If NO does want to dump Paul to save money, do you make this trade?

[pearljammer10]

I still like what Rondo does for this team. He only averages less than 1 assist a game than Paul does and he averages more steals and is better on defense. Paul is a player that needs the ball in his hands to make things happen, iso, dribble drive in the paint...This Celtics team is built around ball movement. And Paul, as good as he is, might distrupt that. He also scores a lot and would take up more shots.

They only way I make a trade for Chris Paul would be involving Ray and shipping Paul to a third team.

[BballTim]

I liken the comparison more to would you trade Ray, Kevin Durant and Thabo Sefolosha, a 1st and a 2nd and cash to Cleveland for LeBron, Darnell Jackson, and Jawad Williams? Yes, LeBron is better than Durant and the best at his position but with some improvement Durant will be amongst the 2-3 best SFs in the game and close to LeBron. So do you trade Ray, Thabo picks and cash for Darnell Jackson and Jawad Williams if you think in a couple years Durant will be almost LeBron's equal, but not quite?

In that deal, I trade for Lebron, even though I think Durant is closer to being an elite superstar than Rondo is.

  But by the same token Chris Paul hasn't shown himself to be a LeBron (or a Kobe) yet.

[nickagneta]

I liken the comparison more to would you trade Ray, Kevin Durant and Thabo Sefolosha, a 1st and a 2nd and cash to Cleveland for LeBron, Darnell Jackson, and Jawad Williams? Yes, LeBron is better than Durant and the best at his position but with some improvement Durant will be amongst the 2-3 best SFs in the game and close to LeBron. So do you trade Ray, Thabo picks and cash for Darnell Jackson and Jawad Williams if you think in a couple years Durant will be almost LeBron's equal, but not quite?

In that deal, I trade for Lebron, even though I think Durant is closer to being an elite superstar than Rondo is.

  But by the same token Chris Paul hasn't shown himself to be a LeBron (or a Kobe) yet.

Exactly. I wouldn't even put Paul that high on the list of players I would take to start a franchise:

Kobe
LeBron
Wade
Dirk
Durant
Carmelo
Howard
Duncan
Bosh
Pau Gasol

are all players I would chose before paul if I was starting a franchise.

Paul is a great PG but if recent history in the NBA shows anything, you need your most elite players at other positions to win NBA championships, not at PG. Rondo, Ray, a 1st round pick, a 2nd round pick, cash and Scal is just way too much to pay for your best player to be a PG when your best player might already be your PG.

[2short]

I still like what Rondo does for this team. He only averages less than 1 assist a game than Paul does and he averages more steals and is better on defense. Paul is a player that needs the ball in his hands to make things happen, iso, dribble drive in the paint...This Celtics team is built around ball movement. And Paul, as good as he is, might distrupt that. He also scores a lot and would take up more shots.

They only way I make a trade for Chris Paul would be involving Ray and shipping Paul to a third team.

tp
Paul came into the league almost immediately as a great pg.  Our young mr rondo has been improving in leaps & bounds.  He is not at pauls' level and might never hit it BUT for our team he might just be the best fit.  Also I have not seen Chris Paul DOMINATE like rondo has at times.  playoffs last year rondo was in serious group of dominating bb players at any posistion

[Birdbrain]

Something else about the Paul/Rondo comparison.  We've seen Rondo dominate when he wants to- like in the playoffs against the Bulls.  Chris Paul doesn't have an off switch.  He's a killer like Kobe.

I don't want that in my PG.

[Bahku]

Something else about the Paul/Rondo comparison.  We've seen Rondo dominate when he wants to- like in the playoffs against the Bulls.  Chris Paul doesn't have an off switch.  He's a killer like Kobe.

I don't want that in my PG.

Me either, BB. (TP) He's got that Kobe arrogance thing down pretty good, too.

[celtsrp33]

This would probably never happen either, but.....

How about:

Ray, Sheed, Scal and Baby

for

Paul Okafor, West and Collison

NO gets rid of the 4 longest contracts on their roster and saves a ton of money over the next few years.  Celtics get 3 very talented players, one future PG and keep Rondo.  Imagine if you went with a small backcourt - you could have Rondo and CP(53?) on the court at the same time.

I know not even NO is dumb enough to do this, but hey, thought I'd throw it out there since salaries match. 

[wiley]

Paul is a better shooter and greater overall talent....but Rondo gets it done.  I actually don't think Rondo will ever be a great shooter, but I don't care one bit (and I love that I don't care...says alot about his game imo).

Rondo is becoming a great scorer.  He finishes way better now than he did earlier on his career. (He credited his one on one drills with Hudson as helping him in this area, but I'm sure some of it is natural development.)

I'd rather have Rondo with his outside shooting and free throw woes, and the less money we thereby need to pay him, than Paul's superstardom and all the money needed to pay him accordingly..

This may be a rare case where you don't take the superstar, though Rondo may yet get there too.....and need to be paid superstar money at his next contract, we'll see, but will depend on free throw and jump shooting, which if still not there, allow you to continue to pay him less than a superstar commands....and still have an elite PG..

