The Future

[freshinthehouse]

The key to the Celtics maintaining respectability after the big three leave will be in maintaining roster flexibility and avoiding bad contracts, so that the team can add a star free agent (here's looking at you, Durant.)  Barring that, I think the rebuilding years could be ugly.

Thank you.  After reading so many people with these pie in the sky scenarios where we magically come up with cap room this off-season (lets hope rondo's new deal finally kills this), it's nice to read a post where the real summer of spending (at least for the C's) is mentioned:  2012.  KG's and Pierce's mega deals will be off the books, and if Ainge plays his cards right, he should have enough wiggle room to bring in a max contract free agent.  If Durant doesnt resign, he'll be an unrestricted FA in 2012.  Yes please.

[lon3lytoaster]

It all comes down to what we can get to build around Rondo. Hopefully after our current window closes we won't have to wait another 20 years for it to open again. With any luck, we'll suck for just a couple years and get a player in the draft, I mean like a real player.

With Rondo already in place, and Perkins likely on board for that period, too.. If we add a scorer at the 2-3 and then a nice pick and pop PF, add a bench and some defense and I think we could compete a little.

[JSD]

From what I've seen from Sheldon so far, he could be a starting PF in this league. It's still early, but if this is what Sheldon is when he has solid players around him I'm optimistic about his future and adding him to the same list as Rondo and Perk.

I don't think so.  Keep in mind that most of his production is coming against other teams' benches.  Also, his past play has, I think, shown that he's not a guy who can be relied upon to be a good starter. 

I do think, though, that he's been excellent off the bench.  He was never a lottery talent to begin with, but he's solid as a fourth big man.

Since two people seem to have misunderstood me, let me clarify: Sheldon could not be a starter in this league right now and I think that's fairly obvious. I do like his game and if he continues to be active on every possession, box out, and grab rebounds I could see him as a starting PF in the league one day. I look at this year like his rookie season, he's a guy that needs to be on a good team to be effective and right now where seeing him perform at a high level.

[Chris]

So, while I was watching today's blowout of the 76ers I couldn't help to notice that not only are we stacked this year but we already have such a strong core for the future

Rondo - PG I can't say enough about this guy.
Hudson - has the potential to be a good SG even though he's a tad undersized, if not a great back up point guard
House - PG/SG I'm assuming we'll have him for a while
SG/SF - We've still got Giddens and Walker, I realize we didn't pick up the option on Giddens and Walker is hurt but I still believe these guys have some untapped potential. If not it's nothing a trade or good draft pick couldn't fix.
Williams - PF I really think he's going to finally fill he's high draft potential here. We're already seeing it now in these first few games.
Perk - Easily one of the most underrated big men in the league. He's not going to astound you offensively but he doesn't disappoint on defense. And he can drop a few points when necessary.

As far as the bench goes, we'll probably have to develop that again. Though I'm sure Pierce, Garnett, and Allen will be around for a while, contracts not forbidding. So as they age I'm sure they'd still be great options coming off the bench for some pop. Maybe wishful thinking but who knows?

Just some food for thought.   

I am going to respectfully disagree with you about having a strong core for the future.

What scares me about the future of this team after the big 3 is that just about all of the young guys are role players.  The only one who is close to being a star is Rondo, and he really needs to prove that he cannot be gameplanned out of games before he is more than a very good player IMO.

And we have seen young teams built around role-players before.  You know what happens to them?  They overpay their role-players, and then are stuck in mediocrity for years and years, just hoping to get the 8th seed.  

While I think Rondo and Perk are nice young players, and are absolutely perfect for this team right now, if the C's do not find a way to put a couple legit All-Stars around them, then this team might be in rough shape again in a few years.

The fact is, in the next 2-3 years, Danny is going to have to break up this core in some ways, in order to get a new infusion of young talent.  Whether it is by sign and trading Ray, using his expiring contract to weasel a high pick out of a team hemoraging money, trading away Pierce or Garnett when their contracts are expiring, or trying to turn Perk or even Rondo into even better young stars to build around, something dramatic is going to happen to this core.  And a lot of you are going to hate it when it happens.

