#17 or Durant?

[gpap]

I think I'd still have kept things the way they were/are.

We won a championship because KG and Ray are championship players and there's no way we would'v done that with a bunch of aloof players like Jefferson, West, Gomes,etc.

And I really don't care about Durant. He's a great player but not a player that can carry a team to a championship.

Of course I am biased because I'm a HUGE fan of the team as is currently constructed and REALLY disliked Jefferson, Gomes, Delonte, etc.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Don't underestimate the mental impact KG and Ray have had on this team.  You can talk about having Rondo and Perk in the long run, but are they the same players without the veterans we brought in?  Perk certainly would not be the same player.  Also, are we assuming a Pierce trade?  It is very difficult to win a title without a veteran leader.  Also, remember that Big Al was a liability defensively.

This is the reason i wouldn't trade what we did... Ray especially I think didn't get the credit for getting young guys AND stars to act & prepare like champions throughout 2007.

Heck we've gone 1 1/2 years w/o a title and i'm already antsy for our next one... that 22 year drought, i wouldn't want to continue for anything.

UBUNTU!!

[Who]

First Reaction -- Durant in a landslide

Second Reaction -- Uncertainty. Hurts to lose the Garnett + Celtics era. It's still probably a go with Durant. Too young and too special a talent.

[Brickowski]

Well sure, we all loved beating the favored Lakers.

But the real question is, would you trade the title they won two years ago for two or three more in the next five years?

To me, a dynasty is more satsifying than a single title, and the question becomes how you create a dynasty in today's NBA.
It can be done because the Lakers did it less than 10 years ago (three straight titles).

Yes, I realize that different choices may not have led to even one title.

[Who]

A more interesting (and realistic) question is what would have happened if McHale backed out of the KG deal and the Celtics had gone ahead and selected Jeff Green at #5.

They wouldn't have won #17 but IMHO they would be contending now with Green just as easily as with Durant, because Green is a better defender and passer.

Eh...  I don't see a Perk/Pierce/Green/Rondo core as a contender; I'd put it closer to a borderline playoff team.

Forgetting Big Al -- Perkins + Big Al + Green + Pierce + Rondo

That team is winning 55 or so games. They'd be somewhat similar in overall ability to the Atlanta Hawks. An outside contender but with more upside for the future. That should become a legit title contender in the near future.

Edit: Also, Ryan Gomes + Delonte West as sixth and seventh men. Add a legit backup big and defensive minded backup wing and you'd have a very nice nine man rotation.

[Who]

That 2007 Celtics team was loaded with young talent + trade assets.

It's very difficult to see that squad not becoming one of the top teams in the NBA in the near future.

[blake]

Durant is by far my favorite non-C, but all this talk is about how good we would be in the future.  I for one think that if Danny plays this right, we still have a very bright future.  Having Rondo and Perk taking up the 2 hardest positions to find legitimate talent at, we can easily find talent with the kind of cap space that is going to be open post KG, PP, RA.

[Brickowski]

Capspace can't make baskets or play defense.  The trick is to turn the expiring contracts of the big three into younger talent, not capspace.

[Fafnir]

That 2007 Celtics team was loaded with young talent + trade assets.

It's very difficult to see that squad not becoming one of the top teams in the NBA in the near future.

Wait so Danny did his job well? 

I still take the title, the biggest gain in wins and losses was worth it.

[More Banners]

That 2007 Celtics team was loaded with young talent + trade assets.

It's very difficult to see that squad not becoming one of the top teams in the NBA in the near future.

Seriously???

[Who]

That 2007 Celtics team was loaded with young talent + trade assets.

It's very difficult to see that squad not becoming one of the top teams in the NBA in the near future.

Seriously???

Young talent = Al Jefferson + Rajon Rondo + Tony Allen + Kendrick Perkins + Delonte West + Ryan Gomes + Gerald Green + Sebastian Telfair

Trade Assets = 2007 high lottery pick + Theo Ratliff's big expiring contract

Established talent = Paul Pierce, an All-NBA level player

The Celtics had an incredibly bright future with that level of talent + flexibility to make moves.

[Birdbrain]

Capspace can't make baskets or play defense.  The trick is to turn the expiring contracts of the big three into younger talent, not capspace.

No doubt, that's why the 'what if' fails. 

[Donoghus]

The lure of the young talent is dangerous thing.

Look at the Chicago Bulls about 4-5 years ago.  They ended up messing it up. 

People keeping saying Portland now but there's a good chance they never get a ring, either. 

[fairweatherfan]

The lure of the young talent is dangerous thing.

Look at the Chicago Bulls about 4-5 years ago.  They ended up messing it up. 

People keeping saying Portland now but there's a good chance they never get a ring, either. 

Yup, and anyone remember the "Team of the 90's" in Cleveland?  Dynasties are predicted much more often than realized.

[Birdbrain]

Simmons continually overrates Durant as well.