Well, I am really not looking forward to next season.

[get_banners]

people do realize the cap situation makes it not a terrible idea to keep most of the core together, right? unless ray wants a ridiculous pay day, there simply aren't better 2s we can get - no cap space. whatever ray gets doesn't count against our cap. if pierce opts out and signs a cap-friendlier deal, that helps, but again, not a ton. basically, we could trade sheed for a ML guy (maybe beasley), though that would have to happen soon, cuz teams would want sheed on their payroll before the FA period starts so when he retires, they have all his cap space. we then can sign someone else to the MLE. tinker with some minimum salaries or bird rights guys (TA, scal), figure out a way to bring nate back at a reasonable salary...that's about all we can do. which isn't really all that bad, if you consider that KG will be better, rondo will be better, we could have 2 new MLE-type players in the mix...not too bad.

[RJ87]

people do realize the cap situation makes it not a terrible idea to keep most of the core together, right? unless ray wants a ridiculous pay day, there simply aren't better 2s we can get - no cap space. whatever ray gets doesn't count against our cap. if pierce opts out and signs a cap-friendlier deal, that helps, but again, not a ton. basically, we could trade sheed for a ML guy (maybe beasley), though that would have to happen soon, cuz teams would want sheed on their payroll before the FA period starts so when he retires, they have all his cap space. we then can sign someone else to the MLE. tinker with some minimum salaries or bird rights guys (TA, scal), figure out a way to bring nate back at a reasonable salary...that's about all we can do. which isn't really all that bad, if you consider that KG will be better, rondo will be better, we could have 2 new MLE-type players in the mix...not too bad.

supposedly, Ray is looking for a 3-4 year deal at $8-10m per (the real reason they shopped him at the deadline). That's just way too much of commitment to him. And his deal would count against our cap, but we could go over to resign him since we have birdrights.

As I said in another post, Sheed retiring could be a blessing in disguise - if he does it soon so we can utilize it as a trade chip.

I think Paul will opt out and sign an extension before the new CBA takes place. People keep saying how he won't leave $21m on the table, I think the uncertainty surrounding a new CBA will influence him to opt out to get a longer deal for longer financial security. Also, I believe he can ask for a no-trade clause at this point in his career (Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league who currently has one), more security for his family.

[Mr October]

people do realize the cap situation makes it not a terrible idea to keep most of the core together, right? unless ray wants a ridiculous pay day, there simply aren't better 2s we can get - no cap space. whatever ray gets doesn't count against our cap. if pierce opts out and signs a cap-friendlier deal, that helps, but again, not a ton. basically, we could trade sheed for a ML guy (maybe beasley), though that would have to happen soon, cuz teams would want sheed on their payroll before the FA period starts so when he retires, they have all his cap space. we then can sign someone else to the MLE. tinker with some minimum salaries or bird rights guys (TA, scal), figure out a way to bring nate back at a reasonable salary...that's about all we can do. which isn't really all that bad, if you consider that KG will be better, rondo will be better, we could have 2 new MLE-type players in the mix...not too bad.

supposedly, Ray is looking for a 3-4 year deal at $8-10m per (the real reason they shopped him at the deadline). That's just way too much of commitment to him. And his deal would count against our cap, but we could go over to resign him since we have birdrights.

As I said in another post, Sheed retiring could be a blessing in disguise - if he does it soon so we can utilize it as a trade chip.

I think Paul will opt out and sign an extension before the new CBA takes place. People keep saying how he won't leave $12m on the table, I think the uncertainty surrounding a new CBA will influence him to opt out to get a longer deal for longer financial security. Also, I believe he can ask for a no-trade clause at this point in his career (Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league who currently has one), more security for his family.

If Ray wants $32/4, I'd offer him 20-22/2. That way he can pick and choose where he goes for the MLE when the C's go young.

If Ray is adamant on $40/4, I'd say bye, and good luck trying to get that.

I still doubt Pierce leaves 21 million on the table. With the way his game is declining, he's probably only worth 16 next year, followed by 13 and 10.

[twinbree]

For now I just don't see the point in being pessimistic about next season. Last year when we lost we were saying a lot of the same things. I admit it was correct to predict a mediocre regular season without a title which is how it played out. But thing is we ended the season as a legit contender. Maybe we can do it again and win this time maybe we can't but it's too early for worry. At least it should wait until after we start our offseason moves when we see what we have to work with.

[Vermont Green]

Sheed retiring or not and even Ray Allen may not be the big stories this off season.  I think the big issue is KG.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that he rests up and comes back next season better.  If that can really happen, then I say keep the whole core together and give it another run.

I actually think KG may not come back any better.  He just looks spent to me and not the kind of spent that can get better with rest.  I also think there may be something wrong with his shoulder.

KG and Sheed may both retire.

Then we can sign Bosh.

[SamuelAdams]

Tickets are paid for; I'll be there next year.  My biggest concern is we turn into the 2005-9 Detroit Pistons.

[Bahku]

Wow ... they come within 4 points of a Championship and you don't know where to go from here?!? Man, thank God you're not a New Jersey fan!! This was an awesome ride this year, by a team that showed they could beat incredible odds by playing true team basketball. Whatever happens next year, I'll be just as rabid a Celtic fan as I am right now, and as I have been for the last 40-plus years.

To say that a team's no longer worth watching because they didn't win the championship .... I just can't comprehend that line of thinking, sorry. This is my beloved Celtics ... for good or bad, and nothing is changing that, especially not coming up a few points short in the World Championship game.

[incoherent]

More then ever I am looking forward to next season.

[ejk3489]

I really don't know what the Celtics do to save their fanbase right now.

I don't really understand this...the Celtics in my opinion don't need to save their fanbase from anything. They've given us two final appearances, and one championship in 3 short years.

If you're a fan of the team, losing shouldn't change that. I'll be looking forward to next season no matter what.

[j804]

I'm not looking forward to next season much either, not because I dont like rebuilding or that we may not be a contender.

Its because I loved our team as is and felt if we had a healthy Perk we would be singing a different tune and be the ones that were hoisting that gold ball.  

[dooyork]

Last night I couldn't sleep until about 3, I just sat there flipping through the channels.

Of all the random things, they were playing the Celtics at Mavs game from the 1995 season, I think on ESPN classic or something.  I have no idea why.  I looked up that game on basketball reference, and it didn't seem to stand out for any reason. 

Wilkins, McDaniel, Fox, Wesley, Douglas, Brown, Montross.  For the Mavs, Kidd, JJ, Mashburn, Donald Hodge, Luscious Harris, Popeye Jones.  Ugh.  Nightmare flashbacks for a Celtics fan.  1995.  Nothing to look forward to for over a decade.

Why on earth was this game on TV?  All I know is, as I watched it, I had a sinking feeling in my stomache.

Did anyone else see this?  I felt like it was an omen. 

Please don't let it be over!

[GreenFaith1819]

Eh?

I am certainly looking forward to next season.

Sure - this loss hurts big time, but it is not over. The window is still slightly open.

The Bottom Line (To Me) is that we were One Kendrick Perkins away from beating LA last night, no matter how well LA played.

[get_banners]

yeah, of course, don't overpay for ray, but so long as he's being reasonable, you give him the contract because it doesn't count against the cap. if we're talking 2/20, fine (2/16 would be ideal). if he wants 3+ years at over 10 per, then i'd reconsider. in terms of pierce, i don't think he wants to leave boston, and he certainly wants to keep contending, so i do think he'd be open to opting out and signing a more cap-friendly deal, so long as that lets us get somebody else...not a max contract guy, obviously, but somebody who could be a key bench contributor.