The C's can contend and rebuild at the same time until the 2012 UFA

[rondohondo]

I think this is a real possibility. Ray definitely wants to come back and I think a 2 yr 20 mil deal could get it done. Then if you sign TA and Nate for 2 yrs at about 3 mil a piece you would still have the core of a team that came 5 points away from winning a championship. KG isn't coming off the books until 2012 anyways so we won't be in the hunt for a max level top 10 guy until then.

So we would have one more legit shot at a title next year and then likely be an outside contender in 2011.


The key is to not offer TA,Nate or Ray more than 2 seasons though.

Then you try to use the MLE this year for a young elite role player like Anthony Morrow or Ty Thomas who could not only help the current team to conted for the next few years, but also gives them another young piece next to Rondo and Perk that might attract a max level free agent like Melo here in 2012.



2010-2012 Roster

PG: Rondo
SG: Morrow
SF: Melo
PF BBD or #19 this year , or future draft pick before 2012
 C: Perk

Wouldn't that roster ook good to melo?

You have a great spot up 3pt shooter in morrow, You have a top 4 pg with Rondo. You have the best low post defender in the league with Perk. Add a go to scorer like Melo to that roster and we are easily a 55 win team for 5+ years and have a shot to grow into a contender.


You also have pick #19 and the 2011 + 2012 draft pick which will also likely be around #20 so the C's are going to have a chance to rebuild rather quickly, especially if Danny can hit with one of those picks..


So. I think you should take one more run at the title, but don't give out contracts longer than 2 years...

[JSD]

I think this is a real possibility. Ray definitely wants to come back and I think a 2 yr 20 mil deal could get it done. Then if you sign TA and Nate for 2 yrs at about 3 mil a piece you would still have the core of a team that came 5 points away from winning a championship. KG isn't coming off the books until 2012 anyways so we won't be in the hunt for a max level top 10 guy until then.

So we would have one more legit shot at a title next year and then likely be an outside contender in 2011.


The key is to not offer TA,Nate or Ray more than 2 seasons though.

Then you try to use the MLE this year for a young elite role player like Anthony Morrow or Ty Thomas who could not only help the current team to conted for the next few years, but also gives them another young piece next to Rondo and Perk that might attract a max level free agent like Melo here in 2012.



2010-2012 Roster

PG: Rondo
SG: Morrow
SF: Melo
PF BBD or #19 this year , or future draft pick before 2012
 C: Perk

Wouldn't that roster ook good to melo?

You have a great spot up 3pt shooter in morrow, You have a top 4 pg with Rondo. You have the best low post defender in the league with Perk. Add a go to scorer like Melo to that roster and we are easily a 55 win team for 5+ years and have a shot to grow into a contender.


You also have pick #19 and the 2011 + 2012 draft pick which will also likely be around #20 so the C's are going to have a chance to rebuild rather quickly, especially if Danny can hit with one of those picks..


So. I think you should take one more run at the title, but don't give out contracts longer than 2 years...

Aside from Shaq, what big-time (max) free agent signing has really paid off? History tells us that the best rebuilding route is through trades and draft picks.

Otis will lock up Dwight before 2012, but if he doesn't it would nice to be able to bring him in. BTW, Melo is off the books in 2011.

[rondohondo]

I think this is a real possibility. Ray definitely wants to come back and I think a 2 yr 20 mil deal could get it done. Then if you sign TA and Nate for 2 yrs at about 3 mil a piece you would still have the core of a team that came 5 points away from winning a championship. KG isn't coming off the books until 2012 anyways so we won't be in the hunt for a max level top 10 guy until then.

So we would have one more legit shot at a title next year and then likely be an outside contender in 2011.


The key is to not offer TA,Nate or Ray more than 2 seasons though.

Then you try to use the MLE this year for a young elite role player like Anthony Morrow or Ty Thomas who could not only help the current team to conted for the next few years, but also gives them another young piece next to Rondo and Perk that might attract a max level free agent like Melo here in 2012.



2010-2012 Roster

PG: Rondo
SG: Morrow
SF: Melo
PF BBD or #19 this year , or future draft pick before 2012
 C: Perk

Wouldn't that roster ook good to melo?

You have a great spot up 3pt shooter in morrow, You have a top 4 pg with Rondo. You have the best low post defender in the league with Perk. Add a go to scorer like Melo to that roster and we are easily a 55 win team for 5+ years and have a shot to grow into a contender.