[xmuscularghandix]

Honestly, I only think we've got two building blocks set:  Rondo and Perk.  That's an okay foundation, but there are probably over a dozen teams in the league that have more young talent.  I don't think the role players will ever amount to being much more than role players.

The key to the Celtics maintaining respectability after the big three leave will be in maintaining roster flexibility and avoiding bad contracts, so that the team can add a star free agent (here's looking at you, Durant.)  Barring that, I think the rebuilding years could be ugly.

Also the passing of Rondo in a few years will turn some very pedestrian players into players that can score 10+ a game.

With a smaller Perk and all the old guys gone, we could really pick up the tempo. Thats where a guy like Billy Walker (21 years old) could really flourish.

The kids got enough of an midrange-longrange shot to keep people honest, but a fast break with him and Rondo... come on... Rondo to KG could be replaced by Rondo to Sky.

[Ohio Celtics Fan]

I think I would be one of the happiest guys alive if we could bring in Durant, I love that guy's game.

[PosImpos]

I think I would be one of the happiest guys alive if we could bring in Durant, I love that guy's game.

Eh, I'll love it a lot more when he plays a bit better defense and learns to pass.

[wdleehi]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

[moiso]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

Recipe for a top 5 pick every year.  If Perk is one of the two stars I would hate to see the quality of the role players!

[Chris]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

Agree completely.  This is the biggest reason I think they will be very careful how much money they give Perk.  If you have both he and Rondo making $10+ million per year, it is going to be much harder to put real stars around them. 

[Roy Hobbs]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

Recipe for a top 5 pick every year.  If Perk is one of the two stars I would hate to see the quality of the role players!

I tend to think the same thing.  Rondo + Perk as your stars doesn't get you near the playoffs, in my opinion.

[xmuscularghandix]

I think the best part will be our ability to draw FA's, wouldn't every superstar LOOOVE to play with a PG who isn't looking for his shot and just wants to set you up... and a Center who only looks for limited touches and loves playing defense? Aren't those the two rarities in the NBA?

[wdleehi]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

Recipe for a top 5 pick every year.  If Perk is one of the two stars I would hate to see the quality of the role players!

I tend to think the same thing.  Rondo + Perk as your stars doesn't get you near the playoffs, in my opinion.

I think Rondo, Perk and a collection of good role players is enough to win games in the regular season.  At least enough games to just miss the playoffs or sneak in on those bad years where under 500 teams make the playoffs. 

[Chris]

I think the best part will be our ability to draw FA's, wouldn't every superstar LOOOVE to play with a PG who isn't looking for his shot and just wants to set you up... and a Center who only looks for limited touches and loves playing defense? Aren't those the two rarities in the NBA?

Most overrated angle EVER (no offense to you, this has been brought up a lot lately).  Players are not going to be flocking to join a team where there best two players are a Center who is offensively challenged, and a PG who can't shoot.  Players either go to a team for the money, the location (and Boston will never win that battle), or to win (and that is usually much less important than the first two).  So unless there are already some more great players around Rondo and Perkins, then they probably are not luring a ton of free agents here with anything other than cash.

So basically, if the C's have cap space, then they can get free agents.  If they don't then they won't.  It has very little to do with having a pass first PG or a center who just wants to play defense.

So the most important thing for the C's, if they want to rebuild through free agency, is making sure they are fiscally responsible with the rest of their roster, other than Rondo, so they can find the cash to lure the free agents their way.

[moiso]

I think the worst thing that could happen is if the Celtics went into the future with Rondo, Perk and a bunch of quality role players.  


Recipe for the 13th to 18th pick in the draft every year.



Much rather the clear the cupboards of all tradeable role players (save Perk and Rondo) stink for a year or two, and add the two offensive players they need.  

Recipe for a top 5 pick every year.  If Perk is one of the two stars I would hate to see the quality of the role players!

I tend to think the same thing.  Rondo + Perk as your stars doesn't get you near the playoffs, in my opinion.

I think Rondo, Perk and a collection of good role players is enough to win games in the regular season.  At least enough games to just miss the playoffs or sneak in on those bad years where under 500 teams make the playoffs. 

The Clippers have FAR more talent than this hypothetical team.