For the future, you just make sure you have plenty of great outside shooters on your team. Rondo loves to dish and find shooters on the perimeter, so you're all set if you build the team appropriately....

Bottom line, happy to build around Rondo...I'm sure the Celtics will find another superstar or two who would love to play with him...

We've waited too long for an elite PG...As good as Paul is, giving up Ray and Rondo to get him  seems like nitpicking....

Finally, if we watched Paul night in and night out, might we not find a flaw or two in his game, something we wish he would do more of on a consistent basis?  Something from the realm of intangibles?

[housecall]

If you got Pega to play the 2or3who will you get to play the 40games he possibly will not play?

Daniels and TA.


Of course this is an exageration.  Peja missed only 21 games last year.  5 games the year before. 

I know Peja is not the most important part of this trade but if you going to sell him lets look at it a little closer,on a larger sample size of games :

 2006-69games.missed
 2007-5 "     "
 2008-21"     "
 2009-2  so far
According to SB Nation scouting report Peja "is injury prone".
ESPN recent status report:Peja sat out of practice w/a back injury this past Friday.

Back spasms has plagued Peja for a long time and it doesn't look like its getting better.As you  probably know already its a spontanteous thing when its your back.
 

[Birdbrain]

Paul is currently a star. But I don't do this trade because Rondo is a consistant 15-18 foot jump shot away from being a star as well and maybe the second best PG in the league.

I say have patience with Rondo's shot. He's as good if not a better defender, rebounder, passer and floor general as Paul without the need for having to be a scorer as well, which I happen to like better than the shoot first mentality of some PGs.

I look at it this way, if Rondo can hit his 15-18 footers at a 45% consistency level in two years, he's almost Paul's equal so then the trade comes down to Ray, Scal, a 1st, a 2nd and cash for Peja, Arthur and Hadadi and that is a ridiculously stupid trade, IMO.

I agree ... but I also would say no because he's in the same arrogant, "Me-Me", NBA-stroking club as LBJ and Kobe. I know it's one of those irrational dislike things, but I just can't stand the guy. I love Rondo's energy and willingness to grow, and his love is for his team first, at least that's my feeling. CP3 loves CP3 ... and that's not what the Celtics are about.

Yeah pretty much 100% agreeance with both of your posts.  Lots of stats and lots of losses.  Rondo is the type of PG I prefer to root for.  I know he can't shoot a 15 ft jumper ... but, since he's a PG I really don't care.

NO record since Paul joined is 198-162 in the regular season. 

That seems like a lot more wins the loses.


And when did he suddenly become a "me" player?  What did he do? 

As far as I have seen, he has made players like Chandler and West play above themselves. 

Is it his fault the team built around him was so fragile and mismanged? 



As for Rondo vs. Paul, come on.  I love Rondo.  I think he is one of the top PGs in the league.  Paul is the top PG in the league.

It is like saying in DC "I am not going to trade Butler for Lebron because if Butler just gets better at (I don't care, you can fill in any skill you want here) he will almost be as good as Lebron."

Not very comparable rondo dominates games where as Caron is no where near LJ. 

[Gomesfan]

I think I would do the trade.

Where is this little rumor from?

And what makes a rumor little? I thought a rumor was a rumor.

I heard wldeei should pay more attention in class. Is this a small rumor?

[Kiorrik]

Then again, it wouldn't hurt to have CP3.

He could ride the pine for all but the 10 to 14 minutes Rondo isn't playing.

He could be the _ultimate_ victory cigar in a blowout game.

Doc: "This game is ours guys. Rondo, get over here on the bench. Paul, you're in."


.edit: Chris Paul; Gino extraordinaire!

[celtichead]

I am the biggest Rondo fan.. I have been since summer league when he outplayed Bassy and I thought he was a keeper.  I love his game, I love what he brings to this team, I enjoy watching him play, as he is entertaining as well.  This is a tough one for me though because although CP3 pounds the ball a lot, he is an amazing AMAZING player.  He has fiestyness, he is a good shooter, he is clutch, he is a double double everynight, he is a good rebounder for his size and when PP finally begins to slow down, he will be able to eaily step in and pick up the reins.  But Rondo is the perfect fit for this team, the team with the personalities we have and  he has such a good feel for the game which makes him that much better.  Dont think for one second though DA wouldn't move Rondo for Cp3 because we all know he would. He would've traded PP to the blazers that yr to pick cp3  had PP not vetoed the  trade.. I think comparing the 2 is hard because it is like comparing Jason Kidd to Stockton (in their primes.) I am not saying Rondo is Kidd and Cp3 is Stockton but in my brain it would be like picking between those two.

[Rondo_is_better]

If NO loses Paul, basketball in NO is over. They would never dump him to save money - but they would dump everyone else.

[CoachBo]

I can't see NO doing this.

But ... acquiring a scoring bridge between the Big 3 and the future, which Rondo isn't going to be, is something that would deserve a HARD look.