You also have pick #19 and the 2011 + 2012 draft pick which will also likely be around #20 so the C's are going to have a chance to rebuild rather quickly, especially if Danny can hit with one of those picks..


So. I think you should take one more run at the title, but don't give out contracts longer than 2 years...

Aside from Shaq, what big-time (max) free agent signing has really paid off? History tells us that the best rebuilding route is through trades and draft picks.

Otis will lock up Dwight before 2012, but if he doesn't it would nice to be able to bring him in. BTW, Melo is off the books in 2011.

Well he can opt out after next year, but I don't see him giving up 20 mil. Denver can still be a contender for a few years, but in 2012 Billups will be done, KMart will be gone or done and there isn't much talent left on that roster.



http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9136

[Chris]

While I am not sure about the exact names you threw out there, I think this scenario may be the most likely direction the C's go.  I think they will try to sign Ray to a 2 year deal at reasonable money, and then wait it out for the next two years, collecting a few assets along the way, and keeping their eyes open for trades with the soon to be expiring contracts of Pierce, Perkins, Davis, Sheed, KG, and Allen.  I think patience is going to be a virtue in this rebuilding, and unless a great deal presents itself, we are not going to see dramatic changes for a little while longer.

[RJ87]

I think this is a real possibility. Ray definitely wants to come back and I think a 2 yr 20 mil deal could get it done. Then if you sign TA and Nate for 2 yrs at about 3 mil a piece you would still have the core of a team that came 5 points away from winning a championship. KG isn't coming off the books until 2012 anyways so we won't be in the hunt for a max level top 10 guy until then.

So we would have one more legit shot at a title next year and then likely be an outside contender in 2011.


The key is to not offer TA,Nate or Ray more than 2 seasons though.

Then you try to use the MLE this year for a young elite role player like Anthony Morrow or Ty Thomas who could not only help the current team to conted for the next few years, but also gives them another young piece next to Rondo and Perk that might attract a max level free agent like Melo here in 2012.



2010-2012 Roster

PG: Rondo
SG: Morrow
SF: Melo
PF BBD or #19 this year , or future draft pick before 2012
 C: Perk

Wouldn't that roster ook good to melo?

You have a great spot up 3pt shooter in morrow, You have a top 4 pg with Rondo. You have the best low post defender in the league with Perk. Add a go to scorer like Melo to that roster and we are easily a 55 win team for 5+ years and have a shot to grow into a contender.


You also have pick #19 and the 2011 + 2012 draft pick which will also likely be around #20 so the C's are going to have a chance to rebuild rather quickly, especially if Danny can hit with one of those picks..


So. I think you should take one more run at the title, but don't give out contracts longer than 2 years...

Aside from Shaq, what big-time (max) free agent signing has really paid off? History tells us that the best rebuilding route is through trades and draft picks.

Otis will lock up Dwight before 2012, but if he doesn't it would nice to be able to bring him in. BTW, Melo is off the books in 2011.

Well he can opt out after next year, but I don't see him giving up 20 mil. Denver can still be a contender for a few years, but in 2012 Billups will be done, KMart will be gone or done and there isn't much talent left on that roster.



http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9136

I've LONG been pining for Melo in Boston. But rumor has it that he's interested in an extension with Denver so who knows.

We could sign him next summer should he opt out ala LBJ & Co. this year, but it depends A LOT on what the new CBA will look like...

[xmuscularghandix]

I agree with this anyone that is on the books for 2012 and on should be looked at as a part of the “new celtics”

If those books include Pierce, KG, or Allen it needs to be at a role players salary. This is because we need space to get new stars here. If Ray gets three years it has to be frontloaded.

As of right now it looks like this:

Rajon Rondo-11,000,000


And i like this.

[PosImpos]

You really need two top 10 players, or at least 3 top 20 players, to have a solid shot at being the best team in the league when all is said and done. 

The Lakers have that (they were the only team in the league with two guys of that caliber), and next season at least one team will probably have it after the free agent bonanza.

I think the C's can still be competitive for a couple years until the Big 3 retire, but they won't really be chasing the ring.  They gave everything they possibly could this year and defied all reasonable odds and still came up just short.  Unless #19 turns into an immediate rising star, I don't see much hope for a Finals appearance for quite a while.

 

[wiley]

You really need two top 10 players, or at least 3 top 20 players, to have a solid shot at being the best team in the league when all is said and done. 

