The Future of KG RA and PP

[bcgenuis]

I do not understand why people say there is only a 2 year window and that the Big 3 will retire after that.

We have seen several superstars become bench players and accept reduced roles as they leave their prime years.  Pierce, Allen and Garnett have enough skill to play 18-25 minutes a game for at least 3-4 years barring serious injury. Similar to what we are asking from Shaq and JO this year and Rasheed last year.

If I were GM, my plan would be to try to resign the PGA Tour (Pierce Allen Garnett) after their current contracts expire at mid-level exception prices (5 MM each + Rondo = 25 mm) . This would free up some coin for at least one Tier 1 free agent possibly 2.

Additionally, I would hype BBD and Perk and try my best to trade for some high picks and/or a borderline all-star PF/C.  Why?  BBD is a poor rebounder and undersized, he is a career bench player and a very good one.  But now KG will be on the bench providing what we now get from BBD.  Perk will want more money than we would want to give and he is one dimensional.

Winning makes poor players on good teams look better than they are -- use that to pump and dump players mentioned above and other like Nate or even West to try and upgrade.

Target FA's
Jeff Green -OKC
Beasely - MIN
Love - MIN
MGasol -MEM
Mayo - MEM
B Griffin - LAC
Chandler - NYK
G Wallace - Char

There are many more. 2 or 3 of the above via trade and FA wont be bad + Rondo + PGA on the bench.

Rondo
D West
G Wallace
K Love
M Gasol

Garnett
Allen
Pierce 

[guava_wrench]

Too many pieces to have to put together.

The whole window point is that it would eventually take way too much luck since the core of the team would no longer be able to dominate. If you don't have a core, you just have fan fantasies.

[guava_wrench]

Also, KG seems to not be planning to play past this contract based on statements.

[action781]

If we can get Griffin, I'm on board.  I don't know if Love really fits in with the style of Rondo.  If you actually took any 2 of those guys and paired them with Rondo, I still don't think they'd necessarily be championship contenders.  Wilson Chandler is a good player playing out of his mind right now because of the system.  I've discussed my thinking in other threads why I don't think Gerald Wallace will ever be a championship wing b/c of his poor 3 point shooting.  Maybe Gasol and Griffin together wouldn't be bad, but I think that's far fetched to imagine them both coming

[Edgar]

If we ever get griffin it will be like when we got garnett for jeff
a perennial binkie where he is supposed to be
I really really really think he will rule the NBA
no championship necesarily but individualy wise 3 years from now
barring injuries

[bcgenuis]

The are only two ways for the Celtics to remain competitve for the next 5 years.

The trick is to turn today's back ups or one dimentional players into starters for the future.

Hopefully, BBD, Nate, Perk and the other bench pieces can be traded for a disgruntled star, similar to what we did for Garnett and Ray.

And we keep the Big 3 as bench players or starters that only play for 25 minutes for a few more years.

Otherwise we need to blow this up after 2012 and clean house hopefully getting several lottery picks and start over.

[housecall]

I think i read somewhere awhile ago Pierce was considering going to play overseas after this contract and raise his daughter in a different country for awhile.Its probably  something not written in stone yet but the possibilites are endless.I get where you are coming from with your ideas of resigning those guys to back up some younger stars.Money usually is the deciding factor in the NBA and especially with star players.What Danny and wyc might think their worth is might not be on the same page as the players.Coming to an agreement on an individual players' value could be the main thing that keeps this from ever working.

[mgent]

I think Paul, Ray, and KG could all start another 3 years after this one easy.  I could see Paul and Ray both playing 5+ years, especially Ray if his shot keep falling and we keep his legs fresh.

[Celts17Pride]

The closer Pierce gets to the Celtics all-time scoring record the more he will want to stay around. Ray could easily play another 3 years. KG is the one I would worry about because of his recent health issues.

[j804]

KG is too competitive to resort to a benched role and watch his play decline. Paul I can't imagine would want to do that either, sticking around to a reduced role till we can actually contend again. Ray is the only one I could see still in green.