C's interested in acquiring the second pick?

[BballTim]

If Rhondo is banking on a major league extension.   Well, you do have Stephon Marbury wanting to play starting point.  You could take a chance on Rubio.  Let him develop behind Stephon. 

Personally, I think Rhondo is overrated some.  Not that he isn't very good, but not great (not without a shot).  And Orlando, like LA did last year played off of Rhondo.   I suspect you cannot play off of Rubio.   And the guy has a special talent.  A cross between a Pete Maravich, and a Larry Bird.  Does not come along very often. 

  If Rubio were even 1/4 that good he wouldn't last until the 2nd pick.

[nickagneta]

Again, I will repeat, I don't see Rubio being Ainge's target if their is any validity to this rumor. Rondo would be the obvious piece going Memphis' way and there is no chance in hell that Doc would be coaching this team next year if Danny saddles him with an 18 year old point guard after spending the last three years getting Rondo to the point he did. No way. Doc would quit. Danny has to know this.

Putting a Maserati in the hands of a student driver to learn to drive with makes no sense whatsoever. Why trade a PG that is putting up nearly triple double numbers in your last playoff run for essentially an unknown that may take three years to get to a point that might not be anywhere near the level that Rondo already is at?

Now drafting Thabeet makes sense. A defensive, rebounding freak that would be a great immediate backup and could eventually save the team million in not having to extend Perk and makes him a very valuable trading asset the next year. Not only that but with Andre Miller and Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby available this year in free agency, a capable playoff hardened veteran is able to be signed to replace Rondo for a couple of years until the Big Three era ends.

It allows the team to resign Ray without having to worry about where the money is coming from because the teams needs money for Perk and Rondo and when the era ends after KG, Ray, the newly signed PG, maybe Pierce all expire simultaneously the team can set its sights on Durant and other high profile younger stars.

[JBcat]

hmm If Ainge thinks Rondo is asking too much in an extension maybe it's worth considering.   A trade of Rondo and Tony Allen for Rubio and Rudy Gay might work for me.   Gay would be the 6th man no problem and at 22 he averaged 18.9 PPG last year and might be ready to really explode on the scene.  He would destroy going against other teams bench players and between Gay, Pierce, and Ray Allen, all 3 should be fresh and you have 2 of the 3 on the floor almost at all times.  Solves the Posey problem.  

Then you go hard after either Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Andre Miller to be your starting PG preferably either Kidd or Miller by offering the full MLE.  You could still possibly sign Marbury for the vet min (or another vet PG) and let Rubio develop at his own pace.    Then hopefully McDyess bites on the LLE (or another decent big if not) and re-sign BBD.  Maybe you could also trade Scal and say Pruitt and take back a semi bad contract in Desagana Diop but a good back up defensive rebounding center (also decent insurance in Perks shoulder acts up).  

Your roster would look like this.  

PG Kidd, Marbury, Rubio
SG Ray Allen, House, Giddens,
SF Pierce, Gay, Walker
PF Garnett, BBD, McDyess, Powe,
C Perkins, Diop

I could live with that.

Then if the teams holding the big 2010 free agents get cold feet and want to trade away their superstars by the February trade deadline such as Wade you still have prospects such as Gay, Rubio, BBD, and Walker for them to ponder.  

[guava_wrench]

If Rhondo is banking on a major league extension.   Well, you do have Stephon Marbury wanting to play starting point.  You could take a chance on Rubio.  Let him develop behind Stephon. 

Personally, I think Rhondo is overrated some.  Not that he isn't very good, but not great (not without a shot).  And Orlando, like LA did last year played off of Rhondo.   I suspect you cannot play off of Rubio.   And the guy has a special talent.  A cross between a Pete Maravich, and a Larry Bird.  Does not come along very often. 

Cross between Maravich and Bird? How can I take your opinion seriously when you choose 2 players like that to compare Rubio to? The guy hasn't even played a game in the NBA. How many Rubio games have you watched?

[SoulHonky]

Now drafting Thabeet makes sense. A defensive, rebounding freak that would be a great immediate backup and could eventually save the team million in not having to extend Perk and makes him a very valuable trading asset the next year. Not only that but with Andre Miller and Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby available this year in free agency, a capable playoff hardened veteran is able to be signed to replace Rondo for a couple of years until the Big Three era ends.

