I just dont' see the point of getting rid of a 25 year old all-star when you're trying to rebuild.
You want to have 25 year old all-stars on your team when you're assembling a new core to your team. Getting rid of him for the sake of draft position is just hitting the reset button because you lack the vision to try something else.
One 25 year old all star (who isn't a top five player in the game) is going to make your team good enough to just make the playoffs or just miss the playoffs. That isn't a good place to be when you are trying to rebuild. You won't be bad enough to get the truly elite draft assets and likewise won't be good enough to draw elite level players to your team. You end up with overpriced role players in free agency.
Sadly I called that. Still can't believe this off season went as poorly as it did.
Overpriced role players during a time when you wouldn't have cap space anyways, most of whom will be off the books once we can actually have cap space, the rest will be left on 1 year deals... so, I find your analysis lacking.
Danny did great during the off-season, there's really no ifs or buts about it. Case closed, not up to discussion
um, entering last summer, Boston had only Rondo and Pierce signed past the year except for the rookie contract players (which aren't much more than the cap hold for the roster spot anyway). Boston signed KG to more years than I would have given his age, but he was at least an understandable signing. Signing Green, Bass, Terry, and Lee for 26 million a year (or so) for the next 3 years (plus a couple guys with that extra year), was totally and utterly ridiculous. Mediocre role players signed in free agency. Just as I was afraid would happen.
Oh and BTW if the Celtics had not signed anyone past this year except KG and the rookies and assuming Pierce actually exercised his 1 yr option, Boston would have been at about 47 million next summer (with cap holds and what not), which is enough to at least get a solid mid-tier player and also would have allowed Boston to be able to sign and trade for other players. Now lets say Pierce decides to retire and opts out, Boston would have been players for max level players next summer, but now can't be because of the 26 million in flotsam that is Green, Bass, Terry, and Lee. Heck even if KG and Pierce both retire this summer, Boston still can't sign more than a mid-tier free agent this summer because of the crap signed last year.
Ainge destroyed all long term flexibility by giving awful contracts to mediocre players last summer. The only chance Boston has to get it back is to give up real value (like Bradley, Sully, and picks) to unload the awful contracts on some other team i.e Boston has to pay someone else to take on the flotsam.