No. 1 from another team unless you give something big up and my guess it that only Rondo and Pierce fit that category. Yes, you could still get a couple of solid players for those two but you would not be a serious contender for anything for at least another five years. Do you want that.

 

We're facing somewhat the same thing out here in Los Angeles. There is even talk of trading Kobe Bryant---and for him we could get a solid No. 1 and No. 2 from a team that is ready or just a year away from a title, but we would be rebuilding just like you guys while Staples Center becomes a ghost town when they play. Well it's basketball's loss because no matter how you slice it the best NBA Title rivalry is Celtics vs Lakers. Try maybe in 2017.

[ellsburyforMVP]

I don't think there's any need to blow anything up...first of all, find out if bass decides to exercise his option, we get jeff green back next yr, sign either Roy hibbert or One of the lopez's ( brook-preferably or robin ) let ray walk ( unless he wants to take a major pay-cut ) sign Oj mayo or Rudy Fernandez and jr smith? Try to restructure pierces deal, give kg 2 yrs at 9 mill/yr or so....depending on the money situation and restructuring, could maybe go after Eric Gordon?? Instead of mayo

 

Rondo

Gordon?/mayo

Pierce

Garnett

Hibbert

Subs: bass,green,Bradley.... Idk, but we only have 34 million on the books next yr counting rondo,pierce,Bradley, bass ( if he exercises his option ) Extend pierces deal a couple yrs, maybe get the figure down to 30 million next yr.... There's no need to blow it up

[Palodios]

I don't see the Celtics in as such terrible shape as you do, JE. They were minutes away from a NBA finals. Sure, the team is just getting too old, but adding Avery Bradley and Jeff Green to that team will definitely help, and there is going to be nearly 20 million in space to add two bigs and a shooter. Maybe one of Allen/Garnet comes back, but if they do, it will probably only cost 5-10 million.

 

The team doesn't need to be blown up. What it needs to do is emphasize that they cannot overrely on the old guys. They can continue be solid contributes for a few more seasons.... off the bench. We'll spent the next two seasons wondering why Pierce got the huge extension he did, but besides him, this team has a considerable amount of payroll flexibility and options in what they can do.

[youmetaxidermy]

Trade away one of the best and most exciting point guards in the NBA today who adds a ton to offence and is a player that you can build and will build your franchise around once his jumpshot improves... for draft picks. Sound strategy, if you're a desperate team at the bottom of your conference with nowhere to go but up. That is not the Boston Celtics.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Jacoby, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Boston Celtics fans would stand a minute for their team to be completely broken up, and further more your team does not have that high a draft choice to begin with. It is also hard to pry a No. 1 from another team unless you give something big up and my guess it that only Rondo and Pierce fit that category. Yes, you could still get a couple of solid players for those two but you would not be a serious contender for anything for at least another five years. Do you want that.

 

We're facing somewhat the same thing out here in Los Angeles. There is even talk of trading Kobe Bryant---and for him we could get a solid No. 1 and No. 2 from a team that is ready or just a year away from a title, but we would be rebuilding just like you guys while Staples Center becomes a ghost town when they play. Well it's basketball's loss because no matter how you slice it the best NBA Title rivalry is Celtics vs Lakers. Try maybe in 2017.

 

The majority of Boston fans are idiots and don't know what they want. You have to rebuild sometime, it's unavoidable. A few years of being awful or a decade plus of mediocrity? I know how that's a tough call.

 

And no, our draft picks this year aren't high, but there's nothing we can do about that. Maybe we can snake #10 from New Orleans in exchange for salary relief and one of our lower first rounders. 2013 is the draft class I have my eyes on, and the one the Celtics should be... 'gearing themselves' for.

 

The Lakers and Celtics are two different animals. Once Kobe kicks the bucket, you can still build around Bynum, who has no flaws in his game and is a MUCH better building block than Rondo. He's been acting like a fool this past season but that's largely due to Mike Brown's lack of testicles in dealing with his players. He makes Terry Francona look like vintage Tom Coughlin, to put it in perspective for you. I don't know what happened between ownership and Phil Jackson, but they'd be well advised to patch it up and bring him back if Phil's serious about wanting to coach again.