Is trading Rondo for a backup center (with less potential than Rubio) really much better than trading him for a backup PG/potential star? Either way we lose our starting PG for someone who probably isn't ready to play legit minutes in the pros.

No deal of Rondo straight up for the #2 makes sense.

[johnnyrondo]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix1012861396jun09,0,2638806.story

Info on the Knicks offer for the #2

[KungPoweChicken]

Again, I will repeat, I don't see Rubio being Ainge's target if their is any validity to this rumor. Rondo would be the obvious piece going Memphis' way and there is no chance in hell that Doc would be coaching this team next year if Danny saddles him with an 18 year old point guard after spending the last three years getting Rondo to the point he did. No way. Doc would quit. Danny has to know this.

Putting a Maserati in the hands of a student driver to learn to drive with makes no sense whatsoever. Why trade a PG that is putting up nearly triple double numbers in your last playoff run for essentially an unknown that may take three years to get to a point that might not be anywhere near the level that Rondo already is at?

Now drafting Thabeet makes sense. A defensive, rebounding freak that would be a great immediate backup and could eventually save the team million in not having to extend Perk and makes him a very valuable trading asset the next year. Not only that but with Andre Miller and Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby available this year in free agency, a capable playoff hardened veteran is able to be signed to replace Rondo for a couple of years until the Big Three era ends.

It allows the team to resign Ray without having to worry about where the money is coming from because the teams needs money for Perk and Rondo and when the era ends after KG, Ray, the newly signed PG, maybe Pierce all expire simultaneously the team can set its sights on Durant and other high profile younger stars.

]


Trading our franchise point guard for a center who is three years away from being a bench player makes sense?

[indeedproceed]

I figured it all out. An inside (my head) source jsut told me the proposed trade.

Boston Trades:
Rajon Rondo (MEM)
Ray Allen (SAS

Memphis Trades;
Mike Conley JR (BOS)
2nd Overall (SAS

San Antonio Trades:
Tim Duncan (BOS)

I felt it too, don't worry. That was the dynamite. It just went Boom.

Please tell me you're kidding

Yes.

[rondohondo]

If I am Danny Ainge and they want Rondo then either Gay or OJ Mayo need to be coming back with other Pieces

Maybe something like

Mem sends: Mayo or Gay and conley

Bos sends: Rondo and Giddens or Walker

then the Celtics sign either Kidd , Bibby , AI or Marbury to be your starting PG.

Marbury would probably be the way to go because

1) He has already played half a season with the team and with an off-season to study the playbook he should be able to run the offense with more playing time
2) Kidd is really old and has lost a few steps
3) AI is a ME first guy, Marbury showed he can be a team player last season.
4) Bibby is likely to want too much money

Celtics 2009- 10 Roster

PG: Marbury / Conley / Pruitt
SG: Ray     / OJ Mayo / House
SF: PP      / Grant Hill(VET MIN) / Walker
PF: KG     / BBD     /  Scal / Powe (IR)
 C: Perk   / Vet FA

or

PG: Marbury / Conley / Pruitt
SG: Ray     / Anthony Parker or Von Wafer(MLE)/ House
SF: PP      /Gay / Walker
PF: KG     / BBD     /  Scal / Powe (IR)
 C: Perk   / Vet FA


Depending on what Marbury or any other legit PG we could bring in plays that looks like a much more balanced team. They would have either Ray's or PP's replacement waiting in the wings with either Gay or Mayo. Our bench would be much more explosive too

[vagrantwade]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

[pengaloo]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

Doesn't your argument suggest the importance of keeping Rondo though? Next year, Ray, Paul, and KG are going to be a year older and most likely will have pretty poor performances at times (even when they're "healthy"). So next year, we need a PG who is more than just decent to win a title...

