State of The Celtics.

[BballTim]

I know the "off-season isn't over" & "free agency just started". but as this team is currently constituted, we're horrible. I know it's blasphemy to say making the playoffs is a bad thing but for this team it is.

being a borderline playoff team is great if you're a young team like philly, we're fighting for a playoff spot is great experience for a young team learning to win.

but this team is not that. they're a collection of guys that won't be here when we do win again. maybe one or 2 of them will be but for the most part a majority of the guys that will be getting the mins next yr. won't be:

Green
Bass
Wallace

hell Rondo and Bradley might not be here by the time we win again.

I would just like to see a clear vision of what we're trying to do. right now this team doesn't look like it has it's mind made up. it seems like one side of the team wants to make the playoffs & the other wants to go young. this feels like '04 all over again and it's such a horrible place to be.

  At this point in time it doesn't make sense for the team to "make up it's mind". They can't guarantee that they'll bring in a top player and they can't rule out the possibility that they will. They have to be ready for either contingency until they have to give up on the hope that it might happen.

[Mr October]

Not surprisingly, there is a lot of impatience here or people thinking Summer '07 can happen again so easily. 

Expectations need to be tempered.  This is a multi-year rebuild.  They've been accumuluating a ton of assets and slowly getting to real roster flexibility.   From a long-term picture, things are certainly headed in the right direction.  If you simply look at things short-term, you're going to be disappointed because this team is most likely gonna suck again in '14-15.  I'm guessing a slight, incremental improvement but not enough to appease most people spoiled by the past 7 years (save for last year).

Yup we are in this for the long haul. A 2007 situation requires trade partners looking to trade disgruntled stars, and it requires that the Celtics have desirable talent to package in a trade.

Love is the only disgruntled star, and his team isn't quite ready to surrender him. The trouble is that the Celtic players are not viewed as having high enough ceilings that will arrive anytime soon.

Perhaps if the Celtics win 40 games and make the playoffs, the players that got them there will have taken another leap forward and become more desirable in a trade.

And if the Celtics miss the playoffs, here comes another lottery pick.

That's a potential win-win.

[CFAN38]

I agree with previous statement that we are in the middle of a multi year rebuild. This is the asset gathering faze. I believe this seasons trade deadline is where DA will pick the path for the future.

I predict 4 things that will be deciding factors at the deadline.

1. Over All team record. If the Cs record is bad enough DA might just bite the bullet and trade RR and Green to cause all out tank. This class has two players who I think will be perennial all-star bigs in Towns and Okafer for a trip to the lottery isn't the worst option. If the Cs are looking like a  contender for the 7th or 8th seen we may see minor moves to help the cause with hopes that this entices FA in the off-season to join the Cs and RR.

2. Performance of Smart. If Smart rises above his slow summer league start and looks like a legit starting PG then trading Rondo and going into full rebuild seems more plausible. If he struggles I think the plan stays with building around RR.

3. Rondo's attitude. If in a full healthy season RR cant handle the rebuild DA may have to trade him rather then risk losing him. If he really truly takes to the leadership role and the team is performing then he stays and recruits with DA and coach stevens next off season.

4.Potential for Love trade / willingness to come as FA. If loves is kept in Minn for the start of the season then the deadline could turn into a bidding war that the Cs are set up to win. This and Loves willingness to resign will be huge indicators for the Celtics future. If love traded for and willing to resign then RR and Green will likely be Cs for the long haul and next summer RR and Love get resigned and the Cs go after a starting center.

[Mr October]

I know the "off-season isn't over" & "free agency just started". but as this team is currently constituted, we're horrible. I know it's blasphemy to say making the playoffs is a bad thing but for this team it is.

being a borderline playoff team is great if you're a young team like philly, we're fighting for a playoff spot is great experience for a young team learning to win.

but this team is not that. they're a collection of guys that won't be here when we do win again. maybe one or 2 of them will be but for the most part a majority of the guys that will be getting the mins next yr. won't be:

Green
Bass
Wallace

hell Rondo and Bradley might not be here by the time we win again.

I would just like to see a clear vision of what we're trying to do. right now this team doesn't look like it has it's mind made up. it seems like one side of the team wants to make the playoffs & the other wants to go young. this feels like '04 all over again and it's such a horrible place to be.

  At this point in time it doesn't make sense for the team to "make up it's mind". They can't guarantee that they'll bring in a top player and they can't rule out the possibility that they will. They have to be ready for either contingency until they have to give up on the hope that it might happen.

TP. This is what i am saying on a daily basis as well. We are only 1 year into the rebuild. We still have some nice players on this team including an all star who we hope will return to his peak form.

I think Ainge should keep all options open for as long as possible this season.

[Csfan1984]

Feels like C's should be sellers but team is holding onto guys waiting for the right deal to come. C's could be buyers but other teams are even more confused on their direction. Things won't change thanks to FA limbo.