Why not set the table to blow it up in the future?

[Chris]

So the more I look at what's out there in a realistic Ray Allen trade, the more I think that is not the way Danny is going to go.  Unless some team is willing to give up a reasonably paid, younger wing to replace Ray, along with an expiring contract to make up the difference, I don't think they are going to pull the trigger. 

However, that does not mean Danny is going to be standing pat.  The Davis for Augustin rumors have got me thinking, and I think Danny has shifted his goal.  I think he realizes that he is not going to turn this team into a contender again, at this trade deadline.  They are too reliant on guys that just are not going to be traded (Pierce, Garnett, Rondo), and will go as far as those guys take them, regardless of who else is brought in right now. 

So instead, I think Danny has decided that the way to go is to start collecting assets.  He is looking ahead to the next couple years, when he will have KG's and Pierce's expiring contracts to trade, but right now, they don't have much to combine with them to get a real star in return. 

In order to turn this franchise around, Danny showed that if you collect assets, and wait for the right opportunity, you can turn things around quickly.  And I think he wants to do that again.

That is the number 1 reason I think the Augustin deal makes so much sense.  This is a player that looked very good last year, but has had a tough sophomore season.  He would be buying low on a guy whose stock could rise very quickly.  And of course being on the rookie scale deal, makes him more valuable in a bigger trade than Davis.  So I think that deal could be the first shoe to fall in Danny's "rebuilding on the fly" gameplan.

The question is, what would be the next move?  Could they turn some of their expiring contracts into a draft pick or two?  Moving Perkins for a player with more cost certainty, or a lottery pick (or maybe a couple future picks)?

I know, as a fan, the desire is for immediate satisfaction, but unfortunately, it doesn't usually work like that.  You need to have the assets if you want to get stars.  And you need to be patient, and not tie your hands with pseudo-stars who make too much money.  Danny knows this, and I think he is planning for the big moves in the next two years, rather than this season.

[wdleehi]

So the more I look at what's out there in a realistic Ray Allen trade, the more I think that is not the way Danny is going to go.  Unless some team is willing to give up a reasonably paid, younger wing to replace Ray, along with an expiring contract to make up the difference, I don't think they are going to pull the trigger. 

However, that does not mean Danny is going to be standing pat.  The Davis for Augustin rumors have got me thinking, and I think Danny has shifted his goal.  I think he realizes that he is not going to turn this team into a contender again, at this trade deadline.  They are too reliant on guys that just are not going to be traded (Pierce, Garnett, Rondo), and will go as far as those guys take them, regardless of who else is brought in right now. 

So instead, I think Danny has decided that the way to go is to start collecting assets.  He is looking ahead to the next couple years, when he will have KG's and Pierce's expiring contracts to trade, but right now, they don't have much to combine with them to get a real star in return. 

In order to turn this franchise around, Danny showed that if you collect assets, and wait for the right opportunity, you can turn things around quickly.  And I think he wants to do that again.

That is the number 1 reason I think the Augustin deal makes so much sense.  This is a player that looked very good last year, but has had a tough sophomore season.  He would be buying low on a guy whose stock could rise very quickly.  And of course being on the rookie scale deal, makes him more valuable in a bigger trade than Davis.  So I think that deal could be the first shoe to fall in Danny's "rebuilding on the fly" gameplan.

The question is, what would be the next move?  Could they turn some of their expiring contracts into a draft pick or two?  Moving Perkins for a player with more cost certainty, or a lottery pick (or maybe a couple future picks)?

I know, as a fan, the desire is for immediate satisfaction, but unfortunately, it doesn't usually work like that.  You need to have the assets if you want to get stars.  And you need to be patient, and not tie your hands with pseudo-stars who make too much money.  Danny knows this, and I think he is planning for the big moves in the next two years, rather than this season.

That's why I wonder if he would look at trading KG or Pierce. 

What if he moves those two for a combination of draft picks, young player and cap space?  Could he then add a Joe Johnson? 

[droopdog7]

Yes, I is difficult to know what to do at this point but it is looking more and more like any chances for a title are behind this team.  I agree that Ray likely will not be traded.  It seems to me that the plan all along has been to pick up assets or let PP and KG expire as well. 

At this rate, three years from now, this team may be starting from scratch.  On the one hand, it seems reasonable but I am not sure DA is goiing to want to do this.  But I think whatever he does with Ray will likely be a sign of what he does with the other Big 3. 