 

I don't think there's any need to blow anything up...first of all, find out if bass decides to exercise his option, we get jeff green back next yr, sign either Roy hibbert or One of the lopez's ( brook-preferably or robin ) let ray walk ( unless he wants to take a major pay-cut ) sign Oj mayo or Rudy Fernandez and jr smith? Try to restructure pierces deal, give kg 2 yrs at 9 mill/yr or so....depending on the money situation and restructuring, could maybe go after Eric Gordon?? Instead of mayo

 

Rondo

Gordon?/mayo

Pierce

Garnett

Hibbert

Subs: bass,green,Bradley.... Idk, but we only have 34 million on the books next yr counting rondo,pierce,Bradley, bass ( if he exercises his option ) Extend pierces deal a couple yrs, maybe get the figure down to 30 million next yr.... There's no need to blow it up

 

You are deeply insane if you think Indiana's letting Hibbert walk. Eric Gordon is going to demand max money, and any team that ponies that up for him is retarded. He's the next Jamal Crawford/Ben Gordon, in terms of impact. OJ Mayo stinks.

 

Barring a miracle Dwight Howard trade, there is nothing available to us that will make us contenders in the near future.

 

I don't see the Celtics in as such terrible shape as you do, JE. They were minutes away from a NBA finals. Sure, the team is just getting too old, but adding Avery Bradley and Jeff Green to that team will definitely help, and there is going to be nearly 20 million in space to add two bigs and a shooter. Maybe one of Allen/Garnet comes back, but if they do, it will probably only cost 5-10 million.

 

The team doesn't need to be blown up. What it needs to do is emphasize that they cannot overrely on the old guys. They can continue be solid contributes for a few more seasons.... off the bench. We'll spent the next two seasons wondering why Pierce got the huge extension he did, but besides him, this team has a considerable amount of payroll flexibility and options in what they can do.

 

They only got as far as they did because of Derrick Rose's injury.

 

Jeff Green is far from a sure thing with his heart trouble. And even when he's right, he's just a decent guy to bring off the bench.

 

You can't patch the holes with spare parts. That never works. What you and the others are suggesting will make the Celtics a 45 win team for the forseeable future. Not contenders.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Trade away one of the best and most exciting point guards in the NBA today who adds a ton to offence and is a player that you can build and will build your franchise around once his jumpshot improves...

 

Oh my f***ing god.

 

Rondo is not a franchise player, and he never will be. If he was ever going to develop a decent outside shot, he probably would have done so already at some point during his six year NBA career. But he can't. He's not a shooter. He plateaued in 2010 and has not gotten any better. He is what he is. A rich man's Andre Miller. The only logical thing to do is cash in on his over-inflated trade value. Maybe you're okay with a string of .500 seasons and slipping into NBA purgatory, but I sure as hell am not.

 

Boston homers are f***ing annoying anyway, but this Rondo ballwashing is by far the most irritating thing you guys do.

 

Sound strategy, if you're a desperate team at the bottom of your conference with nowhere to go but up.

 

That's what's we're looking at for a while if we attempt to build a team around Rondo. My plan skips this step. Unless we bomb the selections, but as I said, it's coming one way or the other.

 

That is not the Boston Celtics.

 

Tough.

[ellsburyforMVP]

Oh my f***ing god.

 

Rondo is not a franchise player, and he never will be. If he was ever going to develop a decent outside shot, he probably would have done so already at some point during his six year NBA career. But he can't. He's not a shooter. He plateaued in 2010 and has not gotten any better. He is what he is. A rich man's Andre Miller. The only logical thing to do is cash in on his over-inflated trade value. Maybe you're okay with a string of .500 seasons and slipping into NBA purgatory, but I sure as hell am not.

 

Boston homers are f***ing annoying anyway, but this Rondo ballwashing is by far the most irritating thing you guys do.

 

 

 

That's what's we're looking at for a while if we attempt to build a team around Rondo. My plan skips this step. Unless we bomb the selections, but as I said, it's coming one way or the other.

 

 

 

Tough.

 

 

 

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-news-and-rumors/articles/101514-magic-johnson-rajon-rondo-is-nbas-best-all-around-pg

 

 

 

http://clnsradio.com/2012/05/31/the-rising-legend-of-rajon-rondo-and-his-boston-celtics/

 

Well, I don't know you personally, but I think I'm gonna take Magic Johnson's opinion about rondo over yours...:dunno:

 

And trust me, there is plenty more stories than just these 2, from magic and other hall of fame players talking about how great rondo is...

 

And even though rondo's jumper isn't a " threat " right now, think back to 2 yrs ago when guys played off him consistently and he missed over and over and over.... His jumpshot has improved, maybe not enough to your liking, but if you can't see that he has gotten better-and that there is still room for improvement ....then your a bigger hater than I ever thought about being ( on lebron )

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-news-and-rumors/articles/101514-magic-johnson-rajon-rondo-is-nbas-best-all-around-pg

 

 

 

http://clnsradio.com/2012/05/31/the-rising-legend-of-rajon-rondo-and-his-boston-celtics/

 

Well, I don't know you personally, but I think I'm gonna take Magic Johnson's opinion about rondo over yours...:dunno:

 

And trust me, there is plenty more stories than just these 2, from magic and other hall of fame players talking about how great rondo is...