[Moranis]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

Doesn't your argument suggest the importance of keeping Rondo though? Next year, Ray, Paul, and KG are going to be a year older and most likely will have pretty poor performances at times (even when they're "healthy"). So next year, we need a PG who is more than just decent to win a title...

except you don't need a PG at all to win the title, unless of course you think Derek Fisher and Rafer Alston are "PG's"

[BballTim]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

Doesn't your argument suggest the importance of keeping Rondo though? Next year, Ray, Paul, and KG are going to be a year older and most likely will have pretty poor performances at times (even when they're "healthy"). So next year, we need a PG who is more than just decent to win a title...

except you don't need a PG at all to win the title, unless of course you think Derek Fisher and Rafer Alston are "PG's"

  You don't need a pg, per se, but you need talented players aside from a very good big. It doesn't have to be a pg just like it doesn't have to be a sf or sg but it can be a pg. So while you don't always need a good pg, you can't always win without one. If you want to put your theory that you don't need a good pg to the ultimate test, go back to all the years where the winning team had a good/great pg. Players like Magic, Isaiah, Parker and Billups. Would those teams have all won the title with Alston or Fisher as their starting pg? If not, you need to go back and refine your theory.

[vagrantwade]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

Doesn't your argument suggest the importance of keeping Rondo though? Next year, Ray, Paul, and KG are going to be a year older and most likely will have pretty poor performances at times (even when they're "healthy"). So next year, we need a PG who is more than just decent to win a title...

except you don't need a PG at all to win the title, unless of course you think Derek Fisher and Rafer Alston are "PG's"

  You don't need a pg, per se, but you need talented players aside from a very good big. It doesn't have to be a pg just like it doesn't have to be a sf or sg but it can be a pg. So while you don't always need a good pg, you can't always win without one. If you want to put your theory that you don't need a good pg to the ultimate test, go back to all the years where the winning team had a good/great pg. Players like Magic, Isaiah, Parker and Billups. Would those teams have all won the title with Alston or Fisher as their starting pg? If not, you need to go back and refine your theory.

The PG is the 4th or 5th option on this Celtics team, is all I am saying. Will a good PG be important after the Big 3 has split, of course. But it's not like the Celtics won't be able to use that cap space for some good.

My point was more so that even if the Celtics were to for whatever get rid of Rondo and end up with Rubio, and have Rubio coming off the bench while a vet PG started, the Celtics probably wouldn't miss a next season.

[crownsy]

The thing about Rondo is, with a healthy Celtics team, he is not going to get those kind of numbers he put up in the playoffs this year, next year. It took some pretty poor performances by either Ray or PP this year to allow him to accomplish what he did.

So let's not go crazy over Rondo's talent. I do not want to trade Rondo or Ray Ray, but I honestly think the C's are still a contender for the title with either of them being replaced by someone decent.

Doesn't your argument suggest the importance of keeping Rondo though? Next year, Ray, Paul, and KG are going to be a year older and most likely will have pretty poor performances at times (even when they're "healthy"). So next year, we need a PG who is more than just decent to win a title...

except you don't need a PG at all to win the title, unless of course you think Derek Fisher and Rafer Alston are "PG's"

  You don't need a pg, per se, but you need talented players aside from a very good big. It doesn't have to be a pg just like it doesn't have to be a sf or sg but it can be a pg. So while you don't always need a good pg, you can't always win without one. If you want to put your theory that you don't need a good pg to the ultimate test, go back to all the years where the winning team had a good/great pg. Players like Magic, Isaiah, Parker and Billups. Would those teams have all won the title with Alston or Fisher as their starting pg? If not, you need to go back and refine your theory.

The PG is the 4th or 5th option on this Celtics team, is all I am saying. Will a good PG be important after the Big 3 has split, of course. But it's not like the Celtics won't be able to use that cap space for some good.

My point was more so that even if the Celtics were to for whatever get rid of Rondo and end up with Rubio, and have Rubio coming off the bench while a vet PG started, the Celtics probably wouldn't miss a next season.

What vet PG for the minimum or MLE would you get that could play 36 minutes in our defense and run the offense?

Also, Rubio is far from NBA ready. I think, as i said, he'll be a fine PG, but its going to take a bit. His defense isn't that good yet, his shot is slow and cumbersome, and he hasen't played against NBA talent yet.

I expect rubio to be a good player in this league, but i also don't expect it to happen till he's 21-22. with a year of wear on GPA, i think they would defiantly miss a step without their PG next season.