Time will time but I personally do not have an answer.  I guess we will all see what happens.

[droopdog7]

That's why I wonder if he would look at trading KG or Pierce. 

What if he moves those two for a combination of draft picks, young player and cap space?  Could he then add a Joe Johnson? 
[/quote]No way to add Joe Johnson, who will be a FA this year (I believe?).  I think any big FA aquisitions will have to happen two or three years down the line.

[Who]

I don't think Danny is ready to concede the title yet.

[Gainesville Celtic]

I don't think Danny is ready to concede the title yet.

nor should he IMO. we're playing really poorly right now -- esp. closing games out, but we still are a talented team that can right the ship.

a postive team for comparison might be the 1994-95 Rockets who were the 6th seed out West and ended up winning the title (repeating actually).

the difference is that Olajuwon was arguably the best or one of the best players in the league... something we don't have anymore.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't think Danny is ready to concede the title yet.

Nor am I.

[Chris]

So the more I look at what's out there in a realistic Ray Allen trade, the more I think that is not the way Danny is going to go.  Unless some team is willing to give up a reasonably paid, younger wing to replace Ray, along with an expiring contract to make up the difference, I don't think they are going to pull the trigger. 

However, that does not mean Danny is going to be standing pat.  The Davis for Augustin rumors have got me thinking, and I think Danny has shifted his goal.  I think he realizes that he is not going to turn this team into a contender again, at this trade deadline.  They are too reliant on guys that just are not going to be traded (Pierce, Garnett, Rondo), and will go as far as those guys take them, regardless of who else is brought in right now. 

So instead, I think Danny has decided that the way to go is to start collecting assets.  He is looking ahead to the next couple years, when he will have KG's and Pierce's expiring contracts to trade, but right now, they don't have much to combine with them to get a real star in return. 

In order to turn this franchise around, Danny showed that if you collect assets, and wait for the right opportunity, you can turn things around quickly.  And I think he wants to do that again.

That is the number 1 reason I think the Augustin deal makes so much sense.  This is a player that looked very good last year, but has had a tough sophomore season.  He would be buying low on a guy whose stock could rise very quickly.  And of course being on the rookie scale deal, makes him more valuable in a bigger trade than Davis.  So I think that deal could be the first shoe to fall in Danny's "rebuilding on the fly" gameplan.

The question is, what would be the next move?  Could they turn some of their expiring contracts into a draft pick or two?  Moving Perkins for a player with more cost certainty, or a lottery pick (or maybe a couple future picks)?

I know, as a fan, the desire is for immediate satisfaction, but unfortunately, it doesn't usually work like that.  You need to have the assets if you want to get stars.  And you need to be patient, and not tie your hands with pseudo-stars who make too much money.  Danny knows this, and I think he is planning for the big moves in the next two years, rather than this season.

That's why I wonder if he would look at trading KG or Pierce. 

What if he moves those two for a combination of draft picks, young player and cap space?  Could he then add a Joe Johnson? 

Honestly, I don't think he could get much more than expiring contracts for those guys right now (if even that).  I also think if they trade Pierce and/or Garnett, then it is not going to be very easy to lure any elite free agents here this summer, given the other options out there.

[rondohondo]

Perk was already offered for the # 2 pick in the draft last year. I think if the C's could get some value in picks or young players( with very good potential) back for Perk I think you do it. Perk is up for a contract extension after next season and will like command 8-10 mil. I love Perk, but we might be better off dealing him with Ray if we can get a high draft pick or Dominant low post player( like boozer) in return.

[Chris]

I don't think Danny is ready to concede the title yet.

I don't think he is either.  But he can do trades like this, and not put the team much further back in contention.  

For example, the Baby/Augustin deal would give them a future asset in Augustin, but it also gives them a guy who can step in and play right now...perhaps at a higher level then House.  They could then try to replace Davis with a buyout guy...or through a second trade, using expiring contracts to get someone like say, Jeffries, along with a future pick to make it worth it.

Again, this team will live and die with their top 7 guys (the starters plus Wallace and Daniels).  If they can shift their chairs at the end of the bench, in order to bring in a few assets that will help them to make a bigger deal in the future, it wouldn't necessarily mean much of a difference in their championship hopes this year.