 

It's amazing that you think I care.

 

By your logic, Michael Jordan must be the best basketball mind and talent evaluator out there. His managing jobs in Washington and Charlotte certainly speak for themselves, don't they?

 

s*** is literally leaking out from around the edges your posts. That's how full of it you are.

 

And even though rondo's jumper isn't a " threat " right now, think back to 2 yrs ago when guys played off him consistently and he missed over and over and over.... His jumpshot has improved, maybe not enough to your liking, but if you can't see that he has gotten better-and that there is still room for improvement ....then your a bigger hater than I ever thought about being ( on lebron )

 

So? He's actually worse from 10-15 ft, while his percentages have gone up from 16-22, but his attempts are a lot lower. Rondo's still far from reliable, six years deep into his career. Your skill set is what it is at that point. He's never going to be a reliable outside shooter, and he sure as hell will not develop into one with the big 3 gone/shot and spare parts being dumped around him.

[a700hitter]

I think all basketball players should be the same height so no one has an advantage.

[youmetaxidermy]

The last time the Celtics had a record that was .500 or below was the 06-07 season, so tell me more about how Rajon Rondo is going to lead us to .500 season after .500 season. I would love to see evidence of that.

 

We teetered around there this season because, let's face it, every team had a rough season. The lockout killed a lot of the momentum for the majority of teams in the NBA and we were not the only ones to not be firing on all cylinders out of the starting gate. You also seem to discredit the fact that we did really well after the All-Star Break, and Rondo was a big part of that. You've given zero evidence as to why Rondo should be traded, other than "lol his jumper sucks." At least share with the class who you think would excel better than him at the point position. I'm all ears.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The last time the Celtics had a record that was .500 or below was the 06-07 season' date=' so tell me more about how Rajon Rondo is going to lead us to .500 season after .500 season. I would love to see evidence of that.[/quote']

 

Show evidence that he won't. Better yet, show some evidence that indicates he's a franchise player.

 

We teetered around there this season because, let's face it, every team had a rough season. The lockout killed a lot of the momentum for the majority of teams in the NBA and we were not the only ones to not be firing on all cylinders out of the starting gate. You also seem to discredit the fact that we did really well after the All-Star Break, and Rondo was a big part of that. You've given zero evidence as to why Rondo should be traded, other than "lol his jumper sucks." At least share with the class who you think would excel better than him at the point position. I'm all ears.

 

The team should blown up and rebuilt from the ground up. We're well past the point of 'filling the void left by player x'.

[youmetaxidermy]

There is no reason to go into a complete rebuilding mode if we already have good pieces in place. That's stupid. You're acting like we're the Suns or something.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

There is no reason to go into a complete rebuilding mode if we already have good pieces in place.

 

We don't.

 

That's stupid. You're acting like we're the Suns or something.

 

I'm trying to avoid becoming the Suns. They've been stuck in the middle of the pack for a while and couldn't do anything with their picks. Exactly what we'll turn into with Rondo leading with the team.

[NCPack2889]

And even though rondo's jumper isn't a " threat " right now, think back to 2 yrs ago when guys played off him consistently and he missed over and over and over.... His jumpshot has improved, maybe not enough to your liking, but if you can't see that he has gotten better-and that there is still room for improvement ....then your a bigger hater than I ever thought about being ( on lebron )

 

Rondo's TS% have fallen over the last two years by 6%.

[youmetaxidermy]

One guy ruins the whole squad.

 

Ugggggggh this logic.

[ellsburyforMVP]

One guy ruins the whole squad.

 

Ugggggggh this logic.

 

Yeah..... Rondos garbage... He's already 3rd?? 4th? On the all-time triple-doubles in the playoffs list... Hell he averaged a triple-double in a 7 gm series against Chicago...

 

Yup, let's trade a guy that steps it up in the biggest gms we play:dunno::dunno:

[Palodios]

They only got as far as they did because of Derrick Rose's injury.

 

Sure. But players get injured every season. It could have been Boozer or Noah, or some combination of lesser players, and things happen, holes open.

 

Jeff Green is far from a sure thing with his heart trouble. And even when he's right, he's just a decent guy to bring off the bench.

 

I may have been unclear--I agree, he would be coming off the bench. But Green is still going to be a significant improvement over guys like Dooling and Pietrus.

 

You can't patch the holes with spare parts. That never works. What you and the others are suggesting will make the Celtics a 45 win team for the forseeable future. Not contenders.