The Lakers have that (they were the only team in the league with two guys of that caliber), and next season at least one team will probably have it after the free agent bonanza.

I think the C's can still be competitive for a couple years until the Big 3 retire, but they won't really be chasing the ring.  They gave everything they possibly could this year and defied all reasonable odds and still came up just short.  Unless #19 turns into an immediate rising star, I don't see much hope for a Finals appearance for quite a while.

 

I was just about to post that I have trouble seeing the Celtics reach the finals next year....On the other hand, with this same group a bit rested after a shorter season (next), and not just this year's draft pick and FA's but the following year's as well, I think they could make another run that final year (KG's last).  This is because they have the system....they just need the energy......new players and next year's off year to rebuild strength could allow for a serious run in 2012.....imo.

[RJ87]

You really need two top 10 players, or at least 3 top 20 players, to have a solid shot at being the best team in the league when all is said and done. 

The Lakers have that (they were the only team in the league with two guys of that caliber), and next season at least one team will probably have it after the free agent bonanza.

I think the C's can still be competitive for a couple years until the Big 3 retire, but they won't really be chasing the ring.  They gave everything they possibly could this year and defied all reasonable odds and still came up just short.  Unless #19 turns into an immediate rising star, I don't see much hope for a Finals appearance for quite a while.

 

thats what made last night's loss even more brutal - knowing that we're probably done being serious contenders with this group. I think we'll be competitive and make the playoffs, but we won't be a serious threat. It stinks, I wanted nothing more than for KG & Paul to get that 2nd ring.

[PosImpos]

You really need two top 10 players, or at least 3 top 20 players, to have a solid shot at being the best team in the league when all is said and done. 

The Lakers have that (they were the only team in the league with two guys of that caliber), and next season at least one team will probably have it after the free agent bonanza.

I think the C's can still be competitive for a couple years until the Big 3 retire, but they won't really be chasing the ring.  They gave everything they possibly could this year and defied all reasonable odds and still came up just short.  Unless #19 turns into an immediate rising star, I don't see much hope for a Finals appearance for quite a while.

 

thats what made last night's loss even more brutal - knowing that we're probably done being serious contenders with this group. I think we'll be competitive and make the playoffs, but we won't be a serious threat. It stinks, I wanted nothing more than for KG & Paul to get that 2nd ring.

Yeah.

Really, it's truly remarkable how far they were able to get considering what they had to work with.  The Big 3 were once great and still are at times, but none of them is really a top 15 or even top 20 player (at least not consistently).

Rondo is a top 15-20 player, probably, and plays out of his mind in the post-season.  But it's hard to call a team on which he is the best player a title contender (at least on paper).

The Celtics rode their way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals primarily on the strength of their obscene team defense.  It even carried them to the 4th quarter of that game 7.  It just wasn't enough when all the chips fell on the table and the team with a transcendent scorer, a crazy supporting cast, and one of the best big men in the league found a way to fight inside and draw fouls on their home court.  Even so, the Celtics still kept themselves in it until only a few seconds remained.

I seriously doubt we'll see anything like the '10 Celtics for a long time.

[More Banners]

You really need two top 10 players, or at least 3 top 20 players, to have a solid shot at being the best team in the league when all is said and done. 

The Lakers have that (they were the only team in the league with two guys of that caliber), and next season at least one team will probably have it after the free agent bonanza.

I think the C's can still be competitive for a couple years until the Big 3 retire, but they won't really be chasing the ring.  They gave everything they possibly could this year and defied all reasonable odds and still came up just short.  Unless #19 turns into an immediate rising star, I don't see much hope for a Finals appearance for quite a while.

 

The painful truth.  I think management makes the business call of keeping them together for 2 more to fill the seats, and playoffs are likely, but we sure won't be favorites.  I'm imagining more contenders next year, with Wade/Bosh in Miami, and Joe Johnson/Amare in NY, or something like that, which adds two more threats.

The C's will be a good team, a playoff team, a team with talent that would be hard to upgrade, but also without quite enough to get over the hump...like the 05-08 Pistons, or the Spurs of the last couple of years.

The other option would be to trade out the players that ownership knows we'll pay to see, and probably not get better in the process, but...NOW is when we find out whether Danny is a title-or-nothing sort of gambler.

[guava_wrench]

I don't understand the point of talking about future situations where a team gets a player like Melo through free agency. It is so out of the blue.