Should the Celtics rebuild? (split)

[Brickowski]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

But I wouldn't rebuild with Yi.  I would rebuild with guys who play defense.

========================

I split this off from the Yi thread.  It's worthy of separate discussion. -R.H.

[cdif911]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

But I wouldn't rebuild with Yi.  I would rebuild with guys who play defense.

Its a tough call, do you rebuild and blow it up, or take one more big push for the title with the team we have

[D Dub]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

But I wouldn't rebuild with Yi.  I would rebuild with guys who play defense.

I don't know, man.  We easily have another deep run in us, even if KG can't come back.  We have some options still to shore up the bench.

I know that day is coming, but I'd at least like to hold off on the "R" word for another season.  5 years of rebuilding and 2 years of competing isn't fun.  I'd rather be like the Spurs who aren't going to win another title, but at least have the ability to make a playoff run every year.  I'm sure most would disagree with me on that though...

[Roy Hobbs]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

How many rebuilding teams *ever* end up with as good a shot as we'll have at the title next year if we bring everyone back?  Let's say our chances at a title next year are 25% - 30%; what are the chances that, if we rebuild, we'll be looking at similar odds any time within the next five to seven years?

[BballTim]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

  If KG comes back we have the best starters in the league. Rebuilding because we need to add a few backups over the summer is ridiculous.

[Who]

The Celtics should be rebuilding. 

Absolutely not -- too close to a ring -- there is still a legit chance to win a title.

[CoachBo]

No projects, unless we're trading our own under-contract projects (i.e., Giddens) or scraps (i.e., Tony) in return.

Another giant stiff coveted by Danny Ainge.

Roy quoted for truth again. Just say no to Why.

And ... although I realize the great Internet fascination with rebuilding and obsessing over guys who can't play - Tony Allen would be one example - it's just a wee bit premature to begin rebuilding a team that failed to repeat because of injuries and management's consistent failure to provide usable parts in the last off-season.

[Moranis]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

How many rebuilding teams *ever* end up with as good a shot as we'll have at the title next year if we bring everyone back?  Let's say our chances at a title next year are 25% - 30%; what are the chances that, if we rebuild, we'll be looking at similar odds any time within the next five to seven years?

Sure if our chances were actually 25-30%, but the reality it is much more like 5-10% unless there are injuries from other teams.  Cleveland will be vastly superior to us next year.  Orlando with Nelson back will be better than us.  Teams like Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and Chicago should all be better (and any one could beat us come playoff time) as their young players continue to mature.  

Pierce and Allen were shot in the playoffs.  They both played terribly bad.  The only worthwhile players on the C's bench next year is Big Baby and House (if he comes back) and with very little tradeable pieces, the C's really have no shot at significantly improving the bench.  

The C's need to trade Ray Allen and add some younger players and depth.  If that happens, I think they are in much better shape to compete with the Cavs and Magic.

[Roy Hobbs]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

How many rebuilding teams *ever* end up with as good a shot as we'll have at the title next year if we bring everyone back?  Let's say our chances at a title next year are 25% - 30%; what are the chances that, if we rebuild, we'll be looking at similar odds any time within the next five to seven years?

Sure if our chances were actually 25-30%, but the reality it is much more like 5-10% unless there are injuries from other teams.  Cleveland will be vastly superior to us next year.  Orlando with Nelson back will be better than us.  Teams like Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and Chicago should all be better (and any one could beat us come playoff time) as their young players continue to mature.  

Pierce and Allen were shot in the playoffs.  They both played terribly bad.  The only worthwhile players on the C's bench next year is Big Baby and House (if he comes back) and with very little tradeable pieces, the C's really have no shot at significantly improving the bench.  

The C's need to trade Ray Allen and add some younger players and depth.  If that happens, I think they are in much better shape to compete with the Cavs and Magic.

Why will Cleveland be "vastly superior"?  With KG, we had a better record, and we split the season series even though KG missed two of the games.

Same thing with Orlando:  we had a better record than them, even before they lost Nelson.

In terms of upgrading, we have several mid-range expiring contracts and some young guys as trade chips.  With a down economy, teams will be looking to shed salary, giving guys like Scal and Tony legitimate trade value.  Also, there are a ton of good players on the free agent market, many of whom are going to be forced into signing bargain deals.

I don't see why we should totally discount the regular season, simply because the team was exhausted due to playing extended minutes as a result of 1) losing two of our top three big men (including the reigning DPOY) and 2) having nobody to back up thre three.  Each of these issues should resolve itself in the off-season.  The above post seems to be motivated by doom-and-gloom, rather than reality.

[wdleehi]

Unless they can move Ray Allen for younger, but can help you win now players, the Celtics only need to find playable bench players.


Keep the 3 stars minutes down, hope they are healthy come playoff time.  If that had happened this year, I still believe the Celtics win another title.

[RebusRankin]

No.

I don't see Orlando as being better than us next year and they have to resign Hedo and hope Nelson's 08/09 wasn't a fluke.

Cleveland will of course be a challenge but I think we have a shot against them.

It comes down to how we use our assets and build our bench.

[vagrantwade]

If we are healthy next year we are definite contenders to win it all. Blowing the team up would be absolutely stupid.

[CoachBo]

The Celtics should be rebuilding.  I do not think they are close to being a championship team with what they have under contract for next year.  Even if Garnett comes back 100%, Pierce and Ray Allen are aging and they have no bench. Plus, the Sixers are going to hire Thibodeau.

How many rebuilding teams *ever* end up with as good a shot as we'll have at the title next year if we bring everyone back?  Let's say our chances at a title next year are 25% - 30%; what are the chances that, if we rebuild, we'll be looking at similar odds any time within the next five to seven years?

Sure if our chances were actually 25-30%, but the reality it is much more like 5-10% unless there are injuries from other teams.  Cleveland will be vastly superior to us next year.  Orlando with Nelson back will be better than us.  Teams like Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and Chicago should all be better (and any one could beat us come playoff time) as their young players continue to mature.  

Pierce and Allen were shot in the playoffs.  They both played terribly bad.  The only worthwhile players on the C's bench next year is Big Baby and House (if he comes back) and with very little tradeable pieces, the C's really have no shot at significantly improving the bench.  

The C's need to trade Ray Allen and add some younger players and depth.  If that happens, I think they are in much better shape to compete with the Cavs and Magic.

Why will Cleveland be "vastly superior"?  With KG, we had a better record, and we split the season series even though KG missed two of the games.

Same thing with Orlando:  we had a better record than them, even before they lost Nelson.

In terms of upgrading, we have several mid-range expiring contracts and some young guys as trade chips.  With a down economy, teams will be looking to shed salary, giving guys like Scal and Tony legitimate trade value.  Also, there are a ton of good players on the free agent market, many of whom are going to be forced into signing bargain deals.

I don't see why we should totally discount the regular season, simply because the team was exhausted due to playing extended minutes as a result of 1) losing two of our top three big men (including the reigning DPOY) and 2) having nobody to back up thre three.  Each of these issues should resolve itself in the off-season.  The above post seems to be motivated by doom-and-gloom, rather than reality.

+1.

IN total.

There's no reason to blow this up now.

[dark_lord]

the only thing we should rebuild is the bench!

[Roy Hobbs]

the only thing we should rebuild is the bench!

Exactly right.  +1.