 

There is a difference between spare parts and average players. Not everyone needs to be superstars to help a team win. If the Celtics grab a second-tier center in a league that is seriously lacking first tier centers, it would be a huge boost.

 

I don't think that dumping your best young player for a draft pick is the right way to go. Unless they can steal a top 3 pick, odds are, whoever they trade him for will not contribute in a big way for atleast two years.

 

Maybe Rondo isn't the guy this team should build around... but building around nothing and hoping to hit the lottery isn't a great plan either. Remember what happened for the 2007, when the Celtics were in last place? They ended up with a #5 pick and Jeff Green.

 

Jeff Green.

[youmetaxidermy]

Yeah..... Rondos garbage... He's already 3rd?? 4th? On the all-time triple-doubles in the playoffs list... Hell he averaged a triple-double in a 7 gm series against Chicago...

 

Yup, let's trade a guy that steps it up in the biggest gms we play:dunno::dunno:

 

I'm thinking that he's secretly a Sixers fan or something and wants the Celtics to implode.

[ellsburyforMVP]

I'm thinking that he's secretly a Sixers fan or something and wants the Celtics to implode.

 

:lol:

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Yeah..... Rondos garbage... He's already 3rd?? 4th? On the all-time triple-doubles in the playoffs list... Hell he averaged a triple-double in a 7 gm series against Chicago...

 

Playoff triple doubles? THAT's your argument?

 

Yup, let's trade a guy that steps it up in the biggest gms we play:dunno::dunno:

 

If you try to build around him, the only big 'gms' we'll be playing are whenever the NBA decides to throw us a national TV bone.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

There is a difference between spare parts and average players. Not everyone needs to be superstars to help a team win. If the Celtics grab a second-tier center in a league that is seriously lacking first tier centers' date=' it would be a huge boost.[/quote']

 

How would we get a second-tier center? And why would the boost from 8 seed to 6 seed and 5 game playoff loss to 6 game playoff loss be worth it?

 

I don't think that dumping your best young player for a draft pick is the right way to go. Unless they can steal a top 3 pick, odds are, whoever they trade him for will not contribute in a big way for atleast two years.

 

The only way we get a top 3 pick for Rondo is if we deal him on draft day this year. That's not happening unless the GM we're dealing with is as dumb as tardsburyforMVP. And that's fine. The main idea is getting rid of Rondo so he doesn't lock us into mediocrity for years.

 

Maybe Rondo isn't the guy this team should build around... but building around nothing and hoping to hit the lottery isn't a great plan either. Remember what happened for the 2007, when the Celtics were in last place? They ended up with a #5 pick and Jeff Green.

 

It's better than the alternatives. I don't know what you people see in a team whose ceiling is a quick first round playoff exit with no hope to improve. Danny Ainge is a good drafter, he's trustworthy with these selections.

 

I'm thinking that he's secretly a Sixers fan or something and wants the Celtics to implode.

 

No, I'm a Celtics fan who actually wants to see us back to contention sooner rather than later. All building around Rondo will do is cause us to be 8th in the conference every year and wind up with the 16th pick of the draft. Good luck improving when that's all you have.

 

You questioning my fanship when I'm the one who wants us to be title contenders and you're the one happy with being middle of the pack is amusing though.

[Palodios]

How would we get a second-tier center? And why would the boost from 8 seed to 6 seed and 5 game playoff loss to 6 game playoff loss be worth it?

 

They have cap space.

 

 

 

The only way we get a top 3 pick for Rondo is if we deal him on draft day this year. That's not happening unless the GM we're dealing with is as dumb as tardsburyforMVP. And that's fine. The main idea is getting rid of Rondo so he doesn't lock us into mediocrity for years.

 

 

What you're suggesting is that you want the Celtics to be a bottom 5 team for two plus years. What you don't seem to realize is that unless they come away with TWO top 3 picks on good draft years, they're going to be locked into mediocrity anyway. What do you think will happen if they get one good player from the draft? It will make them a better team, and they won't pick that low again. And who knows, maybe the NBA will just hand the best draft picks to other teams anyway like they did with the Hornets.

 

It's better than the alternatives. I don't know what you people see in a team whose ceiling is a quick first round playoff exit with no hope to improve. Danny Ainge is a good drafter, he's trustworthy with these selections.

 

A good drafter can get value out of a late first round pick. Anyone can succeed with a top 3 pick-- just look at the list of the top overall players.

 

My point is, it is a lose-lose situation. The Celtics organization is not going to throw away millions of dollars to build a mediocre team that might someday get lucky. They're better off keeping the pieces they have now, and hope they might someday get lucky with a trade or draft pick. They did in 2007.