[Chris]

Perk was already offered for the # 2 pick in the draft last year. I think if the C's could get some value in picks or young players( with very good potential) back for Perk I think you do it. Perk is up for a contract extension after next season and will like command 8-10 mil. I love Perk, but we might be better off dealing him with Ray if we can get a high draft pick or Dominant low post player( like boozer) in return.

Yeah, and I just kind of threw that one in there, but I think that is more of an offseason move.  I would be surprised if Perk is moved before the deadline this season, but I think Danny will be taking offers around draft time.

[FallGuy]

So the more I look at what's out there in a realistic Ray Allen trade, the more I think that is not the way Danny is going to go.  Unless some team is willing to give up a reasonably paid, younger wing to replace Ray, along with an expiring contract to make up the difference, I don't think they are going to pull the trigger. 

However, that does not mean Danny is going to be standing pat.  The Davis for Augustin rumors have got me thinking, and I think Danny has shifted his goal.  I think he realizes that he is not going to turn this team into a contender again, at this trade deadline.  They are too reliant on guys that just are not going to be traded (Pierce, Garnett, Rondo), and will go as far as those guys take them, regardless of who else is brought in right now. 

So instead, I think Danny has decided that the way to go is to start collecting assets.  He is looking ahead to the next couple years, when he will have KG's and Pierce's expiring contracts to trade, but right now, they don't have much to combine with them to get a real star in return. 

In order to turn this franchise around, Danny showed that if you collect assets, and wait for the right opportunity, you can turn things around quickly.  And I think he wants to do that again.

That is the number 1 reason I think the Augustin deal makes so much sense.  This is a player that looked very good last year, but has had a tough sophomore season.  He would be buying low on a guy whose stock could rise very quickly.  And of course being on the rookie scale deal, makes him more valuable in a bigger trade than Davis.  So I think that deal could be the first shoe to fall in Danny's "rebuilding on the fly" gameplan.

The question is, what would be the next move?  Could they turn some of their expiring contracts into a draft pick or two?  Moving Perkins for a player with more cost certainty, or a lottery pick (or maybe a couple future picks)?

I know, as a fan, the desire is for immediate satisfaction, but unfortunately, it doesn't usually work like that.  You need to have the assets if you want to get stars.  And you need to be patient, and not tie your hands with pseudo-stars who make too much money.  Danny knows this, and I think he is planning for the big moves in the next two years, rather than this season.

Chris, I tend to agree with you and I think it's the right move. I hear a lot of stuff about injuries and getting healthy but the real issue here is the decline in our top players.

For all the talk of "this team can still win it all if things go well", I think Danny knows this team is past its window. It happened far quicker than we wanted but there's no real reason beyond blind hope to believe this team can beat Cle or LA.  I don't think Danny expects KG will ever be the same player. The same is true with PP, who is not the player he was even early last year.

So it makes sense to reset if your goal is not to be competitive but to win a title.

The real question is how.

I also tend to agree with you that the big moves won't come in the next week. The kinds of players available in trade for our current suite of assets don't fit the bill talent or contract-wise. But that may change in period leading up to the 2011 lockout. If PP doesn't opt out this summer, his expiring contract may have a ton of value with a new CBA on the horizon. And here's another piece to consider. Will Garnett even play in 2011-12, the last year of his contract, if there's a lockout of half a season or more? He may be done by then due to health reasons or because he's declined to the point he doesn't recognize himself on the court and is ready to move onto the next phase of his life.

Personally, I'm still mulling over what I think Danny should do. By the trade deadline I think we'll know if he's bluffing or not with his consistent talk of how he thinks the team can win a title this year. I think he's too smart for that and we're already into some other plan.

[P2]

Our expirings, especially Ray's are huge assets. After this year we would have nothing of those.

[Who]

If Danny were to trade Glen Davis for DJ Augustin ...

Is it Danny setting the table for the future? Or is it Danny taking the best player available in the trade and the player who can make the largest impact on the Celtics this season?

I think it's just a coincidence that Augustin is young + has potential. Rather than a strategy for tomorrow. A pleasant coincidence but a coincidence all the same.

[Who]

Does DJ Augustin offer more than Eddie House? Is he an upgrade in that role?

Does DJ Augustin offer more than Glen Davis?

Does DJ Augustin offer more than any other prospective BBD trades?

Is it Danny looking for a future asset or is it Danny taking the best upgrade for this current team that he can get his hands on?