If this team is broken up (moving Pierce and Garnett) then the makeup of the team, or rather the record of the team, this spring or next year is not the point. I keep seeing projected lineups for the 13/14 season and worry and complaints thereof. If this is the de/re-construction, next year (and maybe 14/15) should be viewed as building years--the keys will be asset accumulation, player development, and positioning to resume an elite competitive stance. If bad contracts are the price of prime potential (players or picks), so be it. I would even say picks in 2014 through 2016 are better investments than one this year.
The home run is a down year, or two, rather than a decade. In this light, position, duplication, and fit are almost irrelevant.
Another way to look at it is that we are searching for our "new" top three players, and the above average next four. Eight through 15 types will be of interest only as development/evaluation for those top seven slots in 2015. Fill in the complementary pieces then, not now.
Once Kevin and Paul are out of the picture (whether now or this summer or next), players like Collins, Terry, Wilcox, and I think Bass also, will be of most use as trading chips to fill the same supporting role on another contender as they did on this one. If KG and Pierce go out Thursday morning, I'd love for Ainge to move the other four before 3pm. Guess I'd better cancel Danny's tee time that day.
As long as I'm weighing in, I'll offer another couple of thoughts. I loved the 10-day signing of Williams. He's young enough to improve, talented enough to be worth a risk, has fallen enough to perhaps rein in his ego, and fits under either shore up for the playoff run or evaluate for the future. Also while I am not a fan of Josh Smith and think he is over-paid now much less at a max contract, I do think he might be a good bargaining chip if Danny could re-up him for 15M or less. The key will be resigning him--wonder if that can be done with the trade?
As sentimentally satisfying as it would be for KG and PP to take a victory lap and retire in Green, if we can't compete for the gold ring then I would rather get something than nothing. Cap room in two years with a bare cupboard would be of very limited use. I'd rather have picks and bad contracts that expire then also and two years of winnowing wheat from chafe to re-energize the organization. My only real feeling of loss would be the mentoring effect into the Celtic way that Pierce and Garnett could bring in their twilight years.