To preface this post, I think this Celtics team would have repeated as champions had KG and Powe not gone down. The way the rest of the playoffs are playing out, I'm sure Wyc, Danny, and Doc feel the same way too. I totally support the idea of bringing the core of this years team back and merely adding veteran bench players through free agency or trading scal, tony, etc. I would love to see KG try to recruit Rasheed (or Mcdyess 2nd) for the MLE and another wing or pg for the LLE.
But I can't get over the feeling that Danny is going to make a big move this offseason. He knows Lebron, Dwade, Dwight, etc are only going to get better. Ainge has publicly said that the Celtics should have traded Larry Bird before it was too late and that he would have had he been in charge. If he doesn't believe that he can improve the team enough through free agency and smaller trades, he may look to move Ray. Ray Allen will never have more trade value than he does right now. As we all know he is the consummate professional and still a hell of a player. He would be perfect to help teach a younger team for one year and then he means almost 20 million of cap space in the summer of lebron. Needless to say, Ainge has considered trading Ray and will most likely explore options before the draft, he wouldn't be doing his job if he didnt. We still need to focus on next year first and foremost and so he would need to get a player who can contribute atleast very close to as much as Ray and then add a solid bench player or two. That would be the only reason for him completing such a deal.
It seems to me like the perfect trade partner may be the New Jersey Nets. They are clearly rebuilding around Devin Harris and Brook Lopez and they would love to get rid of Vince's contract to make a stronger run at Lebron. The Nets would trade Vince Carter plus a lot more for Ray Allen's expiring. What about Ray Allen, Tony Allen, and Giddens for Vince Carter, Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes and a future first round pick (if the Nets will).
For New Jersey, they shed Vince's contract which runs two years past Ray's. They also lose two veterans, but they are not focused on winning the title in 2009. Anyone other than Harris, Lopez, and possibly Yi, are very expendable for New Jersey. They add Ray Allen for a year who will do what he does and then walk in free agency. The Nets definitely accept this deal.
For Boston, we add Keyon Dooling, who I believe could be a great bench guard. He shot 42% from three last year and 82% FT. He is fast, athletic, can shoot, and is a great defender. A defensive backcourt of Dooling and Rondo at times would be the best in the league. Jarvis Hayes is another veteran wing player who can score in bunches. He can shoot, doesn't do anything great but would be a great 10th man on our team. He could help spell Pierce off the bench. Then we get Vince Carter. I know almost everyone on this blog hates him and would not want this deal to happen, but Vince is still a very very good player. He played 80 games last year and is good for 20 pts, 5 rbs, 5 asts. He is an elite 3 point shooter and can create his own shot against anyone. He would help take some of that pressure off of Pierce at times and can also play the 3 to help rest Pierce. Rondo would love having Vince Carter on one of his wings and I can't help but imagine that KG would bring out the best in Vince. Vince has not played on a contending team in years and playing in Boston infront of our crowd in the Garden would surely rejuvenate him. He is a proven clutch shooter and in my opinion is a better overall player than Ray Allen right now and 2 years younger. Will we get the best Vince has left? Maybe, maybe not, but If we did, I can't imagine that team losing to anyone.
Imagine a lineup of:
Rondo/ Dooling/ vet pg for LLE (Bobby Jackson?)
Vince Carter/ House/
Pierce / Hayes / Walker
KG / Big Baby or Powe / Scal
Perk/ (Rasheed, Mcdyess, Birdman, or Gortat for MLE)/ C for vet min
Dooling, House, Hayes, Baby, Rasheed would be a hell of a bench to match the best starting five in basketball. I like our chances with this team.